Licensing and Allied Services

Any business involved in trading of goods have to get itself registered for GST if the Total Turnover crosses Rs 40 lacs (Rs 20 lacs with respect to special category states). In case of businesses involved in providing services the limit is Rs 20 lacs. The above limits do not apply to the certain cases where irrespective of the turnover limit, registration is mandatory like Inter-state supplies, Casual Taxable Persons, Reverse Charge Supplies, Input Service Providers, Person required to deduct TDS and TCS under GST etc.,

No. If your business does not fall under the mandatory registration category, and the turnover limit has not exceeded the threshold limit, then till such limit is crossed, there is no requirement for registration under GST.

GST Registration is an online process. An online application has to be submitted with the necessary supporting documents asked for in the application based on the type of business organization. Once such application is made, it is generally approved within a period of 5 to 7 working days after asking for any clarification or additional documents required by the approving officer.

Post obtaining the registration, monthly or quarterly returns as the case may be has to be filed.

Depending on the types of business you are into and the industry you belong to, the type of licenses that have to be mandatorily obtained would differ. It would also differ from State to State and hence the location of your business also has to be taken into consideration. In general, whatever may the type of business you are into certain basic registrations as far as India is concerned will be GST registration, Import Export Code Number (if you are into Imports of Exports), Provident Fund Registration, Employee State Insurance Registration, Professional Tax Registration, Labour Welfare Fund Registration, Shops and Establishment Registration.

For companies getting incorporated after introduction of SPICe+ form, the PF, ESI numbers are allocated to them at the time of incorporation itself. But the applicability would start only when they cross the limit as prescribed in the respective acts. Once an Establishment obtains ESI and PF registration, then the employees who work for the establishment can be registered individually through which Unique Number is allocated to every employee. Any establishment having more than 10 employees have to mandatorily get registered with ESI and the limit is more than 20 in case of PF. While PF is mandatory for all employees in an establishment, ESI is applicable only for employees earning less than Rs 21000 per month as Salaries in an Establishment.

STPI stands for Software Technology Parks of India. Any entity engaged in the development of Export Oriented Computer Software/IT Enabled Services have to mandatorily register themselves with STPI. Any entity which would like to get a full exemption on Customs duty on imports, customs bonding and various other benefits can get its registered as an STPI unit by obtaining a license. All other entities who are into IT/ITES business using data communication links and are exporters have to mandatorily register themselves as a NON-STPI unit and comply with the requirements.

Digital Signature Certificates are issuing by Certifying Authorities who has been granted a license to issue a DSC under Section 24 of the Indian IT Act 2000. Digital Signature can be applied online by filling up an Online application form and submitting the necessary documents asked for and making the necessary payment. The Certifying authority can in turn designate and authorized Registered Agents who act as Franchisees to issue digital signatures under the approval of the Certifying Authority. Infini is a Registered Agent of e-mudhra , one of the Certifying Authorities who has been granted license to issue digital signatures.

Import Export Code is a registration required for persons importing or exporting goods and services into or from India. IE Code is issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industries. Currently, the PAN of an entity itself is allotted as the IE Code number too. Registration for IE code is done online by way of filling up an online registration form that is submitted along with necessary documents like the PAN card copy of then entity, address proof like rental agreement and electricity bill and a cancelled cheque leaf of the entity’s bank account.

All Food Business Operators including restaurants and any business operator, be it a trader or manufacturer dealing with food products have to mandatorily obtain an FSSAI License which is issued by the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India which is the supreme authority responsible for regulating and supervising food safety in the Country. FSSAI License is a 14 digit number that is allotted which has to be imprinted on the food products in their packaging.