# India Gst Registration > Help a user register for GST (Goods and Services Tax) in India by driving the browser to fill and submit Form GST REG-01 (Part A and Part B) on the GST portal (gst.gov.in). Use when the user wants to register a proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company, or other entity for GST, get a GSTIN, or complete new GST registration. Also covers TRN lookup, Aadhaar authentication, and ARN tracking. Not for tax advice, GST return filing, TAN registration, PAN application, or company incorporation. - Skill: `manan0p/india-gst-registration` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add manan0p/india-gst-registration` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/manan0p/india-gst-registration/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: Manan0p (https://skillmd.com/u/manan0p) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/manan0p/india-gst-registration --- # India GST registration (Form GST REG-01, gst.gov.in) You are helping the user register their own business for GST on the official GST portal at `gst.gov.in`. This is a two-part online form (Part A generates a Temporary Reference Number, Part B is the full application) — there is no pre-existing login for a brand-new registration. You drive the browser, fill the form from the user's documents and answers, and the user reviews and submits. GST registration is separate from, and often confused with: - **PAN application** — a different number, different portal (Income Tax e-filing / UTIITSL / Protean), and a prerequisite (the entity needs a PAN before it can apply for GST). - **TAN registration** (Form 49B, Protean/NSDL portal) — for deducting/collecting tax at source, unrelated to GST. - **Company/LLP incorporation** (SPICe+ on the MCA portal) — that creates the legal entity first; GST registration is a separate step afterward, using the PAN and incorporation certificate the entity already has. - **GST return filing** (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, etc.) — happens after registration, on a recurring basis, and is a different task entirely. ## Read this first: what you must and must not do - **You are not a tax advisor.** Do not advise whether the user is legally required to register, which registration type applies in a borderline case (regular vs composition vs casual taxable person vs Input Service Distributor), or tax positions generally. If asked, say you cannot advise and point them to a chartered accountant or GST practitioner. You only enter data the user gives you. - **Never type the user's Aadhaar OTP or e-KYC credentials.** Aadhaar authentication is a personal biometric/OTP step tied to the individual's Aadhaar-linked mobile — the user must complete it themselves when the portal prompts for it. - **Never click the final Submit (with EVC/DSC) yourself.** Fill the form, show the user everything for review, and let them choose the verification method (EVC via OTP, or DSC for companies/LLPs) and submit. This is a legal declaration under the applicant's PAN. - **Verify, do not assume.** Read every value — legal name, PAN, address, business details — off the user's actual documents. A name or address that doesn't match PAN or incorporation records is a common reason applications get stuck in a clarification notice; flag mismatches instead of "fixing" them yourself. - **Stop and ask on any validation error or unexpected portal message.** Don't guess around it, and don't push past a warning like "PAN already registered" without the user's input. - **Check they don't already have a GSTIN for this PAN/state** before starting — a second regular registration for the same entity in the same state isn't the goal (multiple registrations in one state for different business verticals is a distinct, deliberate path — confirm that's actually what's wanted if it comes up). ## Prerequisites Before starting, make sure the user has the items in `references/before-you-start.md`. The essentials: - PAN of the entity (or of the proprietor, for a sole proprietorship) — mandatory to start Part A. - Entity type/constitution: proprietorship, partnership, LLP, private/public limited company, HUF, society/trust/club, etc. This drives which fields and documents Part B asks for. - A working email and Indian mobile number, ideally ones the applicant actually controls (used for OTPs on Part A, and again for Aadhaar authentication). - Aadhaar of the proprietor/partners/directors/authorised signatory (for Aadhaar authentication — see gotchas on why this matters). - Proof of principal place of business (see `references/before-you-start.md` for the full list — ownership document, rent agreement + NOC, or consent letter, depending on how the premises is held). - Bank account details (account number, IFSC) and a cancelled cheque, bank statement, or passbook page — the GSTN advisory in force means this must generally be added and verified soon after registration or the registration can be suspended. - Photographs of proprietor/partners/directors/authorised signatory (JPEG, small file size). - Constitution proof for non-proprietorships: partnership deed, LLP/company incorporation certificate, etc. - For a company or LLP signing digitally: a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for the authorised signatory. Individuals and proprietorships typically use EVC (OTP-based) instead. If a document is missing, ask the user to provide it before you reach the step that needs it. ## The flow Full field-by-field detail is in `references/reg01-walkthrough.md`. The shape of it: 1. **Part A — start the application.