Aadhar-enabled GST Registration

The GST Council, which is headed by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam has made major relief to the taxable person. From the very beginning of the GST regime it was a compulsion to have PAN number for GST registration. However, one of the major changes made by the council is enabling the Aadhar based registration for the ease of GST registration. Traders can now use their Aadhaar numbers for registration with the GST Network and obtain GST registration number. In its 35th meeting on Friday, the GST Council approved the changes in GST law to this end for the sake of improving ease of business. In the earlier system, people had to submit proof of identity, proof of address and several other documents. The applicant can now go online and can register on the GSTN portal obtain the GST registration number using his Aadhaar number and OTP authentication as assured by AB Pandey, the Revenue Secretary. The GST Council meeting chaired by the new Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman authorised Aadhaar as a valid proof for GSTN portal. However, required changes are not yet made on the GST Common Portal. It is expected to have amendments in GST Common Portal soon. Aadhar has become a necessary document in Income tax and is mandatory for: In September 2018, the Supreme Court had upheld that every person who is eligible to obtain Aadhaar number will quote it while applying for PAN card as well as while filing ITR. “Thus, returns being filed either electronically or manually cannot be filed without quoting the Aadhaar number,” the March 31 circular said. The order, however, provides relief to all those who filed ITR before April 1 without quoting Aadhaar number. The deadline for linking of Aadhar with PAN is 30th September, 2019.