How to avoid Paying GST Fees on Restaurant Bills; Know Here

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and been charged GST fees despite not having a valid GST registration? This is an annoyance that many people confront. So don’t panic, there are ways to avoid paying these costs.

In this section, we will walk you through the process of detecting legitimate GST registration and avoiding fraudulent charges.

Verify for a Valid GST Registration:

The first step to avoiding fraudulent GST fees is to check for a valid GST registration. Search for a 15-digit GST number on your restaurant bill. If you come across one, you can verify its authenticity on the official GST website.

Checking GST Registration on Official Website:

Visit the official GST website to check the validity of the GST number. Enter the 15-digit GST number and complete the captcha. If the number is correct, you will be able to view information about the restaurant. Yet, there are a few things to keep an eye out for.

Check the “GST/UIN Status” when viewing the restaurant’s information. If it shows “Active”, you can pay the GST fee.

If it says “Suspended” do not pay the fee.

Also, check the “taxpayer type”, If it’s “Regular,” you can pay the fee, but if it’s “Composition,” then do not pay the fee.

If the restaurant charges you GST without a valid GST registration, you are not required to pay that amount. You should not pay the fee if you see the charges on your account but cannot see the 15-digit GST number.

What to Do If You are Compelled to Pay:

If the restaurant insists on you pay the GST taxes, call the GST helpline customer service number at 18001200232 and file a complaint about it.

Note, if the restaurant’s GST registration is invalid or stopped, or if the taxpayer type is “Composition,” you should not pay the cost.