** Go to the GST portal, Services → Registration → New Registration, and select "New Registration". Choose "Taxpayer" as the type (unless the user is specifically registering as a GST Practitioner, TDS deductor, TCS collector, etc. — confirm this if it's ambiguous). Enter State/UT and District, legal name of the business exactly as per PAN, PAN, email, and mobile number. 2. **OTP verification.** Two separate OTPs are sent — one to the email, one to the mobile — both must be entered within the portal's time window. On success, the portal issues a Temporary Reference Number (TRN), valid for 15 days. Give this to the user and note it down; if the session is interrupted, Part B is resumed by logging in with this TRN rather than starting over. 3. **Part B — log in with the TRN.** Services → Registration → New Registration → Temporary Reference Number, enter the TRN, verify with another OTP, and the full application form opens with several tabs: Business Details, Promoter/Partners, Authorised Signatory, Authorised Representative (optional), Principal Place of Business, Additional Places of Business (if any), Goods and Services (HSN/SAC codes), Bank Accounts, State-Specific Information (if applicable), and Verification. 4. **Business Details tab.** Trade name (if different from legal name), constitution of business, district/sector, date of commencement, reason for registration (e.g. crossing the threshold, voluntary, inter-state supply, e-commerce), and — where the state supports it — the option for Aadhaar authentication. 5. **Promoter/Partners and Authorised Signatory tabs.** Add each promoter/partner/director with their personal details, PAN, Aadhaar, address, and photograph. Designate one as the primary authorised signatory (or add a separate authorised signatory with a Letter of Authorisation). 6. **Principal Place of Business tab.** Full address, contact details, nature of possession (owned/rented/consent/shared), and the matching proof document upload. Add Additional Places of Business here too if the user has more than one location. 7. **Goods and Services tab.** HSN codes for goods, SAC codes for services, up to 5 each for the top items — ask the user what they primarily sell/provide rather than guessing a code. 8. **Bank Accounts tab.** Account number, IFSC, and upload the proof (cancelled cheque/passbook/statement). This can sometimes be added post-registration, but flag to the user that leaving it out risks the registration being suspended per current portal rules — see gotchas. 9. **Aadhaar authentication.** If offered, strongly recommend it — it is the fastest path to approval and can avoid a physical site visit by a GST officer. The portal sends the authentication link/OTP to the Aadhaar-linked mobile of each promoter/partner and the authorised signatory; the user completes this themselves, not you. 10. **Verification and submission.** Walk the user through every tab before they submit. They choose EVC (OTP to the authorised signatory's mobile/email — available for proprietorships/individuals and most entities) or DSC (mandatory for companies and LLPs). Let them enter the OTP or sign with DSC and submit themselves. 11. **ARN.** On submission, the portal generates an Application Reference Number (ARN) and sends it by SMS and email. Give this to the user for tracking status on the portal under Services → Registration → Track Application Status. ## Gotchas The recurring ones, with detail, are in `references/gotchas.md`. The big ones: - **Skipping Aadhaar authentication slows things down a lot** and often triggers a physical site verification by a GST officer instead of the faster automated path. - **Address proof that doesn't clearly match the address typed into the form** is one of the most common reasons applications get a clarification notice (Form GST REG-03). The proof document must show the exact address entered. - **Bank details left blank at registration must be added within the window the portal specifies (commonly 30 days)** or the registration can be suspended — don't let the user skip this step assuming it can wait indefinitely. - **Name mismatches with PAN cause delay/rejection.** Enter the legal name exactly as on the PAN card/incorporation certificate, not a trade name or abbreviation, in the legal name field (the trade name field is separate and can be the brand name). - **Confusing this with TAN, PAN, or MCA incorporation.** These are different portals and different forms; don't drift into filling the wrong one because the category dropdowns look similar. - **TRN expiry.** The TRN from Part A is only valid 15 days — if the user pauses partway through Part B for longer than that, Part A has to be redone. ## After submission Once submitted, tell the user to track status with the ARN on the portal's "Track Application Status" page. If Aadhaar authentication was completed and documents are clean, a GSTIN is often issued automatically within about 3–7 working days without an officer's manual review; otherwise an officer may raise a query in Form GST REG-03, which the user must answer within the portal's stated window (commonly 7 working days) using Form GST REG-04, or the application can be rejected in Form GST REG-05. On approval, the registration certificate is issued in Form GST REG-06, downloadable from the portal, showing the GSTIN. Remind the user, without advising, that having a GSTIN is separate from actually filing GST returns (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, etc. on a recurring schedule) and issuing GST-compliant invoices — those are ongoing compliance obligations, and if they're unsure of their filing schedule or applicable rates they should confirm with a GST practitioner or chartered accountant.