Casual Taxpayers can now register at GST portal: GSTN

The registration process for the category of traders falling under the 'Casual Taxpayer' is now open at the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) portal, the company which provides the IT infrastructure services of GST said on Thursday.

A casual taxpayer is a person who occasionally undertakes business transactions in a state /union territory where he has no place of business. Rather than registering as regular taxpayer and being required to file 'nil' returns during off-business months, such taxpayers can enrol as casual taxpayers for a limited period of time.

"A taxpayer must go for registration as Casual Tax Payer at least five working days prior to the commencement of business," Navin Kumar, Chairman, GSTN said.

This registration, once granted, will be valid for the period specified by taxpayer in the registration application or for 90 days effective from the date of registration, whichever is earlier. Such a tax payer can extend the registration duration once for a maximum of 90 days but he must do so before expiry of the initial period for which registration was granted.

However, any further extension is not allowed and if the taxpayer wishes to continue business beyond the extended period of registration, he has to obtain fresh registration as a normal taxpayer.

In case such a tax payer has deposited advance tax but does not wish to continue the business, the taxpayer can apply for a refund at the time of filing application for surrender of registration.

A casual taxpayer is not allowed to opt for the composition scheme.

Casual Taxpayers can register themselves at the GSTN portal by simply selecting 'Taxpayer' option in Part A of the New Registration Application and then choosing 'Yes' in response to the question "Are you applying for registration as a casual taxable person?" in the Business Details section of Part B of New Registration Application.

After a taxpayer has opted to register as a 'Casual Taxpayer', he or she needs to enter the estimated values of supplies and estimated net tax liability in terms of Central GST, State GST/ Integrated GST and cess for the period for which registration is applied and then click on the 'Generate Challan' button.

The taxpayer can make advance tax payment using the payment modes available at the GST portal and then complete Part B of the registration application and then submit it. After this, the registration will be granted after processing by the concerned tax official.

--IANS

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