Additional requirement for GST registration

Recently, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, vide notification no. 94/2020- Central Tax dated 22^nd December 2020, introduced the Central Goods and Services Tax (Fourteenth Amendment) Rules, 2020. Vide the said amendment rules, biometric-based Aadhaar authentication was introduced. Accordingly, rule 8 and rule 9 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2014, governing the GST registration process, were amended. The present article briefly explains the applicable amendments.

Amendments to the GST registration process

As we know, rule 8 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2014 deals with the application for registration under GST. Further, rule 9 deals with the verification of the GST registration application and approval thereof.

Amendment in both the rules are done vide the Central Goods and Services Tax (Fourteenth Amendment) Rules, 2020.

Amendments in a rule governing application for registration and introduction of biometric-based Aadhaar authentication

As seen above, rule 8 governs the provisions of registration application under GST. Sub-rule (4A) to rule 8 is substituted. As per the substituted sub-rule (4A), the GST registration application should be followed by-

The GST registration application will be deemed complete only after completion of the above process. However, only the person notified under section 25 (6D) is exempted from the above procedure.

It is important to note here that the above provisions will be effective from the date yet to be notified.

Amendments in a rule governing verification of the registration application

Rule 9 to Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2014 deals with the verification of the GST registration application. As per the amendment, if the proper officer finds the GST registration application in order, the GST registration can be granted within a period of seven working days (earlier it was three working days) from the date of submission of the application.

However, the GST registration will be granted, within thirty days from the date of submission of the application. The registration will be granted only after the physical verification of the place of business of the applicant in any of the following case-

• The applicant fails to undergo Aadhaar authentication or doesn’t opt for Aadhaar authentication; or
• The proper officer, not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner, deems it fit to carry out the physical verification of the place of business of the applicant.

In case the GST registration application is found to be deficient, the proper officer can issue a notice in Form GST REG-03 within a period of seven working days (earlier it was three working days) from the date of submission of the registration application. However, the notice in Form GST REG-03 can be issued within thirty days under the following circumstances-

• The person either fails to undergo the Aadhaar authentication or the person doesn’t opt for the Aadhaar authentication; or
• The proper officer (not below the rank of the Assistant Commissioner) finds necessary to carry out the physical verification of the place of business of the applicant.

Amendment in rules governing deemed registration

The deemed registration provisions are covered under rule 9 (5) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2014. As per the amendment, the deemed registration shall be granted as under-