CGST Rules: Chapter 3 – Registration

Let us look at chapter 3 of CGST rules – Registration. This text is taken from http://www.cbec.gov.in/resources//htdocs-cbec/gst/cgst-rules-01july2017%20.pdf

Application for Registration

1. Every person, other than a non-resident taxable person, a person required to deduct tax at source under section 51, a person required to collect tax at source under section 52 and a person supplying online information and database access or retrieval services from a place outside India to a non-taxable online recipient referred to in section 14 of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (13 of 2017) who is liable to be registered under sub-section (1) of section 25 and every person seeking registration under sub-section (3) of section 25 (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as “the applicant”) shall, before applying for registration, declare his Permanent Account Number, mobile number, e-mail address, State or Union territory in Part A of FORM GST REG-01 on the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner:
   Provided that a person having a unit(s) in a Special Economic Zone or being a Special Economic Zone developer shall make a separate application for registration as a business vertical distinct from his other units located outside the Special Economic Zone:
   Provided further that every person being an Input Service Distributor shall make a separate application for registration as such Input Service Distributor.
2. (a) The Permanent Account Number shall be validated online by the common portal from the database maintained by the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
   (b) The mobile number declared under sub-rule (1) shall be verified through a onetime password sent to the said mobile number; and
   (c) The e-mail address declared under sub-rule (1) shall be verified through a separate one-time password sent to the said e-mail address.
3. On successful verification of the Permanent Account Number, mobile number and email address, a temporary reference number shall be generated and communicated to the applicant on the said mobile number and e-mail address.
4. Using the reference number generated under sub-rule (3), the applicant shall electronically submit an application in Part B of FORM GST REG-01, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, along with the documents specified in the said Form at the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner.
5. On receipt of an application under sub-rule (4), an acknowledgement shall be issued electronically to the applicant in FORM GST REG-02.
6. A person applying for registration as a casual taxable person shall be given a temporary reference number by the common portal for making advance deposit of tax in accordance with the provisions of section 27 and the acknowledgement under sub-rule (5) shall be issued electronically only after the said deposit.

Verification of the Application and Approval

1. The application shall be forwarded to the proper officer who shall examine the application and the accompanying documents and if the same are found to be in order, approve the grant of registration to the applicant within a period of three working days from the date of submission of the application.
2. Where the application submitted under rule 8 is found to be deficient, either in terms of any information or any document required to be furnished under the said rule, or where the proper officer requires any clarification with regard to any information provided in the application or documents furnished therewith, he may issue a notice to the applicant electronically in FORM GST REG-03 within a period of three working days from the date of submission of the application and the applicant shall furnish such clarification, information or documents electronically, in FORM GST REG-04, within a period of seven working days from the date of the receipt of such notice. Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expression “clarification” includes modification or correction of particulars declared in the application for registration, other than Permanent Account Number, State, mobile number and e-mail address declared in Part A of FORM GST REG-01.
3. Where the proper officer is satisfied with the clarification, information or documents furnished by the applicant, he may approve the grant of registration to the applicant within a period of seven working days from the date of the receipt of such clarification or information or documents.
4. Where no reply is furnished by the applicant in response to the notice issued under sub-rule (2) or where the proper officer is not satisfied with the clarification, information or documents furnished, he shall, for reasons to be recorded in writing, reject such application and inform the applicant electronically in FORM GST REG-05.
5. If the proper officer fails to take any action, –
   (a) within a period of three working days from the date of submission of the application; or
   (b) within a period of seven working days from the date of the receipt of the clarification, information or documents furnished by the applicant under sub-rule (2), the application for grant of registration shall be deemed to have been approved.

Issue of Registration Certificate

1. Subject to the provisions of sub-section (12) of section 25, where the application for grant of registration has been approved under rule 9, a certificate of registration in FORM GST REG-06 showing the principal place of business and additional place or places of business shall be made available to the applicant on the common portal and a Goods and Services Tax Identification Number shall be assigned subject to the following characters, namely:-
   (a) two characters for the State code;
   (b) ten characters for the Permanent Account Number or the Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number;
   (c) two characters for the entity code; and
   (d) one checksum character.
2. The registration shall be effective from the date on which the person becomes liable to registration where the application for registration has been submitted within a period of thirty days from such date.
3. Where an application for registration has been submitted by the applicant after the expiry of thirty days from the date of his becoming liable to registration, the effective date of registration shall be the date of the grant of registration under sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (3) or sub-rule (5) of rule 9.
4. Every certificate of registration shall be duly signed or verified through electronic verification code by the proper officer under the Act.
5. Where the registration has been granted under sub-rule (5) of rule 9, the applicant shall be communicated the registration number, and the certificate of registration under sub-rule (1), duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, shall be made available to him on the common portal, within a period of three days after the expiry of the period specified in sub-rule (5) of rule 9.

