Mandatory 7-Day Timeline for Granting GST Registration

As per the new rule implemented, the entrepreneurs will now get GST registration for their businesses within 7 days after the date of applying for it. However, applications marked as high-risk will be processed within 30 days, following a physical inspection of the business location.

The CBIC noticed that some field officers were asking entrepreneurs for unnecessary documents by making assumptions. To address this problem, they provided a list of documents that officers are allowed to request from businesses online.

The CBIC’s amended instructions for providing GST registration said, “While processing registration application, query should not be raised by the officer seeking original physical copy of these documents.”

This major decision has been taken, keeping in mind the various complaints registered regarding difficulties faced by entrepreneurs in getting a GST registration for their businesses, mainly because officers were asking for clarifications and extra documents that are not officially required by the Board.

For the Principal Place of Business (PPOB), the applicant must upload any one of these documents: the latest property tax receipt, municipal khata copy, electricity bill of the owner, or any similar state-issued document like a water bill that clearly proves who owns the premises.

If the business location is rented, the applicant must upload a valid rent or lease agreement along with one document that proves the main place of business (like a property tax receipt or electricity bill).

For documents about the type of business setup, if the applicant is a partner in a firm, they must upload the Partnership Deed to prove the business structure.

CBIC also said that officers should not ask for extra documents like the Udhyam certificate, MSME certificate, shop license, trade license, etc., as they are not required.

Some common unnecessary questions by officers that are causing trouble for applicants include things like: the applicant’s home address or the address of the managing director or authorised signatory is not in the same city or state as the place of registration, or doubts that the business activity can be done from the address given.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has said that “Officers handling registration applications should not ask any presumptive query which is not related to the documents or information submitted by the applicant.”