GST registration serves to formally recognize a business as a supplier, enabling it to legally collect tax from customers, claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) on purchases, and comply with tax laws. It facilitates seamless interstate trade, enhances business credibility, and is mandatory for entities exceeding specific turnover thresholds, ensuring a streamlined tax system.
Goods and services tax (GST) is added to the price of most products and services. If you're GST registered, you can claim back the GST you pay on goods or services you buy for your business. You can also charge GST (15%) on what you sell.
GST turnover is your business income (excluding certain sales), not your profit. Say you run an online clothing store. If you sell $80,000 worth of clothes in a year, you'd have to register for GST. This is because your GST turnover is over the $75,000 threshold – even if you only make $40,000 in profit.
Businesses engaged in the supply of goods or services across state borders must register for GST, regardless of turnover. E-Commerce Operators. Platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, or businesses selling goods or services online must obtain GST registration.
If you are registered for GST, you must charge GST on all taxable supplies at the prevailing GST rate, except for supplies that are subject to customer accounting. The GST that you charge and collect is known as output tax.
One of the key benefits of GST registration is the eligibility to claim Input Tax Credit, i.e., the taxes paid on goods or services purchased for the business itself. This provision can help reduce the overall tax burden and improve cash flow, making it one of the core GST registration benefits.
You have to start charging GST/HST on the supply that made you exceed $30,000. You exceed the $30,000 threshold 1 over the previous four (or fewer) consecutive calendar quarters (but not in a single calendar quarter).
Heavy Penalties and Fines
If you are liable to register for GST but fail to do so, you are considered in violation of GST law. As per the GST Act: A penalty of ₹10,000 or 10% of the tax due, whichever is higher, is applicable. If tax evasion is found to be intentional, the penalty can go up to 100% of the tax due.
Businesses are required to register for GST and pay tax on their annual turnover if their annual revenue exceeds Rs. 40 lakhs in the case of goods supplied and Rs. 20 lakhs for the supply of services.
You have a choice to register or not if it's less than that. You must register for GST if you reach the $75,000 turnover threshold or if it looks likely that you will exceed it. Once you've passed the turnover threshold, you must register within 21 days.
If you don't register for GST and are required to, you may have to pay GST on sales made since the date you were required to register. This could happen even if you didn't include GST in the price of those sales. You may also have to pay penalties and interest.
Subtracting GST from Price
To calculate how much GST was included in the price, divide the total price by 11 ($1000∕11=$90.91). To calculate the price without GST, divide the price by 1.1 ($1000∕1.1=$909.09).
Returns must be filed on the GST portal monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the taxpayer's classification. GST Return is mandatory for all GST-registered businesses. Regular taxpayers file GSTR-1, GSTR-3B monthly or quarterly, plus annual returns (GSTR-9/9C).
Disadvantages of Voluntary GST Registration
Types of GST in India
CGST (Central Goods and Services Tax) SGST (State Goods and Services. IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) UTGST (Union Territory Goods and Services Tax)
When you have worked out your total GST credits, you can offset them against the amount of GST you are liable to pay to us. If your GST credits are greater than the amount you are liable to pay, you're entitled to a refund.
Businesses dealing in goods are exempt from GST if their annual aggregate turnover is below INR 40 lakhs. For businesses in hilly and northeastern states, this threshold is reduced to INR 20 lakhs to address regional challenges. Service providers are exempt from GST if their turnover is under INR 20 lakhs annually.
GST registration is mandatory for all eCommerce Sellers Citizen can apply for New GST by Registrating online without Visiting the Govt. office.
The main benefit of being GST registered is that you can claim back GST on your business expenses. If you pay more in GST when buying supplies for your business than you charge your clients, you are eligible for a GST refund.
But persons who are engaged exclusively in the business of supplying goods or services or both that are not liable to tax or wholly exempt from tax or an agriculturist, to the extent of supply of produce out of cultivation of land are not liable to register under GST.
You must register for GST if you: run a business or enterprise that has a GST turnover (gross income minus GST) that exceeds the GST threshold of $75,000. expect your new business to reach the GST threshold in the first year of operation. have a non-profit organisation with a GST turnover of $150,000 per year or more.
For Goods Suppliers: Businesses involved in the supply of goods must register for GST if their annual turnover exceeds Rs. 40 lakhs. For Service Providers: For those providing services, the registration threshold is Rs. 20 lakhs in annual turnover.
For a $70,000 income in Canada (using 2025 rates), you'll pay roughly $13,000 to $20,000 in total taxes (federal, provincial, CPP, EI), depending on your province, resulting in a take-home pay around $50,000-$59,000, with federal tax around 14.5% or 20.5% depending on the portion, plus provincial tax and deductions like CPP and EI.