The GST Council, on considering the demands raised by MSME, increased the threshold limits for GST registration. This helps to ease compliance under GST. The states have an option to opt for a higher limit or continue with the existing limits. This article explains the earlier threshold limits, new limits, their effective date of applicability and the persons to whom it applies.
Overview of earlier limits, new limits and the date of applicability
| Aggregate Turnover | Registration Required | Applicability |
| Earlier Limits – For the sale of Goods/Providing Services | ||
| Exceeds Rs.20 lakh | Yes – For Normal Category States | Up to 31st March 2019 |
| Exceeds Rs.10 lakh | Yes – For Special Category States | Up to 31st March 2019 |
| New Limits – For Sale of Goods | ||
| Exceeds Rs.40 lakh | Yes – For Normal Category States | From 1st April 2019 |
| Exceeds Rs.20 lakh | Yes – For Special Category States | From 1st April 2019 |
| New Limits – For Providing Services | ||
| There has been no change in Threshold limits for Service Providers | ||
States who opted for the new limit
The above changes were proposed in the 32nd GST Council Meeting held on 10th January 2019. An option was provided to the states to opt for the new limits or continue the earlier ones (status quo).
| Normal Category States who opted for a new limit of Rs.40 lakh | Normal Category States who choose status quo | Special Category States who opted for new limit of Rs.20 lakh |
| Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, J&K, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal | Kerala and Telangana | Puducherry, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
Note 1: Two hilly states J&K and Assam have also opted to raise the limit to Rs.40 lakh. These two states had the option to remain under lower threshold limits as they fall under the Special Category States. Even previously when these two states had the option to charge GST only on aggregate turnover exceeding Rs.10 lacs, they had opted for a higher threshold limit of Rs.20 lakh.
Note 2: Kerala can now charge ‘calamity cess’ up to 1% on all intra-state supply of goods and services to cope up with natural calamities faced by the state last year.
Financial Year to reckon the aggregate turnover
Aggregate turnover for FY 2019-2020 is considered for applicability of new threshold limits. Every supplier whose aggregate turnover in the FY 2019-2020 exceeds the new threshold limits will have to get registered under GST.
However, certain category of persons are required to compulsorily get registered under GST:
- Inter state suppliers
- Casual Taxable persons
- Persons taxable under the reverse charge basis
- Non-resident taxable persons
- Persons required to deduct TDS under GST
- Persons required to deduct TCS under GST
- Input Service Distributors
- Persons making a sale on behalf of someone else whether as an Agent or Principal.
- Every E-commerce Operator who provides a platform to suppliers to make supply through it.
- Suppliers who supply goods through E-commerce operator who is liable to collect tax at source.
- Online Service Providers providing service from outside India to a non-registered person in India.
Other amendments in the threshold limits under the Composition Scheme
1. Changes in the composition scheme: The threshold of annual turnover for composition scheme was increased to Rs.1.5 crores from 1st April 2019. The taxpayers registered under the scheme have to pay tax quarterly and file returns annually from 1st April 2019. The limit remains unchanged at Rs.75 lacs for North Eastern states & Uttarakhand.
2. Composition scheme was made available to service providers: New scheme introduces a fixed tax rate of 6% with 3% CGST and 3% SGST. Independent service providers, as well as mixed suppliers of goods and services with an annual turnover of up to Rs.50 lacs in the preceding financial year can opt for this scheme.