Separate Registration for Multiple Business Verticals Within a State or a Union Territory

1. Any person having multiple business verticals within a State or a Union territory, requiring a separate registration for any of its business verticals under sub-section (2) of section 25 shall be granted separate registration in respect of each of the verticals subject to the following conditions, namely:-
   (a) such person has more than one business vertical as defined in clause (18) of section 2;
   (b) the business vertical of a taxable person shall not be granted registration to pay tax under section 10 if any one of the other business verticals of the same person is paying tax under section 9;
   (c) all separately registered business verticals of such person shall pay tax under the Act on supply of goods or services or both made to another registered business vertical of such person and issue a tax invoice for such supply.
   Explanation: For the purposes of clause (b), it is hereby clarified that where any business vertical of a registered person that has been granted a separate registration becomes ineligible to pay tax under section 10, all other business verticals of the said person shall become ineligible to pay tax under the said section.
2. A registered person eligible to obtain separate registration for business verticals may submit a separate application in FORM GST REG-01 in respect of each such vertical.
3. The provisions of rule 9 and rule 10 relating to the verification and the grant of registration shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to an application submitted under this rule.

Grant of Registration to Persons Required to Deduct Tax at Source or to Collect Tax at Source

1. Any person required to deduct tax in accordance with the provisions of section 51 or a person required to collect tax at source in accordance with the provisions of section 52 shall electronically submit an application, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, in FORM GST REG-07 for the grant of registration through the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner.
2. The proper officer may grant registration after due verification and issue a certificate of registration in FORM GST REG-06 within a period of three working days from the date of submission of the application.
3. Where, upon an enquiry or pursuant to any other proceeding under the Act, the proper officer is satisfied that a person to whom a certificate of registration in FORM GST REG06 has been issued is no longer liable to deduct tax at source under section 51 or collect tax at source under section 52, the said officer may cancel the registration issued under subrule (2) and such cancellation shall be communicated to the said person electronically in FORM GST REG-08: Provided that the proper officer shall follow the procedure as provided in rule 22 for the cancellation of registration.

Grant of Registration to Non-Resident Taxable Person

1. A non-resident taxable person shall electronically submit an application, along with a self-attested copy of his valid passport, for registration, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, in FORM GST REG-09, at least five days prior to the commencement of business at the common portal either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner: Provided that in the case of a business entity incorporated or established outside India, the application for registration shall be submitted along with its tax identification number or unique number on the basis of which the entity is identified by the Government of that country or its Permanent Account Number, if available.
2. A person applying for registration as a non-resident taxable person shall be given a temporary reference number by the common portal for making an advance deposit of tax in accordance with the provisions of section 27 and the acknowledgement under sub-rule (5) of rule 8 shall be issued electronically only after the said deposit in his electronic cash ledger.
3. The provisions of rule 9 and rule 10 relating to the verification and the grant of registration shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to an application submitted under this rule.
4. The application for registration made by a non-resident taxable person shall be duly signed or verified through electronic verification code by his authorised signatory who shall be a person resident in India having a valid Permanent Account Number.

Grant of Registration to a Person Supplying Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval Services From a Place Outside India to a Non-Taxable Online Recipient

1. Any person supplying online information and database access or retrieval services from a place outside India to a non-taxable online recipient shall electronically submit an application for registration, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, in FORM GST REG-10, at the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner.
2. The applicant referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be granted registration, in FORM GST REG-06, subject to such conditions and restrictions and by such officer as may be notified by the Central Government on the recommendations of the Council.

Extension in Period of Operation by Casual Taxable Person and Non-Resident Taxable Person

1. Where a registered casual taxable person or a non-resident taxable person intends to extend the period of registration indicated in his application of registration, an application in FORM GST REG-11 shall be submitted electronically through the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner, by such person before the end of the validity of registration granted to him.
2. The application under sub-rule (1) shall be acknowledged only on payment of the amount specified in sub-section (2) of section 27.

