Question 1

What documents are required for new GST registration in Thousand Lights?

Accepted Answer

For new GST registration you will generally need: PAN card of the proprietor, firm or company, Aadhaar card of proprietor, partners or directors, Passport-size photograph of proprietor, partners or directors, Business address proof such as electricity bill or property tax receipt, Rent agreement and owner NOC if premises are rented. The exact list depends on your constitution — proprietorship, partnership, LLP or company — and on the specifics of your case. Send what you have on WhatsApp to +91 - 9600 606 444 and we will confirm within the same working day exactly what else is needed, so nothing is rejected later for a missing paper.

Question 2

How much does new GST registration cost in Thousand Lights?

Accepted Answer

Our fee for new GST registration in Thousand Lights starts at Rs.1,499 and is quoted in full before we begin — there are no hidden charges added later. The fee covers professional work end to end: document review, preparation, filing and follow-up until completion. Government fees or portal charges, where applicable, are separate and always shown to you upfront. For an exact quote based on your turnover and business type, call +91 - 9600 606 444 and a consultant will confirm it on the call.

Question 3

I run a cloud kitchen from Thousand Lights selling only through delivery apps. How is GST applied to me?

Accepted Answer

CBIC Circular 164/20/2021 clarified that food supplied by cloud kitchens and central kitchens is restaurant service, so the 5% rate without input tax credit applies just as it does to a dine-in restaurant. Because restaurant services supplied through platforms like Swiggy and Zomato are taxed in the hands of the e-commerce operator under Section 9(5), a small cloud kitchen below the Rs.20 lakh service threshold can even operate without registration. Once you cross the threshold or want your own billing, registration becomes necessary. Our Thousand Lights team sets up cloud kitchens end to end; call +91 - 9600 606 444.

Question 4

What is the government fee for GST registration? How much will it cost me?

Accepted Answer

The Government charges no fee at all for GST registration; applying on the GST portal is completely free. What you pay a professional for is accuracy and speed: correctly classifying your business, choosing the right HSN or SAC codes, preparing compliant premises proof, completing Aadhaar authentication, and handling any REG-03 clarification so the application is not rejected. Our registration package for businesses in Thousand Lights is Rs.1,499, covering document preparation, filing, follow-up until GSTIN allotment, and basic guidance on your first return due dates. Beware of anyone claiming a government charge exists; there is none.

Question 5

I just received my GSTIN. What returns do I need to start filing?

Accepted Answer

From your first tax period, a regular taxpayer files GSTR-1, the outward supplies statement, by the 11th of the following month, and GSTR-3B, the summary return with tax payment, by the 20th. If your expected turnover is up to Rs.5 crore, you can opt for the QRMP scheme: returns become quarterly, GSTR-3B is due by the 22nd of the month after the quarter for Tamil Nadu, monthly tax is paid by challan, and the optional IFF by the 13th lets you pass credit to buyers monthly. Returns are mandatory even for nil turnover; the nil late fee is Rs.20 per day. Call +91 - 9600 606 444 and we will set up your filing calendar.

Question 6

Is Aadhaar authentication compulsory for GST registration?

Accepted Answer

Aadhaar authentication is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended. When the promoter and authorised signatory complete Aadhaar OTP authentication, the application is processed on the fast track and deemed approval applies if the officer does not act within seven working days. Without Aadhaar authentication, the department treats the application as higher risk, physical verification of the business premises is usually ordered, and approval can take up to thirty days. Most applicants in Thousand Lights finish the OTP step in minutes, so there is rarely a reason to skip it unless the Aadhaar-linked mobile number is inactive.

Question 7

I run two different businesses. Can both be under one GST number?

Accepted Answer

Yes, one GSTIN can cover multiple businesses of the same person within Tamil Nadu. You can show one location as the principal place of business and add the other as an additional place of business, and list multiple goods and services on the same registration. Remember that aggregate turnover for the threshold is computed by clubbing all businesses under the same PAN. Alternatively, GST law permits you to take separate registrations for separate places of business in the same state if you prefer independent billing and returns, though each GSTIN then carries its own full compliance calendar.

Question 8

I am a freelancer in Thousand Lights. At what turnover do I need GST registration for services?

Accepted Answer

For service providers in Tamil Nadu, GST registration becomes mandatory when aggregate turnover crosses Rs.20 lakh in a financial year. This is a PAN-level, all-India figure covering taxable and exempt services together. Freelancers billing foreign clients should note that export income also counts towards the Rs.20 lakh threshold, although exports themselves can be made tax-free under a LUT after registration. If you supply both goods and services, the Rs.20 lakh service threshold applies to you, not the Rs.40 lakh goods threshold. Call +91 - 9600 606 444 if you want us to assess exactly when your registration obligation starts.

Question 9

We lease flats for our employees. What is the GST impact for the company?

