In India, businesses and individuals whose annual turnover exceeds a specified threshold must register for GST. The process of GST registration involves submitting various documents, which vary depending on the type of business, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, or companies. The GST registration documents list typically includes a PAN card, business registration certificate, identity proof, photographs, residential proof for authorised individuals, business address proof, and bank statements. In this article, we will provide a detailed GST registration documents list and explain how it varies depending on the business structure, category of GST registration, and the nature of business activity.
 

If you are unsure about the GST implications for your business, you can use an online tool like the GST Calculator to estimate your GST liabilities.
 

Here is a list of the GST registration documents that you must provide based on your business type.
 

Who should register for GST?

According to the 2017 Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, businesses having a turnover of Rs. 40 lakh or more are required to register for GST. The threshold for GST registration in northeastern and hill states is Rs. 10 lakh. In addition, the following individuals must register for GST and obtain a unique 15-digit GSTIN:

• Individuals making the inter-state supply of taxable goods and services
• Individuals with taxability under reverse charge
• Non-resident taxable individuals
• Individuals are eligible for tax deductions under Section 37.
• Individuals who provide products or services on behalf of another registered taxpayer in any way
• Individuals acting as distributors of input services
• All e-commerce operators
• Aggregators supplying services under a new brand or trade name
• Any other individual or group of individuals notified by the Central or State government as per the GST Council's recommendations

You need to sign up for GST if you sell goods within the same state and your annual turnover is more than Rs. 20 lakh. The same goes for service providers within the same state who have annual turnovers of Rs. 40 lakh. Also, suppliers within the same state must sign up for GST.
 

Category of GST Registration

There are different types of GST registration depending on the nature and turnover of the business. Some of the types are:

• Normal scheme registration: This is the most common type of registration for businesses whose turnover exceeds the threshold limit of Rs. 40 lakh for goods or Rs. 20 lakh for services. The registered person has to file monthly or quarterly GST returns and pay tax at the applicable rates.
• Composition scheme registration: This is a simplified scheme for small businesses whose turnover does not exceed Rs. 1.5 crore for goods or Rs. 50 lakh for services. The registered person has to pay tax at a fixed rate on turnover and file quarterly GST returns.
• Casual taxable person registration: This is a temporary registration for persons who occasionally supply taxable goods or services in a state where they do not have a fixed place of business. The registration is valid for 90 days or the period of supply, whichever is earlier.
• Non-Resident taxable person registration: This is a registration for persons who reside outside India but supply taxable goods or services in India. The registration is valid for 90 days or the period of supply, whichever is earlier.
• Input service distributor registration: This is a registration for offices of a supplier who receive tax invoices for input services and distribute the input tax credit to other branches of the same supplier.

Other types of registration include non-resident online service distributor, Embassy/ UN Body/ Other notified persons, special Economic zone Developer/ Unit, tax deductor at source/ tax collector at source, etc.
 

What are the main documents required for GST registration?

The main documents for GST registration include:

• PAN card
• Proof of business registration
• Proof of identity
• Photographs
• Address proof of persons in charge
• Business's address proof
• Bank account statements

You can prove your bank details through a bank statement, cancelled cheque, or an extract from your passbook. Similarly, an address proof can take the form of an electricity bill, rent agreement, or ownership documents.
 

GST Registration documents list

Here’s a list of all the documents required to register your GST:

Bank account details: Upload a copy of a cancelled cheque or extract of the passbook/bank statement showing the first and last page (JPEG or PDF format, max size – 100 KB).

Address proof: Submit one of the following documents:

• Property tax receipt
• Municipal Khata copy
• Electricity bill
• Ownership deed (for owned properties)
• Lease / rent agreement (for leased or rented properties) – must be submitted along with (1), (2), or (3)
• Consent letter / NOC from the owner (for consent arrangement or shared properties) – must be submitted along with (1), (2), or (3)
   

Documents required for GST based on the nature of business activity

The documents necessary for GST registration depend on the registration category and the specific business activities involved. Below is a detailed list of the documents required for each category of GST registration:

To submit bank account details, you need to upload either a copy of a cancelled cheque or an extract from your passbook/bank statement displaying the first and last pages. This must be in JPEG or PDF format, with a maximum file size of 100 KB.

For address verification, upload any one of the following documents:

• Property tax receipt
• Municipal Khata copy
• Electricity bill  

Additionally, based on the situation, one of the following may be needed:

• Ownership deed/document, if the property is owned
• Lease or rental agreement for rented properties, along with any of the documents 1, 2, or 3
• Consent letter/NOC from the owner for consent or shared properties, along with any of the documents 1, 2, or 3
   

Key considerations while submitting documents required for GST registration

When submitting documents for GST registration, several key considerations are vital:

1. File Size: Ensure digital documents meet specified size limits, varying by document type.
2. Document Format: Upload documents in JPG or PDF formats, adhering to portal guidelines.
3. Official Website: Refer to the official GST website for a definitive document checklist.
4. Digital Signature: Acquire a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for the authorised signatory to digitally sign all registration applications, ensuring compliance and authentication.