Dear Taxpayers,

This is to inform taxpayers about recent developments concerning the application process for GST registration. It is advised to keep the following key points in mind during the registration process.

1. Rule 8 of the CGST Rules, 2017 has been amended to provide that an applicant can be identified on the common portal, based on data analysis and risk parameters for Biometric-based Aadhaar Authentication and taking photograph of the applicant along with the verification of the original copy of the documents uploaded with the application.

2. The above-said functionality has been developed by GSTN. It was launched in Puducherry on 30th August 2023 and will be rolled out in Gujarat on 7th November 2023.

3. The said functionality now also provides for the document verification and appointment booking process. After the submission of the application in Form GST REG-01, the applicant will receive either of the following links in the e-mail,

(a)    A Link for OTP-based Aadhaar Authentication OR

(b)    A link for booking an appointment with a message to visit a GST Suvidha Kendra (GSK) along with the details of the GSK and jurisdiction, for Biometric-based Aadhaar Authentication and document verification (the intimation e-mail)

4. If the applicant receives the link for OTP-based Aadhaar Authentication as mentioned in point 3(a), she/he can proceed with the application as per the existing process.

5. However, if the applicant receives the link as mentioned in point 3(b), she/he will be required to book the appointment to visit the designated GSK, using the link provided in the e-mail. Once the applicant gets the confirmation of appointment through e-mail (the appointment confirmation e-mail), she/he will be able to visit the designated GSK as per the chosen schedule.

6. At the time of the visit of GSK, the applicant is required to carry the following details.

(a)    a copy (hard/soft) of the appointment confirmation e-mail

(b)    the details of jurisdiction as mentioned in the intimation e-mail

(c)    Aadhaar Number

(d)    the original documents that were uploaded with the application, as communicated by the intimation e-mail.

7.  The biometric authentication and document verification will be done at the GSK, for all the required individuals as per the GST application Form REG-01.

8.  The applicant is required to choose an appointment for the biometric verification during the maximum permissible period for the application as indicated in the intimation e-mail. In such cases, ARNs will be generated once the Biometric-based Aadhaar Authentication process and document verification are completed.

9.  The feature of booking an appointment to visit a designated GSK is currently available for the applicants of the Gujarat State and it will be extended to the other notified States/UTs shortly.

10.   The operation days and hours of GSKs will be as per the guidelines provided by the administration in your respective state.

Thanking you,

Team GSTN

Biometric Aadhaar Authentication required for GST registration applicants; GSK appointments and document verification precede ARN generation. Amendment to Rule 8 authorizes identification of GST registration applicants via data analysis enabling Biometric-based Aadhaar Authentication and on-site original document verification; after Form GST REG-01 submission applicants receive either an OTP-based Aadhaar link or an appointment-booking link for a designated GST Suvidha Kendra, and ARNs are generated only after completion of biometric authentication and document verification.