Accepted Answer

As a registered person renting residential dwellings, the company must pay 18 percent GST under reverse charge on the rent, whether the landlord is registered or not. The harder question is input tax credit: the department frequently contests credit on employee accommodation as being for personal consumption, while taxpayers argue it is a business necessity, particularly where accommodation is provided under a contractual obligation. The position should be assessed case by case, and documentation such as employment terms helps. Budget for the RCM outflow in every lease negotiation; a Rs.30,000 monthly rent carries Rs.5,400 of tax the company must fund upfront.

Question 10

If my GST practitioner files a wrong return, who is responsible for it?

Accepted Answer

You are. The law is explicit that where a statement or return is furnished by an authorised GST practitioner, the responsibility for the correctness of the particulars remains with the registered person. The portal reinforces this: when a GSTP prepares a return, a confirmation is sought from you by email and SMS before it is treated as your filing, and for some filings your own EVC or DSC completes the submission. So review every draft before approving, and keep the workings the practitioner used. Choose someone who shares acknowledgements and reconciliations unprompted; that habit, more than any certificate, protects your business.

Question 11

Can service providers in Thousand Lights opt for the composition scheme?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through a separate scheme introduced under Notification 2/2019. Service providers, or mixed suppliers not eligible for the regular composition scheme, with aggregate turnover up to Rs.50 lakh in the preceding financial year can pay tax at 6 percent, comprising 3 percent CGST and 3 percent SGST, on their turnover. The same restrictions apply: no input tax credit, no tax collection from clients, no inter-state outward supply, and a bill of supply instead of a tax invoice. Compliance is CMP-08 quarterly by the 18th and GSTR-4 annually by 30 June. Small salons, tutors, and repair services in Thousand Lights commonly use this; call +91 - 9600 606 444 to check fit.

Question 12

Can my GST registration be cancelled for not filing returns?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under Rule 21A, the department can suspend a GSTIN where returns are not filed for a continuous period, and Section 29 permits cancellation where a regular taxpayer has not filed returns for six months (two quarters for QRMP, and a composition taxpayer defaulting on the annual return beyond three months). During suspension you cannot issue tax invoices or file returns, which freezes the business. If cancellation happens, revocation must be sought through REG-21 within 90 days after clearing all dues. If you have received a suspension notice in Thousand Lights, call +91 - 9600 606 444 immediately.

Question 13

Is the late fee charged on delayed returns the same thing as a penalty?

Accepted Answer

No, they are legally distinct. Late fee under Section 47 is an automatic, fixed daily charge for filing a return after its due date, computed by the portal and payable in cash before the return is accepted; no officer discretion or notice is involved. Penalty, under provisions such as Sections 122 to 125, is imposed through adjudication for specified offences, requires a show cause notice and hearing, and can be contested or reduced. Interest under Section 50 is a third, separate levy compensating for delayed payment. A delayed return with tax due can therefore attract all three simultaneously, each on its own footing.

Question 14

Who must sign GST filings with a DSC, and who can use EVC?

Accepted Answer

Companies and limited liability partnerships must authenticate registration applications and returns with a Digital Signature Certificate of the authorised signatory; the Electronic Verification Code route is not ordinarily available to them, though the government has periodically allowed EVC for companies during specified relaxation windows. Proprietorships, partnerships, HUFs and trusts can freely use EVC, an OTP sent to the authorised signatory's registered mobile and email. The DSC must be a Class 3 signature registered on the portal against the signatory's PAN. If a company's filings fail at the signing step, an expired or unregistered DSC is the usual culprit.

Question 15

Which educational services are actually exempt from GST?

Accepted Answer

The exemption is confined to an educational institution as defined, meaning one providing pre-school education, education up to higher secondary school or equivalent, education as part of a curriculum for obtaining a qualification recognised by Indian law, or an approved vocational education course. Services by such institutions to their students, and specified input services to schools such as transport, catering and security, are exempt. Everything outside this boundary is taxable: private tuition, test preparation, hobby classes, skill courses without recognised certification, and training by ed-tech companies. The recognition of the qualification under Indian law is the decisive test, not the subject taught.

Question 16

How many digits of the HSN code must I print on my tax invoices?

Accepted Answer

Under Notification 78/2020 Central Tax, taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to Rs.5 crore in the preceding financial year must mention a 4-digit HSN code on all B2B tax invoices, though it is optional on B2C invoices. Taxpayers with turnover above Rs.5 crore must mention 6-digit HSN codes on every invoice, including B2C. Eight digits are required for specified goods such as certain chemicals and for export documentation. Services follow the same rule using SAC codes, which begin with 99. Printing truncated or wrong codes on invoices creates mismatches later, so set the codes correctly in your billing software once.

Question 17

How much time do I get to raise an invoice for services?

