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Whether you must register for GST in India depends on more than your annual sales. Check your PAN-wide aggregate turnover, the type and location of your supplies, and any compulsory-registration rule or exemption that applies to your transactions. If registration is required, the standard application is filed electronically in Form GST REG-01 through the GST Common Portal. The threshold figures often quoted online come from a framework published in 2019; verify the current law and notifications for your situation before relying on them.
Do you need GST registration?
There is no single turnover figure that settles the question for every freelancer or small business. Liability can depend on the nature of your supplies, aggregate turnover, where you operate, whether supplies cross state boundaries, and whether a statutory exception or exemption applies.
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Start with the type of supply
Work out whether you make taxable supplies, wholly exempt supplies, or a mix. CBIC guidance says a person making only wholly exempt supplies is not required to register, but the treatment of a mixed business can differ. Do not assume that an item is exempt without checking its applicable classification and current rules.
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Aggregate turnover is considered on a PAN-wide basis, rather than only for one shop, state, business line, or GST registration. Supplies made across states can therefore matter when assessing the threshold. CBIC guidance excludes inward supplies on which the recipient pays tax under reverse charge, while including outward supplies on which the recipient pays tax under reverse charge.
Check location and transaction-specific rules
Interstate taxable supplies, e-commerce activity, reverse-charge liabilities, and other compulsory-registration categories can affect the answer. Older guidance may describe a general interstate rule, but later notifications can provide exceptions. Do not conclude that every interstate freelancer must register, or that being below a commonly quoted threshold automatically removes the obligation.
Treat published threshold figures as historical until verified
A CBIC explanatory document published in 2019 described thresholds effective from 1 April 2019 of Rs. 40 lakh or Rs. 20 lakh for suppliers of goods, and Rs. 20 lakh or Rs. 10 lakh for service suppliers in specified states. These are historical published figures, not confirmation that the same limits apply to every state, supplier, or transaction today. The applicable limit may depend on the state and category, and notifications may affect the result.
Before deciding, check the current CGST Act, rules, and relevant notifications against your state, supply type, turnover, and transaction pattern. If those details leave your liability uncertain, a GST practitioner can help assess the facts.
What to check before filing
- Whether you make taxable supplies, only wholly exempt or non-taxable supplies, or a combination.
- Your aggregate turnover across India for the relevant PAN.
- Whether you supply goods, services, or both, and the state or states involved.
- Whether interstate supplies, e-commerce, reverse-charge liabilities, or another compulsory-registration category applies.
- Whether a specific exemption notification covers your supplier category or transaction.
- Whether you are considering voluntary registration, which carries tax and ongoing compliance consequences.
How to apply for GST registration online
The ordinary application is made electronically in Form GST REG-01 on the GST Common Portal. The application has two parts: an initial identity and contact stage, followed by the detailed application and document upload.
- Begin Part A of Form GST REG-01. Provide the PAN, mobile number, email address, and State or Union Territory requested in the form.
- Complete PAN and OTP checks. The portal validates the PAN and verifies the contact details by OTP. After successful verification, it generates a temporary reference number.
- Use the reference number to complete Part B. Enter the requested business and applicant details and upload the supporting documents specified in the live form.
- Submit the application and retain the acknowledgment. The acknowledgment is issued electronically. Keep it and the reference details for checking the application or responding to a notice.
- Complete any required identity verification. The route can vary by case. Depending on the application, verification may use OTP authentication or require biometric and document verification at a designated GST Seva Kendra. The portal’s Aadhaar guidance says an applicant who chooses “No” for Aadhaar authentication may be required to complete photo capture and document verification at a designated centre. If the portal requires a verification step, failing to complete it within the stated period can prevent ARN generation.
- Monitor the application for an officer’s decision or clarification request. The officer examines the application. If information or documents are deficient, the officer may issue an electronic clarification notice; respond in the prescribed form and period.
- Retrieve the registration documents if approved. If approved, the registration certificate and GSTIN are made available through the portal.
Understand the statutory review periods
Under CBIC’s GST Registration Rules, the ordinary process provides three working days for the officer’s initial review and seven working days for the applicant to respond to a clarification request. The ordinary application is due within 30 days of becoming liable to register. These are rules-based periods, not a promise of total elapsed calendar time: identity verification, clarification requests, and other steps can affect how long the full process takes.
Which documents may you need?
Use the document list and upload instructions displayed in the live GST Portal form. The GST Portal manual gives different examples of premises evidence depending on how you use the property.
| Premises situation | Examples of evidence described by the GST Portal |
|---|---|
| Owned | Ownership evidence such as a latest property tax receipt, municipal khata copy, or electricity bill. |
| Rented or leased | A valid rent or lease agreement, plus evidence supporting the lessor’s ownership, such as a property tax receipt, municipal khata, or electricity bill. |
| Shared or used with another person’s consent | A consent letter, plus evidence supporting the consenter’s ownership. |
The exact upload requirements are those shown in the application, not a reason to submit unrelated paperwork pre-emptively. In a press release dated 18 April 2025, the Ministry of Finance reported CBIC’s direction in Instruction No. 03/2025-GST, issued 17 April 2025: “Officers have been instructed to strictly adhere to the prescribed list of documents provided in registration application form.” The release also said officers should avoid notices based on presumptive grounds, minor discrepancies, or nonessential additional documents, and that requests for additional documents require supervisory approval under the instruction. This is a dated administrative update; check whether it remains in force when you apply.
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Voluntary registration is not a way to obtain a GSTIN without accepting the associated responsibilities. CBIC’s FAQ says a voluntary registrant is treated as a normal taxable person and is required to pay tax on supplies made after registration. Registration can also bring recurring compliance obligations. Because the FAQ may reflect an earlier version of the law, verify the current rules before relying on it, and consider whether registration is worthwhile for your business before opting in.
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What to do if your application is queried or verification is incomplete
If the officer asks for clarification
Read the electronic notice carefully, identify each point that needs a response, and provide the requested explanation or supporting material through the prescribed response process within the stated period. The rules provide seven working days for a response to a clarification request. If the matter concerns a document or discrepancy, make sure your response addresses that specific issue rather than uploading unrelated records.
If the portal requires identity verification
Follow the route and deadline shown in the portal for your application. Some cases may require OTP verification; others may involve biometric or document verification at a designated centre. Do not assume that Aadhaar authentication, an in-person visit, or a particular verification route applies to every applicant.
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