List of GSP Approved by the GSTN

The list of GSP is hosted by the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) on its website. A GST Suvidha Provider (GSP) is a licenced intermediary that provides third-party applications to businesses to access the GST portal, and help them with their GST compliance.

A GSP, via their GST software applications and APIs, comprising automated features and user-friendly interfaces, can assist taxpayers in complying with GST law requirements more easily, as compared to them fulfilling their compliances on their own. For instance, ClearTax is an approved and licensed GSP.

The article gives a comprehensive list of GSPs approved by the GSTN

Who can become a licensed GSP?

Following are the conditions to be fulfilled to qualify for a GSP license:

• Companies in the IT/ITES/BFSI domain are registered in India.
• The prospective GSP applicant had to meet the pre-qualification conditions for GSPs, provided for the latest 4th batch and earlier batches- 1st batch and 2nd batch of allotment.
• GSPs who meet the pre-qualification requirements will be required to sign a contract with the GSTN to become an authorised GSP.
• There is a condition imposed that any data that is exchanged or sourced from the GST system must not be used for directly or indirectly selling any financial products to taxpayers via subsidiaries or parent companies. Accordingly, an approved GSP must provide an affidavit, to undertake the legal liability arising from non-compliance with this condition.

The contract drafted will contain the following contents:

1. Definitions, duties, liabilities and legal obligations of the GSP.
2. The flow of integration between GSP and the GST system depicted by the technical architectural framework.
3. Service Level Agreements (SLA) and commercial terms and conditions.
4. Roles and responsibilities of the GSP (do’s and don’ts).

How is a GSP approved?

The GST Network has certified GSPs to assist taxpayers with various processes of GST compliance. GSTN approval is needed before a GSP can function. GSPs cannot read or change data, but they can use the GST Network’s interface – Application Programming Interface (API). It makes the return filing process easier and more reliable for taxpayers. 

Hence, it is provided with an API once it has been authorised, which can be used to improve compliance systems for taxpayers. GSPs may use these APIs to upgrade their processes, making it easier for taxpayers to file their returns.

GSPs will receive a unique licence key for accessing the GST system once they sign the contract. GSTN will have a licence key (User ID + Password) that will be used to authenticate GSPs. GSP would be able to produce different sub-license keys depending on their needs.

Latest list of GSPs approved by the GSTN

There have been three rounds of empanelment or licensing for GST Suvidha Providers in India by the GSTN until November 2019. The 4th round is being held for empanelment till 11th April 2021.

34 companies were granted GSP licenses in the first round of allotment of the licensing, followed by 42. After that, 10 were approved in the last round held during November 2019. However, the current list of 55 empanelled GSPs hosted on www.gstn.org are given below:

For more details about offerings by ClearTax GSP, visit the ClearTax GST website.