GST Portal Login: Step-by-Step Guide for India

What is the GST Portal?

The GST Portal is the official website of the government that handles all Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliance transactions in India. You can access the site on the internet at: https://www.gst.gov.in/. The GST Portal is a PAN-India online platform that is jointly owned to help traders and businesses reduce their GST compliance burden. GST portal login provides you the ability to perform transactions ranging from GST registration to filing returns, withholding tax payments, applying for refunds from GST, and tracking notices or orders with the competent authorities.

The portal is a crucial step in the government’s effort to enable a technology-enabled and transparent GST taxation system in the country. The portal facilitates an electronic basis for end-to-end compliance, thereby improving the taxpayer’s compliance experience; the portal is about a lot less paper flow, significantly reduces human errors, and drastically reduces processing time on the tax base. It is fair to state that the GST portal serves to alleviate as much as possible your burden of compliance, while also providing a means for effective administration of taxation in India.

 

How to Register on the GST Portal (First-Time Users)

The following is the step-by-step guide for first-time users to register on the GST Portal:

1. Step 1: Go to the GST site and click on 'Login'.
2. Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page, where you will find instructions that read, "First time login: If you are logging in for the first time, click here to login," and then click on the provided link.
3. Step 3: Enter your Provisional ID/GSTIN/UIN, and the password that has been sent to your registered email. Then add the captcha code and press ‘Login’.
4. Step 4: You will be directed to a credentials page. Choose your username and enter a new password. Confirm the new password and click ‘Submit’.
5. Step 5: You will receive a success message reflecting that your credentials have been created, which may be used to log into the GST portal in the future.
6. Step 6: On the first-time login, you will be asked to file a non-core amendment application to update your bank details. Please note adding bank details is optional for TDS and TCS taxpayers.
7. Step 7: To edit your bank account details, click ‘Add New’, and then save and submit the application.

 

How to Log in to the GST Portal (Existing Users)

Current users find logging in with GST quick and simple. The following are the steps for the existing users¹:

1. Step 1: Visit the GST website at www.gst.gov.in and click the 'Login' button in the top-right corner of the home page.
2. Step 2: On the GST portal's login page, enter your username, password, and the provided captcha code. Sometimes, you might need to verify an OTP for added security. Click the 'Login' button.
3. Step 3: Once you log in, you'll see your personal GST dashboard. Here, you can view a summary of your GST credits, access the 'File Returns' and 'Pay Tax' sections, and check your Annual Aggregate Turnover (AATO) details. The dashboard also offers quick links to view submitted forms and keep an eye on notices or orders from tax authorities.

The dashboard has an easy layout, helping taxpayers to handle compliance tasks and keep their GST records up to date.

 

Services available on the GST Portal Upon Login

After logging in, you can access a range of services on the GST portal. Some such services are as follows:

1. Application for Registration for normal taxpayers, input service distributors, and casual dealers.
2. Opting out of the composition scheme (GST CMP 04)
3. Claim refund (RFD – 01)
4. Application for GST practitioner
5. Filing of GST returns
6. Furnish letter of undertaking (LUT) (RFD-11)
7. Opting for composition scheme (GST CMP -02)
8. Payment of GST under which there are two more services – create challan and track payment status
9. Tracking refund status
10. Declaration for intimation of ITC reversal or payment of tax on stock in Form GST ITC – 03
11. Search taxpayers from GSTIN / UIN / PAN
12. Viewing different e-ledgers like e-cash ledger, e-liability ledger, or e-credit ledger
13. Application for amendment in registration particulars (Form GST REG – 14)
14. Application for advance ruling (Form GST ARA – 01)
15. Track application status

 

How to Check GST Registration Status Online?

Monitoring your GST registration application status can be a straightforward process, which may be done both before and after a GST service login. This not only makes the whole process less cumbersome but also allows the taxpayers to be equally updated regarding their application status².

 

Monitoring GST Registration Status Without Login

One can check their GST registration status without a login credential by following the steps mentioned below:

1. Step 1: Open the official GST portal and click on 'Services', then ‘Registration', then 'Track Application Status'.
2. Step 2: Select 'Registration' in the module dropdown.
3. Step 3: Put in the Application Reference Number (ARN) or Service Request Number (SRN) sent through mail, along with the captcha code, and then hit the 'Search' button.

