The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →For routine GST work, start at the Common GST Portal, gst.gov.in. Registration applications, returns, tax payments, account services and most status checks are taxpayer-facing functions of the GST System operated by GSTN. State and Central tax departments still make statutory decisions—such as approving registrations, assessing returns, processing refunds and conducting audits—but their assigned officer is not a replacement filing website.
The practical distinction is between the online system you use to submit information and the tax authority that decides or administers your case. Knowing which side of that line a task falls on prevents misdirected applications, missed notices and unnecessary searches for a separate state portal.
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What GSTN, the Common GST Portal and tax authorities each do
GSTN is the system operator behind the common GST technology platform. The taxpayer-facing destination is the Common GST Portal at gst.gov.in. The GST Council’s Final GST FAQ describes portal services including registration, payment management, return filing and processing, taxpayer account management, notifications and status tracking.
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State and Central GST authorities are government administrations, not competing versions of the filing site. They perform statutory and administrative work after information is submitted through the system. Depending on the case, an officer may verify an application, approve or reject registration, assess a return, issue a demand, process a refund, conduct an audit or investigation, or send a formal communication.
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A taxpayer can be assigned administratively to either State or Central authorities. That assignment identifies the government-side jurisdiction and contact; it does not change the ordinary online route for filing a national GST return. The GST welcome material also explains that a taxpayer remains registered under both Central GST and State GST even when a particular officer or administration is assigned.
“It was decided that in the GST regime, while taxpayer facing core services of applying for registration, uploading of invoices, filing of return, making tax payments shall be hosted by GST System, all the statutory functions (such as approval of registration, assessment of return, conducting investigation and audit etc.) shall be conducted by the tax authorities of States and Central governments.”
Goods and Services Tax Council, Final GST FAQ Edition, answer to question 6
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GSTN portal or state GST portal: which one handles each task?
| Task | Where you normally act | Who performs the government-side function | What you can use to verify progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| New GST registration | Common GST Portal, Services > Registration > New Registration | Assigned State or Central tax authority verifies and decides the application | Application reference number and Services > Registration > Track Application Status |
| Return preparation and filing | Common GST Portal, Services > Returns > Returns Dashboard | Tax authority may process or assess the filed return | Return tile, filing records and portal status information for the relevant form |
| Tax payment | GST System payment workflow on the Common GST Portal | Relevant tax administration receives and administers the liability | Payment challan, ledger and transaction records shown in the account |
| Account and profile management | Common GST Portal after login | Tax administration acts when a statutory approval or communication is required | Portal notifications and account records |
| Public taxpayer lookup | Search Taxpayer function on the GST Portal; some fields are available without login | Registration data is maintained in the GST system | GSTIN/UIN, names, registration status and dates, principal place of business and available filing details |
| Approval, assessment, refund, audit or investigation | Submit the underlying application or return on the Common GST Portal, then follow the notice or case record | Assigned State or Central officer and department | Portal case records, notices and the contact identified in the communication |
The table separates a submission route from an authority decision. A state-specific page can provide useful local information, but the existence of that page does not establish a separate filing requirement for ordinary GST returns.
Where do I file GST returns?
File through the Common GST Portal at gst.gov.in. The exact screens depend on the return type and the period selected, so use the current return tile and its instructions rather than assuming that one form’s sequence applies to every form.
General return workflow
- Open gst.gov.in and sign in with the registered taxpayer credentials.
- Open Services > Returns > Returns Dashboard.
- Select the applicable financial year and return-filing period.
- Choose the tile for the return you are required to file.
- Use that form’s preparation flow to enter or upload the required information, review the calculated figures and complete the filing action shown by the portal.
- Save the acknowledgement, filing reference or other confirmation generated by the system. Keep it with the underlying records in case an officer later asks for clarification.
The published GSTR-7 manual documents this path specifically for GSTR-7. It is a reliable example of the portal’s structure, not a promise that every GSTR form has identical fields, validations or submission buttons.
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Why a state portal is usually not the filing destination
GST is administered by both State and Central governments, which is why taxpayers encounter state jurisdiction names and state-level information. The common system still hosts the core taxpayer-facing filing service. Do not move a routine return to a state commercial or departmental website unless an official instruction for that exact return and taxpayer category expressly tells you to do so.
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How to file a GST registration application
The official registration tutorial begins on the Common GST Portal. The application collects identifying and contact information and produces a reference number that lets you follow the case.
- Go to gst.gov.in.
- Select Services > Registration > New Registration.
- Choose the relevant State or Union Territory and enter the requested details. The registration rules identify PAN, mobile number, email address and State/UT as information requested in Part A of Form GST REG-01 on the Common Portal.
- Submit Part A and note the generated application reference number. Store it exactly as displayed; it is the key identifier for tracking.
- Complete the remaining application steps and submit any verification or supporting information requested by the live form.
How do I track my GST registration application?
- Open gst.gov.in.
- Choose Services > Registration > Track Application Status.
- Enter the requested reference details and submit the search.
- Read the status shown for the application. The registration tutorial describes statuses including Pending, Approved and Rejected.
A status display tells you where the application stands in the portal workflow. If the record contains a notice, clarification request or officer communication, follow that instruction and retain proof of the response. A decision itself belongs to the assigned tax authority even though the application and status page are hosted by the GST System.
Where can I check GST return filing status?
