Make GST Registration Faceless; Allow Residential Address For GST: Reacts Entrepreneur

Mahima Jalan, a businesswoman, spoke out about the problems she faced while trying to start and run her business. She said the system made things very difficult — including possible corruption when she tried to register for GST and trouble accepting payments internationally.

Jalan discussed about her experience in response to a recent comment by the Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who questioned how much value Indian startups are really creating initially. Mahima suggested that instead of criticizing startups, the government should focus on solving the problems in the system that make it hard for entrepreneurs to grow.

On platform X, Jalan wrote that after she completed her Master’s in Journalism, she decided to begin her own agency and create jobs instead of working under someone. But soon, she got a serious reality check. Her GST application was rejected not because the paperwork was incomplete but because the officers expected an in-person visit, just so she could ‘settle’ things with them under the table.

Mahima Jalan also pointed out how hard it is to receive international payments because of the current rules set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). She said that even when a foreign client successfully sends money, the payment can get flagged by the system, and sometimes her bank account could even be blocked. She added that getting the money released becomes a long and difficult process, and when she tries to complain or ask for help, no one responds. Basically, she feels that the system doesn’t support small businesses dealing with international clients.

Mahima Jalan was speaking about the big difference between what government leaders say and what actually happens for business owners. She said ministers often talk in public about how entrepreneurs aren’t creating enough value. That really hurts, she said. Not because running a business is difficult, she expected that, but because when you try to do things the right way, you face too much paperwork, people asking for bribes, and no real help from the system that’s supposed to support startups and small businesses.

Mahima Jalan shared her post soon after Union Minister Piyush Goyal criticized Indian startups for focusing too much on things like food delivery, betting, and fantasy gaming apps instead of working on advanced technologies. Goyal questioned whether startups should just be selling everyday items like ice cream and chips, saying, “Dukaandari hi karna hai?” (which roughly means, “Are we only going to run shops?”). He compared India’s startup scene to China’s, where there’s a bigger focus on electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI). He also said it’s worrying that India has only about 1,000 startups working in deep-tech areas.

In response to Mahima Jalan’s post, an individual said that what she experienced is now quite common. He mentioned that for GST registration, officials often require an “in-person” visit, which delays the process. He expressed hope that leaders like Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would work to make GST registration “faceless” (done fully online) and quicker so that startups of all kinds can grow more easily.

A individual also requested that the government should make the process for individuals running their businesses from their homes a little simpler. He said that currently, using a residential address for GST registration often leads to rejection or fines. But with more businesses, especially in tech and knowledge fields, being run from home, he believes the government should support this trend and make it easier for home-based businesses to operate legally.