Suo Moto Registration

1. Where, pursuant to any survey, enquiry, inspection, search or any other proceedings under the Act, the proper officer finds that a person liable to registration under the Act has failed to apply for such registration, such officer may register the said person on a temporary basis and issue an order in FORM GST REG- 12.
2. The registration granted under sub-rule (1) shall be effective from the date of such order granting registration.
3. Every person to whom a temporary registration has been granted under sub-rule (1) shall, within a period of ninety days from the date of the grant of such registration, submit an application for registration in the form and manner provided in rule 8 or rule 12: Provided that where the said person has filed an appeal against the grant of temporary registration, in such case, the application for registration shall be submitted within a period of thirty days from the date of the issuance of the order upholding the liability to registration by the Appellate Authority.
4. The provisions of rule 9 and rule 10 relating to verification and the issue of the certificate of registration shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to an application submitted under sub-rule (3).
5. The Goods and Services Tax Identification Number assigned, pursuant to the verification under sub-rule (4), shall be effective from the date of the order granting registration under sub-rule (1).

Assignment of Unique Identity Number to Certain Special Entities

1. Every person required to be granted a Unique Identity Number in accordance with the provisions of subsection (9) of section 25 may submit an application electronically in FORM GST REG13, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, in the manner specified in rule 8 at the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner.
2. The proper officer may, upon submission of an application in FORM GST REG-13 or after filling up the said form, assign a Unique Identity Number to the said person and issue a certificate in FORM GST REG-06 within a period of three working days from the date of the submission of the application.

Display of Registration Certificate and Goods and Services Tax Identification Number on the Name Board

1. Every registered person shall display his certificate of registration in a prominent location at his principal place of business and at every additional place or places of business.
2. Every registered person shall display his Goods and Services Tax Identification Number on the name board exhibited at the entry of his principal place of business and at every additional place or places of business.

Amendment of Registration

1. Where there is any change in any of the particulars furnished in the application for registration in FORM GST REG-01 or FORM GST REG-07 or FORM GST REG-09 or FORM GST REG-10 or for Unique Identity Number in FORM GST-REG-13, either at the time of obtaining registration or Unique Identity Number or as amended from time to time, the registered person shall, within a period of fifteen days of such change, submit an application, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, electronically in FORM GST REG-14, along with the documents relating to such change at the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner: Provided that –
   
   • (a) where the change relates to,-
     
     • (i) legal name of business;
       
     • (ii) address of the principal place of business or any additional place(s) of business; or
       
     • (iii) addition, deletion or retirement of partners or directors, Karta, Managing Committee, Board of Trustees, Chief Executive Officer or equivalent, responsible for the day to day affairs of the business,- which does not warrant cancellation of registration under section 29, the proper officer shall, after due verification, approve the amendment within a period of fifteen working days from the date of the receipt of the application in FORM GST REG-14 and issue an order in FORM GST REG-15 electronically and such amendment shall take effect from the date of the occurrence of the event warranting such amendment;
       
   • (b) the change relating to sub-clause
     
     • (i) and sub-clause
       
     • (iii) of clause
       
       • (a) in any State or Union territory shall be applicable for all registrations of the registered person obtained under the provisions of this Chapter on the same Permanent Account Number;
         
   • (c) where the change relates to any particulars other than those specified in clause
     
     • (a), the certificate of registration shall stand amended upon submission of the application in FORM GST REG- 14 on the common portal;
       
   • (d) where a change in the constitution of any business results in the change of the Permanent Account Number of a registered person, the said person shall apply for fresh registration in FORM GST REG-01: Provided further that any change in the mobile number or e-mail address of the authorised signatory submitted under this rule, as amended from time to time, shall be carried out only after online verification through the common portal in the manner provided under sub-rule (2) of rule 8.
2. Where the proper officer is of the opinion that the amendment sought under sub-rule (1) is either not warranted or the documents furnished therewith are incomplete or incorrect, he may, within a period of fifteen working days from the date of the receipt of the application in FORM GST REG-14, serve a notice in FORM GST REG-03, requiring the registered person to show cause, within a period of seven working days of the service of the said notice, as to why the application submitted under sub-rule (1) shall not be rejected.
3. The registered person shall furnish a reply to the notice to show cause, issued under sub-rule (2), in FORM GST REG-04, within a period of seven working days from the date of the service of the said notice.
4. Where the reply furnished under sub-rule (3) is found to be not satisfactory or where no reply is furnished in response to the notice issued under sub-rule (2) within the period prescribed in sub-rule (3), the proper officer shall reject the application submitted under sub-rule (1) and pass an order in FORM GST REG -05.
5. If the proper officer fails to take any action,-
   (a) within a period of fifteen working days from the date of submission of the application, or
   (b) within a period of seven working days from the date of the receipt of the reply to the notice to show cause under sub-rule (3), the certificate of registration shall stand amended to the extent applied for and the amended certificate shall be made available to the registered person on the common portal.