Start with the Common GST Portal’s return area rather than a state information site. After signing in, open Services > Returns > Returns Dashboard, select the financial year and period, and open the relevant return tile. The current form page and the account’s filing records are the appropriate places to confirm whether the return was prepared, submitted or acknowledged.
Return navigation is form-specific. The GSTR-7 instructions provide the concrete dashboard route, while another return may present a different tile, filing sequence or validation message. If a menu label has changed, use the portal’s current service names and the instructions attached to the selected form instead of relying on an old screenshot.
How to make GST payments and preserve proof
Payment management is one of the core taxpayer-facing services assigned to the GST System. Use the payment workflow available after logging in to the Common GST Portal, select the liability or challan option presented for your account, and save the generated challan, ledger entry and transaction confirmation.
- Match the payment record to the tax period and liability for which it was made.
- Keep the portal acknowledgement and bank or payment confirmation together.
- If the ledger does not update as expected, use the transaction details shown in the portal before contacting the jurisdictional officer.
The official material establishes the portal as the payment route but does not make every payment screen identical across tax types or account situations. Follow the live instructions for the particular liability.
Can I look up a taxpayer without logging in?
Yes. The official Search Taxpayer manual says that some information can be viewed without signing in. Depending on the search and the record available, the results can include:
- GSTIN or UIN
- Legal name and trade name
- Registration status and registration dates
- Principal place of business
- Return-filing details made available by the system
Use the public lookup to verify a counterparty’s registration information, not as a substitute for an authenticated account record or a formal notice. Publicly displayed fields and filing details can change as the system is updated.
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The assigned officer becomes important when the matter is an authority-side decision rather than a routine electronic submission. Examples include registration verification, approval or rejection, assessment of a return, refund processing, audit, investigation, a demand or any communication that names a jurisdiction or officer.
Finding the right jurisdictional contact
- Read the portal record or notice for the assigned State or Central jurisdiction.
- Use the contact or officer information identified in that official record; do not select a contact solely because the business operates in a particular state.
- Respond through the channel and within the deadline stated in the notice.
- Keep the notice, response, attachments and portal acknowledgement together.
Administrative assignment does not mean the taxpayer files twice on two different websites. It tells you which government administration handles the statutory part of the case. The welcome material’s explanation that taxpayers remain registered under both Central and State GST is why a jurisdiction label should not be mistaken for a separate filing destination.
State-specific GST information: useful context, not automatic filing instructions
The GST Council maintains state-wise GST information. Such a page can help you understand state contacts, jurisdictional context or local announcements. It does not, by itself, prove that routine national GST returns must be filed on a separate state portal.
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Before using another website, check three things:
- It is an official government domain and the page names the exact service you need.
- The instruction applies to your return, registration type, period and taxpayer category.
- The instruction does not merely provide background information or a link back to the Common GST Portal.
If those conditions are not met, return to the Common GST Portal for the transaction and use the state or Central officer only for the authority-side issue.
Common mistakes and how to recover
Mistake: treating jurisdiction as a second filing website
Symptom: You search for a State GST site because your registration record names a state officer.
Fix: File or track the taxpayer-facing transaction on gst.gov.in; use the named jurisdiction only when a notice, approval or other authority action requires contact.
Mistake: using the wrong menu for a return
Symptom: An old guide sends you to a menu that is not visible or shows a different form.
Fix: Sign in, open Services > Returns > Returns Dashboard, select the correct financial year and period, and follow the current tile for that return. Do not assume the GSTR-7 sequence is universal.
Mistake: losing the registration reference number
Symptom: You cannot retrieve the application in Track Application Status.
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Fix: Search your saved submission confirmation and messages for the generated reference number, then use Services > Registration > Track Application Status. If the portal presents a clarification or rejection, follow the instructions in that record rather than starting an unrelated duplicate application.
Mistake: assuming a state information page proves a state filing requirement
Symptom: A state-wise GST page appears authoritative, so you begin a return there.
Fix: Confirm that an official instruction names the exact return and requires that route. Without that specific instruction, use the Common GST Portal.
Mistake: expecting the portal to decide the case
Symptom: You submit an application and wait for the website itself to resolve an approval, assessment or refund issue.
Fix: Check notifications and notices for the assigned State or Central authority. The portal carries the submission and status; the tax administration performs the statutory decision.
A quick decision guide
- Are you submitting registration, a return or a payment? Begin at gst.gov.in.
- Are you checking a registration application? Use Services > Registration > Track Application Status and your reference number.
- Are you checking a return? Use Services > Returns > Returns Dashboard, then the form-specific tile for the selected period.
- Are you verifying another taxpayer? Use Search Taxpayer and review the fields the system makes available.
- Did you receive an approval, assessment, refund, audit, investigation or other official communication? Follow the named State or Central jurisdiction and the instructions in the notice.
- Did you find only a state-wise information page? Treat it as context unless an official page expressly requires that site for your exact task.
What to keep for your records
A clean record makes both portal troubleshooting and officer communication easier. Retain the registration reference number, filed return acknowledgement, payment challan and ledger evidence, screenshots or downloaded status records where permitted, and every notice or clarification response. Label each item with the relevant financial year, filing period and GSTIN or UIN.
Menu names and form flows can change. The safest practice is to use the live instructions attached to the selected service, while keeping the task-and-authority distinction clear: the Common GST Portal is the normal electronic front door; State and Central tax authorities handle the statutory decisions behind the record.
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