GST Registration Threshold Limits Increased

The GST Council, on considering the demands raised by MSME, increased the threshold limits for GST registration. These changes were proposed in the 32nd GST Council meeting held on 10th January 2019. It was subsequently notified by the CBIC. It 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.

نظرة عامة على لوائح الفواتير الإلكترونية في المملكة المادة الثانية: الغاية والهدف المادة الثالثة: الأشخاص الخاضعون لهذه اللائحة المادة الرابعة: الأحكام المتعلقة بالفواتير والسندات الإلكترونية المادة الخامسة: المواصفات الفنية والقواعد الإجرائية المادة السادسة: الأحكام العامة المادة السابعة: الفروض والالتزام

Latest updates on GST Registration

29th August 2021
Taxpayers can get extended time up to 30th September 2021 to revoke cancelled GST registration if the last date for the same falls between 1st March 2020 and 31st August 2021. It applies if the GST registration is cancelled under Section 29(2) clause (b) or (c) of the CGST Act via CGST notification number 34/2021 dated 29th August 2021.

28th May 2021
Due date to file application for revocation of cancellation of registration falling between 15th April 2021 up to 29th June 2021 is 30th June 2021.

1st May 2021
The time limit to take actions, reply or pass orders as given under Rule 9 of the CGST Rules, 2017 that falls between 1st May 2021 and 31st May 2021 has been extended up to 15th June 2021.

5th March 2021
The Search ARN Functionality for Registration, post-TRN Login has been enhanced for the taxpayers.

Overview of earlier limits, new limits and the date of applicability

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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 the threshold limits for service providers. Persons providing services need to register if their aggregate turnover exceeds Rs.20 lakh (for normal category states) and Rs.10 lakh (for special category states).

States who opted for the new limit

An option was provided to the states to opt for the new limits or continue the earlier ones (status quo).

Normal Category States/UT who opted for a new limit of Rs.40 lakh	Normal Category States who choose status quo	Special Category States/UT who opted for new limit of Rs.40 lakh	Special Category States/UT who opted for new limit of Rs.20 lakh
Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Chandigarh	Telangana	Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Assam	Puducherry, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and 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 lakh, 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 the current financial year (for instance, in the above case, FY 2019-2020) is considered for applicability of new threshold limits. Every supplier whose aggregate turnover in the current financial year exceeds the threshold limits will have to get registered under GST. However, certain category of persons are required to compulsorily get registered under GST:

• Interstate 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 providing a platform to suppliers to make supply through it.
• Suppliers who supply goods through e-commerce operators who are liable to collect tax at source.
• Online Service Providers providing service from outside India to a non-registered person in India.

Changes in the threshold limits to opt into the Composition Scheme

• Changes in the composition scheme: The threshold of annual turnover for composition scheme was  increased to Rs.1.5 crore 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 lakh for North Eastern states & Uttarakhand.  The limit also applies to restaurants (not serving alcoholic beverages).
• 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 lakh in the preceding financial year can opt for this scheme.