Table of Contents
Documents required for GST registration (2026)
Direct answer. GST registration mandatory if turnover > Rs. 40 lakh (goods) OR Rs. 20 lakh (services) in most states; Rs. 20 / 10 lakh in special states (NE + hill). Documents: PAN of business + proof of business address + bank account + photos. Apply at gst.gov.in. FREE.
Mandatory documents
- PAN of business / individual — Sole proprietor: individual PAN; Partnership: firm PAN; Company: company PAN
- Aadhaar of authorised signatory — For Aadhaar-OTP authentication (speeds approval to 3 days)
- Proof of place of business (address) — Property tax receipt OR rent agreement (registered) OR electricity bill OR consent letter from owner
- Photo of authorised signatory — Recent, 100KB-1MB JPG
- Bank account details — Cancelled cheque OR first page of passbook OR bank statement
- DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) — For company / LLP applications (mandatory)
- Partnership deed / MoA-AoA / LLP agreement — For respective entity types
- Authority letter for authorised signatory — For company / LLP / partnership
Optional / situational documents
- Trade licence / Shop & Establishment — Strengthens application; not strictly mandatory
- Earlier registration certificates (if any) — For migration cases
- Letter of Authorisation (LoA) — For director/partner authorising signatory
- NOC from premises owner — For shared / co-working / family premises
Specifications + key rules
- FREE — no government fee. Agents charging Rs. 1,500-5,000 are over-charging for a 30-minute self-service.
- Aadhaar authentication speeds processing from 7 days → 3 days.
- Composition scheme (1% for goods up to Rs. 1.5 cr, 6% services up to Rs. 50 lakh) opt-in within 30 days.
- Multiple states — separate GSTIN per state mandatory.
- Voluntary registration below threshold useful for B2B credit recovery.
- E-invoicing mandate for businesses > Rs. 5 cr turnover (since 2023).
- LUT (Letter of Undertaking) required annually for export without IGST.
Where to apply
Online at gst.gov.in → Registration → New Registration.
→ Official source: https://tutorial.gst.gov.in/userguide/registration/index.htm
If you don't have all documents
If GST registration is rejected for “documents inadequate”, request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d). Re-apply. If processing > 7 days, file RTI to GST proper officer.
→ Use our 🪄 AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application asking for the rejection reason in 60 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
- Q: GST registration mandatory above what turnover? — Rs. 40 lakh (goods, most states); Rs. 20 lakh (services); Rs. 20/10 lakh in special states (NE + hill).
- Q: Can I voluntarily register below threshold? — Yes — useful for B2B credit recovery. Apply via gst.gov.in.
- Q: Multiple business units in different states? — Separate GSTIN per state.
- Q: Composition scheme — when to opt? — At registration OR within 30 days of starting financial year. Can't change mid-year.
- Q: What if my GSTIN is cancelled by officer? — Apply for revocation within 30 days via Form GST REG-21. Otherwise, fresh registration required.
Summary + next steps
- Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
- Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
- Track status: see our status-check guides
- If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
- For state-specific guidance: see state portals directory
All RTI Wiki tools (free, no login)
- 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
- 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
- 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score draft win-likelihood
- ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
- 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window
Related on RTI Wiki
- Track status: How to check gst registration status
- If rejected, file RTI: Full RTI guide
- Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
- All documents checklists: All 30 checklists
Sources
- Statutory references: as cited in Specifications above
- Official portal: linked in “Where to apply” above
- RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.
