The Revenue Secretary, Government of India, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia through a series of tweets from his twitter handle @adhia03 has busted today certain common misconceptions/ myths about GST.

These myths relating to  GST and Reality of each one is given below.

Myth 1: Do I need to generate all invoices on computer/ internet only. 

Reality 1: Invoices can be generated manually also.

Myth 2: I need internet all the time to do business under GST.

Reality 2: Internet would be needed only while filing monthly return of GST.

Myth 3: I have provisional ID but waiting for final ID to do business. 

Reality 3: Provisional ID will be your final GSTIN number. So start business. 

Myth 4: My item of trade was earlier exempt so I will need new registration before starting business now. 

Reality 4: You can continue doing business and get registered within 30 days.

Myth 5: There are 3 returns per month to be filed.  

Reality 5: There is only 1 return with 3 parts, out of which first part is to be filed by dealer and two other parts would be auto populated by computer.

Myth 6: Even small dealers will have to file invoice wise details in the return. 

Reality 6: Those in retail business (B2C) need to file only summary of total sales.

Myth 7: New GST rate is higher compared to earlier VAT.

Reality 7: It appears higher because excise duty and other taxes which were invisible earlier are now subsumed in GST and so visible now.

GST compliance clarified: registration, invoicing, filing, and retail reporting obligations simplified for businesses under new regime. Clarifications correct seven GST misconceptions: invoices can be manual; internet is needed primarily for monthly electronic filing; provisional identifier functions as the operative GSTIN; continuing exempt trades may operate and must register within thirty days; there is one consolidated monthly return with three parts (only the first filed by dealers, others auto populated); retail B2C suppliers file summary sales only; the visible higher rate reflects subsumed earlier taxes.