Revenue Dept allows more time for GST registration till April

The revenue department has extended by a month till April-end the enrolment of dealers with GSTN, the IT backbone for the new set-up, as so far only 60 per cent of the existing assessees are done with the switchover.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia reviewed the IT preparedness of the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) last week and progress in registration of 80 lakh excise, service tax and VAT assessees with the portal.

"So far, 74 per cent of the VAT assessees have migrated to the GSTN portal, while only 28 per cent of the excise and service tax assesses have enrolled for the new regime. We are going to buck up now and I have asked the department to complete the enrolment process with a fortnight," Adhia told PTI.

Out of the 80 lakh assessees, some may not require registration under the GST as they are below the threshold of Rs 20 lakh for GST levy. At present, VAT and service tax assessees with turnover of Rs 10 lakh are required to get themselves registered with states and the Centre, respectively. "So those assessees with turnover between Rs 1020 lakh need not register and it is estimated that 54 lakh taxpayers out of the 80 lakh excise, service tax and VAT assessees have turnover below Rs 20 lakh," Adhia said.

However, if the dealers want to claim input tax credit, then they will have to get themselves registered with the GSTN.