Accepted Answer

A tax invoice for services must be issued within thirty days from the date of supply of the service. For banks, insurers, financial institutions and NBFCs, the limit is forty-five days. Where services are supplied continuously, the invoice follows the contract: if the due date of payment is ascertainable, invoice on or before that date; if not, invoice when payment is received; and if payment is linked to completion of an event or milestone, invoice on or before its completion. Consultants and agencies that bill quarterly should check their contracts against these rules, since late invoicing defers nothing legally.

Question 18

What GST do hotels charge on room tariffs after the 2025 rate changes?

Accepted Answer

From 22 September 2025, hotel accommodation with a value of supply up to Rs.7,500 per unit per day attracts 5 percent GST without input tax credit, and accommodation above Rs.7,500 attracts 18 percent with input tax credit. The earlier 12 percent slab for mid-range rooms was abolished in the rate rationalisation. Tax applies on the actual transaction value charged, so a discounted rate below Rs.7,500 falls in the 5 percent bracket even if the printed tariff is higher. Hotels should reconfigure billing software slab-wise and watch the ITC restriction on the 5 percent category, which changes costing materially.

Question 19

What is the process for new GST registration?

Accepted Answer

The process runs in clear stages: Document collection; Application preparation; Filing and Aadhaar authentication; Query handling. A senior consultant reviews your file at each stage rather than passing it to a data-entry desk, and you receive a confirmation with the filed documents once it is complete. You always know which stage your work is at — we update you on WhatsApp instead of leaving you to follow up.

Question 20

Can I get new GST registration done online without visiting the office?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the entire process can be handled online. You share scanned documents on WhatsApp or email, we prepare and file everything on the GST portal, and you receive the acknowledgement and filed copies digitally. Businesses in Thousand Lights regularly complete GST registration with us without a single office visit. If a physical verification or personal hearing is required by the department, we guide you through it.

Question 21

Are there any hidden charges for new GST registration?

Accepted Answer

No. The fee quoted before we start is the fee you pay. Government fees, portal charges or statutory late fees, where they apply, are separate and disclosed to you in advance with the exact amount. We issue a proper GST invoice for our professional fee. If the scope of work changes — for example, an unexpected notice or additional periods — we tell you the revised fee before doing anything further.

Aspect	With ChennaiGST	DIY / Unattended
Supplier defaults	Suppliers who stop uploading invoices are identified within the period and pursued before their default becomes your blocked credit.	Missing supplier invoices surface only when credit is denied, by which time recovering the amount from the vendor is difficult.
Goods in transit	E-way bills generated correctly and matched to invoices, so consignments pass roadside inspections without detention or penalty.	A defective or missing e-way bill can mean detention at a checkpoint, with penalties that dwarf the tax on the consignment.
Registration and amendments	Query-resistant applications prepared correctly the first time, with supporting documents matched to what proper officers actually verify.	Repeated clarification memos and resubmissions, with weeks lost because a rent agreement or premises photograph did not meet expectations.
Time cost	Roughly an hour a month to send data and approve drafts; the portal work, reconciliation and follow-up are ours.	Hours every month lost to portal errors, JSON files, OTP failures and reworking figures — usually on the due date itself.
When a notice arrives	A professional drafts the reply in the department's format and files it within the statutory window, such as thirty days for ASMT-11.	You face departmental language alone, and a missed reply deadline can convert a simple query into a demand with penalty.
Refund claims	RFD-01 filed with complete statements and annexures, tracked from ARN to bank credit, with any deficiency memo answered promptly.	Incomplete claims bounce back as deficiency memos while the refund sits unclaimed for months and working capital stays blocked.

New GST Registration on Ethiraj Salai, Thousand Lights

Get a Free GST Consultation

Trade Profile and GST Jurisdiction for Ethiraj Salai, Thousand Lights

Why Ethiraj Salai, Thousand Lights Businesses Choose ChennaiGST

Strict Data Confidentiality

Transparent, Fixed Fees Quoted Upfront

Experience Across Trades and Sectors

Waiver and Amnesty Windows Applied for You

Deadline Tracking Done for You

Advisory, Not Just Data Entry

Our GST Registration Process

Document collection

Application preparation

Filing and Aadhaar authentication

Query handling

GSTIN delivery and handover

Documents Required for New GST Registration

What New GST Registration Costs in Thousand Lights

What You Get

Audit-Ready Records at All Times

Clarity on What You Actually Owe

Stronger Standing with Corporate Buyers

Marketplace Accounts That Stay Live

Lower Total Cost of Compliance

Peace of Mind Around Due Dates

With ChennaiGST vs Doing It Yourself

GST Support on Ethiraj Salai, Thousand Lights

GST Developments Worth Knowing — relevant to Thousand Lights businesses

Aadhaar authentication introduced for new GST registrations

Supreme Court upholds GST on lotteries and actionable claims as constitutional

Grievance redressal channel created for rejected or delayed registrations

Frequently Asked Questions

Related GST Services & Nearby Areas

Ready to Sort Out Your GST?