Since the Goods and Service Tax (GST) was implemented in India on July 1, 2017, there has been a lot of discussion about it, with almost everyone weighing the benefits and drawbacks, trying to figure out what it is, and, most importantly, determining whether or not their business requires GST registration and how to register. The lack of total understanding, along with the GST structures relative youth, has instilled a dread of the unknown in the minds of business owners, who are still trying to learn everything there is to know about it and comply with the rules.
We’ll go through the basics of GST and why it’s so crucial to register your business for it.
What is GST?
The GST (Products and Services Tax) is a sales tax that applies to both goods and services. It is an indirect tax that has largely superseded many other indirect taxes in India, including excise duty, VAT, and services tax. Parliament passed the Goods and Service Tax Act on March 29, 2017, and it went into force on July 1, 2017.
GST stands for Goods and Services Tax, and it is a multi-stage, destination-based tax.
- It is comprehensive since it includes practically all indirect taxes, with the exception of a few state-level taxes.
- It is multi-staged because the GST is applied at each stage of the manufacturing process, but it is intended to be reimbursed to all parties involved in the manufacturing process except the final customer.
- It is a destination-based tax, meaning it is collected at a point of consumption rather than an origin, as previous taxes were.
Why was GST enacted?
Prior to obtaining a business GST registration, a businessman was required to pay a variety of taxes for all parts of his operation, ranging from the procurement of raw materials to transportation, as well as several other state and federal taxes. The large number of payable taxes perplexed businessmen and made calculating the various taxes a time-consuming and costly task.
The GST registration process for businesses replaced these indirect taxes imposed by the federal and state governments, creating a single, streamlined process. To company owners, the GST presents India as an united market, with the goal of bringing a large amount of black money back into the mainstream economy. Under the GST structure, the tax is applied at every stage of value production.
What is CGST, SGST and IGST?
GST is further divided into three main categories: CGST, SGST, and IGST.
The Central Government levies Central GST (CGST) while the State Governments levies State GST (SGST) on transactions that take place within a single state. The Central Government levies an Integrated GST (IGST) on interstate transactions and imported goods and services.
What is GST Registration for a Business?
GST for businesses The process of registering a business for GST is known as registration. Once a firm has been formally registered, it is given a unique registration number known as the Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN). The Goods and Services Tax administration assigns every GST registered business a 15-digit PAN-based unique identity number.
GST Registration is Crucial for Businesses
GST registration for businesses is crucial since it has various advantages for businesses as well as the country’s overall taxation structure and economy.
- The GST registration for businesses relies on the tax cascade effect, removing the costly ‘tax on tax’ from the customer.
- The business GST registration level, or eligibility factor, is now greater than before, making it easier for certain micro-companies to thrive and setting clear eligibility standards for enterprises.
- For small enterprises, the GST includes a Composition Scheme.
- The enhanced online tools for GST compliance have made it easier for businesses to comprehend the process and to secure GST registration for small and large firms alike.
- GST registration is advantageous to taxpayers and businesses because there are less compliance requirements under GST.
- E-commerce activities are given a specific treatment under GST.
- The GST system improves logistics efficiency, which benefits both enterprises and the economy as a whole.
- The most significant benefit and importance of GST is that it regulates the unorganized sector.
Along with these benefits, GST ensures that the taxes levied on the supply of goods and services are transparent. This will aid in boosting tax compliance as well as increasing government revenue, quickening GDP and enhancing the country’s overall economy.
All of the aforementioned factors make GST a favorable alternative for enterprises. And it is therefore critical for small businesses and organizations to register for GST.
Suggested Read: GST Filing
