GST (Goods and Services Tax) India - An Overview
From 1 July 2017, the GST, an indirect tax on the majority of domestic products and services, was adopted by the Indian government. The GST is a single tax that applies to an entire country and brings in money for the government.
The new Tax rates took effect on 18 July 2022. The updated GST tax structure was approved at the 47th session of the GST council, which did take place in Chandigarh. As a result, a number of food items—including those that are pre-packaged and labelled—such as paneer, rice, wheat, jaggery, curd, and lassi—have increased in price.
From July 18, these common household items will be subject to a 5% GST. Additionally subject to 5% GST are labelled on meat and fish, puffed rice, dried makhana, and meslin flour. Previously, the GST tax was not applied to any of these commodities. In addition, a 12 % GST will now be applied to all mango products, including mango pulp. Loose, unbranded, and unlabeled commodities will still be exempt from the GST, nevertheless.
The GST rates for hotel and banking services have increased. The price that banks charge for issuing checks will now be subject to the new GST rates of 18%. Hotel rooms will also become more expensive as they will no longer be excluded from GST and will instead be subject to a 12.5% tax.
Any business that sells goods or offers services and has annual sales of at minimum ₹40 lakhs or ₹20 lakhs is required to be registered for GST and have a current GST Number. Keep in mind that supplies, not sales, are subject to the GST. As a result, inventory taking, sales, and gifts are all covered by the GST net. Regardless of sales, every business that sells to some other state must register for GST.
What Are the Benefits of GST?
GST, an extensive value-added indirect tax on both goods and services, has aided in the consolidation of the Indian market. Some of GST's salient characteristics include:
Dual Tax Structure:
A centre tax and a state tax, referred to as the Centre GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST), respectively, are levied on every sale of goods and services
Integrated GST (IGST) On Interstate Purchases:
Integrated GST (IGST) on interstate purchases where the revenue is split between the consumption state and the centre
Taxable supply made between two locations of the same legal entity:
Between the agent and the principal, there is a taxable supply of goods. Employer ‘gifts’ to employees that exceed ₹50,000 are taxed
All imports are regarded as statewide supplies and are therefore liable to the IGST. There is no tax at all exports
Tax Administration:
Although there is an online tax system, there are GST Facilitation Centres, GSPs, and ASPs that help taxpayers with registration, filing returns, and other tax-related tasks.
Compositional Plan:
Under the composition structure of the GST regime, businesses have lower tax obligations. These businesses should have a supply volume of less than ₹50 lakh and are not permitted to obtain input credit. However, this programme will not be applicable to enterprises engaged in interstate commerce or the service sector.
Criteria for GST Registration
Goods and Services Tax, or GST, is the umbrella term for all taxes, including sales tax, service tax, excise duty, and others. If your company's annual sales are greater than ₹20 lakh, you must register for GST. Even if your sales are less than ₹20 lakh, we suggest you to actively choose GST registration for the following reasons:
- Taxes paid on purchases would not be refunded (for example, if you spend ₹ 1 lakh on goods in a year at a tax rate of 28 %, you won't get the ₹28,000 in tax refund).
- You are unable to sell outside of your state because it usually takes 2 to 6 working days to register for GST. Your digital signature and your request must be transmitted to the department together.
Essentials of GST Advisory Services
The essentials of GST advisory services include:
- Broad impact assessment: This involves understanding the overall impact of GST on the business, including the impact on prices, costs, and compliance requirements.
- Short-list realistic analysis: This involves identifying the key areas where GST can have a significant impact on the business and developing realistic plans to mitigate these impacts.
- Execution assistance: This involves providing assistance to the business in implementing the plans developed in the previous step. This may include providing training on GST compliance, helping to develop new processes and systems, and providing support with audits and investigations.
- Evolution management: This involves helping the business to continuously evolve its GST compliance practices as the law and regulations change.
GST advisory services can be provided by a variety of professionals, including chartered accountants, lawyers, and tax consultants. The specific services that are provided will vary depending on the needs of the business.
What is the GST Login Process in India?
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in India on July 1, 2017. It is a comprehensive, indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services. The GST is levied on all taxable supplies of goods and services made in India. The GST Login is making information available easily for the commercial establishments. The GST online verification is strongly welcomed by commercial establishments for such reasons.
The GST login process is very simple. To make Successfull Goods and Services login you need GST number and mobile number. Just follow these steps:
1. Go to the GST Portal to initiate the first step of GST Login
2. Click on the 'Login' tab at the top right corner of the page to proceed with the second step of GST login
3. Enter your GST number and mobile number in the respective fields to proceed with the third step of GST login
4. Click on the 'Send OTP' button and patiently wait to proceed with the Gst Login portal.
5. Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click on the 'Login' button. This Gst login portal verification ensures that only you are accessing the sensitive information. Ensure that for GST online verification you have the registered number handy.