Application for Cancellation of Registration

A registered person, other than a person to whom a registration has been granted under rule 12 or a person to whom a Unique Identity Number has been granted under rule 17, seeking cancellation of his registration under sub-section (1) of section 29 shall electronically submit an application in FORM GST REG-16, including therein the details of inputs held in stock or inputs contained in semi-finished or finished goods held in stock and of capital goods held in stock on the date from which the cancellation of registration is sought, liability thereon, the details of the payment, if any, made against such liability and may furnish, along with the application, relevant documents in support thereof, at the common portal within a period of thirty days of the occurrence of the event warranting the cancellation, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner: Provided that no application for the cancellation of registration shall be considered in case of a taxable person, who has registered voluntarily, before the expiry of a period of one year from the effective date of registration. 21.

Registration to be Cancelled in Certain Cases

The registration granted to a person is liable to be cancelled, if the said person,-

1. does not conduct any business from the declared place of business; or
2. issues invoice or bill without supply of goods or services in violation of the provisions of this Act, or the rules made thereunder; or
3. violates the provisions of section 171 of the Act or the rules made the reunder.

Cancellation of Registration

1. Where the proper officer has reasons to believe that the registration of a person is liable to be cancelled under section 29, he shall issue a notice to such person in FORM GST REG-17, requiring him to show cause, within a period of seven working days from the date of the service of such notice, as to why his registration shall not be cancelled.
2. The reply to the show cause notice issued under sub-rule (1) shall be furnished in FORM REG–18 within the period specified in the said sub-rule.
3. Where a person who has submitted an application for cancellation of his registration is no longer liable to be registered or his registration is liable to be cancelled, the proper officer shall issue an order in FORM GST REG-19, within a period of thirty days from the date of application submitted under sub-rule (1) of rule 20 or, as the case may be, the date of the reply to the show cause issued under sub-rule (1), cancel the registration, with effect from a date to be determined by him and notify the taxable person, directing him to pay arrears of any tax, interest or penalty including the amount liable to be paid under subsection (5) of section 29.
4. Where the reply furnished under sub-rule (2) is found to be satisfactory, the proper officer shall drop the proceedings and pass an order in FORM GST REG –20.
5. The provisions of sub-rule (3) shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to the legal heirs of a deceased proprietor, as if the application had been submitted by the proprietor himself.

Revocation of Cancellation of Registration

1. A registered person, whose registration is cancelled by the proper officer on his own motion, may submit an application for revocation of cancellation of registration, in FORM GST REG-21, to such proper officer, within a period of thirty days from the date of the service of the order of cancellation of registration at the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner: Provided that no application for revocation shall be filed, if the registration has been cancelled for the failure of the registered person to furnish returns, unless such returns are furnished and any amount due as tax, in terms of such returns, has been paid along with any amount payable towards interest, penalty and late fee in respect of the said returns.
2. (a) Where the proper officer is satisfied, for reasons to be recorded in writing, that there are sufficient grounds for revocation of cancellation of registration, he shall revoke the cancellation of registration by an order in FORM GST REG-22 within a period of thirty days from the date of the receipt of the application and communicate the same to the applicant.
   (b) The proper officer may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, under circumstances other than those specified in clause (a), by an order in FORM GST REG05, reject the application for revocation of cancellation of registration and communicate the same to the applicant.
3. The proper officer shall, before passing the order referred to in clause (b) of sub-rule (2), issue a notice in FORM GST REG–23 requiring the applicant to show cause as to why the application submitted for revocation under sub-rule (1) should not be rejected and the applicant shall furnish the reply within a period of seven working days from the date of the service of the notice in FORM GST REG-24.
4. Upon receipt of the information or clarification in FORM GST REG-24, the proper officer shall proceed to dispose of the application in the manner specified in sub-rule (2) within a period of thirty days from the date of the receipt of such information or clarification from the applicant.

