What to keep ready for GST registration
Find your type of business, gather that list, and send it across. We file the rest.
What the portal accepts
REG-01 rejects a file before a human ever reads it if the format or the size is wrong. Each upload field on the portal shows its own limit, and these are the ones that catch people out.
| Upload | Format | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph of the proprietor, partner or director | JPEG | 100 KB |
| Constitution of business, such as a deed or certificate | PDF or JPEG | 1 MB |
| Proof of the principal place of business | PDF or JPEG | 100 KB |
| Bank account proof | PDF or JPEG | 100 KB |
| Authorisation letter or board resolution | PDF or JPEG | 100 KB |
Documents by type of business
Each item says why the officer asks for it, because knowing that is usually what stops the wrong version being uploaded.
Proprietorship
The lightest set, because there is no separate entity to evidence.
- PAN of the proprietorThe GSTIN is built on this PAN, so the legal name has to match it exactly.
- Aadhaar of the proprietorUsed for authentication. Completing it is what keeps you out of physical verification.
- Passport photographJPEG under 100 KB. A phone photo resized down is fine.
- Proof of the place of businessSee the premises section below. This is the single most queried document.
- Bank account proofNot needed to submit. It can follow within 45 days or before the first return.
Partnership firm
Everything a proprietorship needs, plus evidence of the firm and of who may act for it.
- Partnership deedThe constitution document. PDF up to 1 MB, all pages in one file.
- PAN of the firmThe firm's own PAN, not a partner's.
- PAN, Aadhaar and photograph of every partnerEvery partner, not only the signatory.
- Authorisation for the signatoryA letter signed by the partners naming who files and signs on the firm's behalf.
- Proof of the place of businessIn the firm's name, or with a consent letter if the premises belong to a partner.
- Bank account proofIn the firm's name, once the account is open.
LLP
Similar to a partnership, but the MCA certificate replaces the deed as the constitution proof.
- Certificate of incorporationDownloaded from the MCA, showing the LLPIN.
- PAN of the LLPAllotted at incorporation.
- PAN, Aadhaar and photograph of every designated partnerDesignated partners specifically.
- Resolution appointing the authorised signatorySigned by the designated partners.
- Proof of the place of businessThe registered office, or the actual trading premises if they differ.
- Bank account proofIn the LLP's name.
Private or public limited company
The heaviest set, because the officer verifies both the company and the person acting for it.
- Certificate of incorporationShowing the CIN, downloaded from the MCA.
- PAN of the companyAllotted through SPICe+ at incorporation.
- Memorandum and articles of associationEstablishes that the activity you are registering for is within the objects.
- PAN, Aadhaar and photograph of every directorAll directors on the board, not only the signatory.
- Board resolution appointing the authorised signatoryOn letterhead, signed, naming the person and the authority given.
- Proof of the place of businessThe registered office, plus every additional place you trade or store stock from.
- Bank account proofIn the company's name.
Hindu undivided family
Filed on the HUF's own PAN, with the Karta acting for it.
- PAN of the HUFThe HUF's PAN, distinct from the Karta's personal PAN.
- PAN, Aadhaar and photograph of the KartaThe Karta is the authorised signatory by default.
- Proof of the place of businessStandard premises proof.
- Bank account proofIn the HUF's name.
Society, trust or club
The registration certificate is the constitution document here.
- Registration certificateFrom the Registrar of Societies, the sub registrar, or the MCA for a section 8 company.
- PAN of the entityThe entity's own PAN.
- PAN, Aadhaar and photograph of promoters or office bearersThe people named in the governing documents.
- Authorisation for the signatoryA resolution of the managing committee or trustees.
- Proof of the place of businessStandard premises proof.
- Bank account proofIn the entity's name.
Proof of the place of business
More GST applications are queried on this one document than on everything else combined. The proof has to match how you actually hold the premises, and the name on it has to reconcile with the applicant.
| How you hold it | What to upload | What goes wrong |
|---|---|---|
| You own it | Latest property tax receipt, municipal khata copy, or an electricity bill in your name | A bill in a parent's or spouse's name with no consent letter attached |
| You rent it | The rent or lease agreement, plus the owner's electricity bill or property tax receipt | Uploading only the agreement. The owner's ownership proof has to come with it |
| You use it with consent | A consent letter from the owner, plus the owner's ownership document | A consent letter with no supporting ownership proof behind it |
| Shared or coworking space | Your agreement with the operator, plus the operator's ownership or lease proof | A desk receipt or invoice instead of an agreement naming your business |
Selling on Amazon or Flipkart
Selling through a marketplace makes GST registration mandatory from the first order, whatever your turnover. These are the documents each platform asks for once you have the GSTIN.
Amazon
Amazon verifies the GSTIN against the PAN and the bank account before the account goes live.
- GST registration certificate showing the GSTIN
- PAN of the business, or of the proprietor for a proprietorship
- Bank account in the business name, with a cancelled cheque or a statement
- Address proof for the pickup or warehouse location
- A signature image, used on the invoices Amazon generates for you
- FSSAI licence if you are selling food
- Brand authorisation or a trademark certificate for gated and branded categories
Flipkart
Flipkart runs the same name matching, and gates several categories behind brand documents.
- GST registration certificate showing the GSTIN
- PAN of the business, or of the proprietor for a proprietorship
- Cancelled cheque or bank statement in the business name
- Registered business address proof
- A signature image for invoicing
- FSSAI licence if you are selling food
- Brand authorisation letter or trademark certificate for branded goods
Selling online and not sure what applies
Tell us which platform and what you are selling. We will say exactly which documents that category needs, whether your goods are gated, and whether you need an FSSAI licence alongside the GSTIN.
Why applications get queried
Every one of these adds days. All of them are avoidable before anything is submitted.
- The legal name on the application does not match the PAN character for character, including initials and spacing.
- The premises proof is in a family member's name with no consent letter behind it.
- A rent agreement is uploaded without the owner's electricity bill or property tax receipt.
- The photograph is a PNG, or a JPEG over 100 KB, and the field silently refuses it.
- Aadhaar authentication is skipped, which sends the application to physical verification of the premises and adds weeks.
- The authorised signatory is not the person named in the board resolution or authorisation letter.
- A warehouse or pickup address is used for shipping but never added as an additional place of business.
Confused about any of this
Send a photo of whatever you already hold. We will tell you what is missing, what will not be accepted and what to get instead. WhatsApp and phone are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Send your documents and we will take it from here
A chartered accountant checks the set, files REG-01 under our professional login, and answers the officer if a query comes back.
Reach us directly
22-1-3 Rajapangal Road, 7th Line, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh 523001. The office is open 10am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, and WhatsApp and phone are answered around the clock.