6. In the final step of GST verification login you will be taken to your GST dashboard. You Can View Your GST Returns, Invoices With the Help of GST Login Portal.
How to Check your GST Status?
The process to check your GST status in India is quite simple and can be completed online in a few minutes. All you need is your GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number) and the registered mobile number or email address associated with your account.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you check your GST status:
1. Visit the official website of the GST Login portal
2. On the homepage, scroll down to the ‘Services’ section and click on the ‘Query/Feedback on Registration’ link under the ‘GST REGISTRATION’ heading
3. On the next page, enter your GSTIN in the text box provided and click on the ‘Submit’ button
4. You will now see a pop-up window with all the details related to your GST status, including your name, registered address, date of registration, etc
5. If you want, you can also download this information in PDF format by clicking on the ‘Download Registration Certificate’ button.
This is how you can easily check your GST status online. If you have any further queries or need assistance with anything related to GST, you can always get in touch with a professional tax consultant or visit the official website for more information.
GST Rate Changes from 1 March 2023
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced revisions to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on 28 February 2023, following recommendations made during the 49 GST Council meeting on 18 February 2023. These changes will take effect from 1 March 2023.
One of the changes introduced in Notification No. 04/2023-Central Tax (Rate) is the exemption of GST on Rab, also known as liquid jaggery, when sold loosely or without pre-packaging. This means that the GST rate on Rab sold in this manner has been reduced from 18% to zero. Additionally, Notification No. 03/2023-Central Tax (Rate) has revised the GST rate on Rab sold in pre-packaged and labelled form from 18% to 5%.
Notification No. 03/2023-Central Tax (Rate) has also reduced the GST rate on pencil sharpeners from 18% to 12% by reclassifying them under the HSN code 8214. The entry at Sl. No. 302A has been revised to remove the reference to pencil sharpeners.
Notification No. 02/2023-Central Tax (Rate) has amended Notification No. 13/2017- Central Tax (Rate) to include courts and tribunals under the reverse charge mechanism for taxation of services, as recommended during the 49 GST Council meeting.
Finally, Notification No. 01/2023-Central Tax (Rate) has extended the GST exemption to services provided by any board, authority, or body set up by the Central or State Government, including the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducting entrance examinations for admission into educational institutions. However, this exemption is limited to these specific services only.
How Can Vakilsearch Assist With GST Verification Portal?
We assist you in starting a safe GST number search process. You can easily obtain your GST at home in just a few clicks. The entire procedure is done online. When necessary, we will file your returns and take care of any other complaints. In the last five years, we have assisted tens of thousands of start-up businesses with registering themselves, safeguarding their intellectual property, obtaining investment from venture capitalists, and adhering to the MCA's numerous laws. Get in touch with our experts from Vakilsearch to complete the process without any hassle.
Latest Updates on GST
- Threshold limit for e-invoices reduced to Rs. 5 crore. From August 1, 2023, it will be mandatory for all businesses with a turnover of Rs. 5 crore or more to generate and upload e-invoices for all their B2B transactions. This is a reduction from the current threshold of Rs. 10 crore.
- GST rate on gaming and gambling activities increased to 28%. The GST Council has increased the GST rate on gaming and gambling activities from 18% to 28%. This decision was taken in view of the increasing popularity of these activities and the need to raise more revenue from them.
- Exemption of GST on essential imports of pharmaceutical products. The GST Council has exempted GST on essential imports of pharmaceutical products. This exemption will be applicable for a period of six months, starting from July 1, 2023. The exemption is being given to ensure that there is no shortage of essential medicines in the country.
- Extension of deadline for filing annual return for FY 2022-23. The deadline for filing the annual return for the financial year 2022-23 has been extended to December 31, 2023. This extension has been given to give businesses more time to file their returns.
- Introduction of new penalty provisions for e-commerce operators. The GST Council has introduced new penalty provisions for e-commerce operators who allow composite dealers to sell their goods outside their state of registration. The penalty will be Rs. 50,000 for each such violation.
- The GST rate on unpacked rab (red gram) has been reduced to nil, while the rate on pre-packed and labelled rab has been set at 5%. This change came into effect on February 25, 2023.
- The GST Council has decided to extend the composition scheme for regular taxpayers by one year, i.e., till March 31, 2024. This scheme allows small businesses to pay a fixed percentage of their turnover as tax.
- The due date for filing GSTR-3B for the month of February 2023 has been extended to March 15, 2023. GSTR-3B is a monthly return that all GST taxpayers are required to file.
- The GST Council has also decided to waive the late fee for filing GSTR-3B for the months of October, November, and December 2022. This waiver is applicable to all taxpayers, including those who are not registered under the composition scheme