Migration of Persons Registered Under the Existing Law

1. (a) Every person, other than a person deducting tax at source or an Input Service Distributor, registered under an existing law and having a Permanent Account Number issued under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Act 43 of 1961) shall enrol on the common portal by validating his e-mail address and mobile number, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner.
   (b) Upon enrolment under clause (a), the said person shall be granted registration on a provisional basis and a certificate of registration in FORM GST REG-25, incorporating the Goods and Services Tax Identification Number therein, shall be made available to him on the common portal: Provided that a taxable person who has been granted multiple registrations under the existing law on the basis of a single Permanent Account Number shall be granted only one provisional registration under the Act:
2. (a) Every person who has been granted a provisional registration under sub-rule (1) shall submit an application electronically in FORM GST REG–26, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, along with the information and documents specified in the said application, on the common portal either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner.
   (b) The information asked for in clause (a) shall be furnished within a period of three months or within such further period as may be extended by the Commissioner in this behalf.
   (c) If the information and the particulars furnished in the application are found, by the proper officer, to be correct and complete, a certificate of registration in FORM GST REG-06 shall be made available to the registered person electronically on the common portal.
3. Where the particulars or information specified in sub-rule (2) have either not been furnished or not found to be correct or complete, the proper officer shall, after serving a notice to show cause in FORM GST REG-27 and after affording the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard, cancel the provisional registration granted under sub-rule (1) and issue an order in FORM GST REG-28: (3A) Where a certificate of registration has not been made available to the applicant on the common portal within a period of fifteen days from the date of the furnishing of information and particulars referred to in clause (c) of sub-rule (2) and no notice has been issued under sub-rule (3) within the said period, the registration shall be deemed to have been granted and the said certificate of registration, duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, shall be made available to the registered person on the common portal. Provided that the show cause notice issued in FORM GST REG- 27 can be withdrawn by issuing an order in FORM GST REG- 20, if it is found, after affording the person an opportunity of being heard, that no such cause exists for which the notice was issued.
4. Every person registered under any of the existing laws, who is not liable to be registered under the Act may, within a period of thirty days from the appointed day, at his option, submit an application electronically in FORM GST REG-29 at the common portal for the cancellation of registration granted to him and the proper officer shall, after conducting such enquiry as deemed fit, cancel the said registration.

Physical Verification of Business Premises in Certain Cases

Where the proper officer is satisfied that the physical verification of the place of business of a registered person is required after the grant of registration, he may get such verification done and the verification report along with the other documents, including photographs, shall be uploaded in FORM GST REG-30 on the common portal within a period of fifteen working days following the date of such verification.

Method of Authentication

1. All applications, including reply, if any, to the notices, returns including the details of outward and inward supplies, appeals or any other document required to be submitted under the provisions of these rules shall be so submitted electronically with digital signature certificate or through e-signature as specified under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000) or verified by any other mode of signature or verification as notified by the Board in this behalf: Provided that a registered person registered under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) shall furnish the documents or application verified through digital signature certificate.
2. Each document including the return furnished online shall be signed or verified through electronic verification code-
   (a) in the case of an individual, by the individual himself or where he is absent from India, by some other person duly authorised by him in this behalf, and where the individual is mentally incapacitated from attending to his affairs, by his guardian or by any other person competent to act on his behalf;
   (b) in the case of a Hindu Undivided Family, by a Karta and where the Karta is absent from India or is mentally incapacitated from attending to his affairs, by any other adult member of such family or by the authorised signatory of such Karta;
   (c) in the case of a company, by the chief executive officer or authorised signatory thereof;
   (d) in the case of a Government or any Governmental agency or local authority, by an officer authorised in this behalf;
   (e) in the case of a firm, by any partner thereof, not being a minor or authorised signatory thereof;
   (f) in the case of any other association, by any member of the association or persons or authorised signatory thereof;
   (g) in the case of a trust, by the trustee or any trustee or authorised signatory thereof; or
   (h) in the case of any other person, by some person competent to act on his behalf, or by a person authorised in accordance with the provisions of section 48.
3. All notices, certificates and orders under the provisions of this Chapter shall be issued electronically by the proper officer or any other officer authorised to issue such notices or certificates or orders, through digital signature certificate or through E-signature as specified under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000) or verified by by any other mode of signature or verification as notified by the Board in this behalf.