Note: SRN is uniquely generated when a GST registration application is submitted through the MCA portal.

The status will be shown now with different coloured phases representing the stages of work done. If the application has been withdrawn, then only two stages will be visible.

 

Tracking Status After GST Portal Login

New taxpayers can log in via the GST portal login. After logging in, they will still have to do all the above steps to see the status of registration.

This double facility makes tracking easy so that applicants can monitor GST registration updates at any point.

 

How to Download GST Certificate?

Registered taxpayers can easily access and download their GST Registration Certificate (Form GST REG-06) directly from the official GST portal. Please note that the GST registration certificate is only available in e-form, and no hard-copy, printed GST registration certificate is available from the government. You can access the certificate through your GST portal login ID. The following steps will guide you through the process of downloading the GST Registration Certificate:

1. Step 1: Go to the official GST portal and complete your GST login using your username, password, and captcha.
2. Step 2: On the menu bar, click on 'Services', then 'User Services', then 'View/Download Certificate'
3. Step 3: You will see an option to download the registration certificate. Click on it.
4. Step 4: The registration certificate will be downloaded in PDF format on your machine. Open the file and print a copy if needed.
5. Step 5: As per the GST rules, the certificate must be displayed prominently in all the places of business in the respective State or Union Territory.

This e-Certificate is the official proof of registration, and one can download the same certificate at any time after logging in to the GST portal.

 

Key Takeaways

1. Through the GST Portal Login page, you can have a safe, secure login. You can easily manage registrations, file return forms, pay tax, and view notices - all in one place.
2. New users can create a login credential from provisional data, and existing users can log in with a username, password, captcha, and, in some instances, an OTP.
3. Post login, you can see dashboards, ledgers, refund application, amendment in registration, and returns filing (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, etc.), and e-way bill service.
4. The portal allows you to download the GST Registration Certificate (REG-06) and view the status of registration applications before and after login.

 

Conclusion

The GST portal provides a single point of access for all GST matters and compliance and is therefore created for easier GST filing. If you are registering for the first time, submitting monthly or annual returns, paying taxes, or downloading your GST registration certificate, the portal makes your work easy. For transparency, functionality such as application tracking and dashboard summaries is also provided. The portal, when considered a simplified procedure for tax compliance through the centralisation of additional important functions such as refunds, amendments, and communications with tax authorities, becomes the easiest and most accessible way for the business community of India at large.

 

FAQs

 

1. How do I reset my GST portal password if I forget it?

On the GST login page, you need to click "Forgot Password," fill in the username, get OTP on the registered mobile/email, and finally, reset your password safely online³.

 

2. Can multiple users log in using the same GSTIN?

Yes, multiple sub-users can log in using the same GSTIN on the e-way bill portal. However, for this, the main user should create and manage sub-users allocating them specific roles and permissions.

 

3. Is OTP mandatory for every GST login?

No, you do not have to provide OTP every time you log in. If you have previously authenticated from a trusted browser/device, you will not be prompted to enter OTP again. However, if you log in using a new browser/device, you must go through the entire authentication process.

 

4. Can I log in to the GST portal without a GSTIN?

If you are a registered business, you would have a GSTIN which you can use for logging in. However, if you are unregistered, you can log into the GST portal without a GSTIN by creating a user ID⁴.

 

5. What should I do if my GST portal login is temporarily locked?

You should wait for 15 minutes and try again⁵, or use the "Forgot Password" link to change your password. Enter correct credentials so that you do not experience repeated lockouts. You can call the helpline number to solve the issue.

Sources –

1. https://cleartax.in/s/gst-login-portal#h11
2.  https://cleartax.in/s/gst-registration-application-arn-status
3. https://tutorial.gst.gov.in/userguide/registration/FAQs_Logging_Managing_Username_Password.htm
4. https://www.setindiabiz.com/blog/how-to-login-to-gst-portal
5. https://www.suvit.io/post/fixes-for-gst-portal-login-issues