New Delhi: In a step that will boost the ease of doing business in the country, the finance ministry Friday rolled out a new facility for allotting the GST number in just 3 days, according to an official source in the ministry of finance.
“If a person opts for Aadhaar based authentication for the new GST registration, if no notice has been issued then the person would get it within just three working days and it will not require physical verification of the establishment,” said a source in the finance ministry.
“In case the person does not opt for Aadhaar based authentication then it will require both physical verification of place of business and also verification of the documents that may take up to 3 weeks, and in case a notice is issued then it may take even more time,” said the source.
“Aadhaar authentication for new registration would substantially enhance ease of doing businesses for genuine businesses,” he said.
Read more: Kalyan Jewellers plans Rs 1,750 crore-IPO; files draft papers with SEBI
The GST Council, the apex decision making body comprising both the Union and States, had approved the use of Aadhaar based authentication in March this year. It was approved in the 39th meeting of GST Council held on March 14, however, its implementation was deferred as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete nationwide lockdown from March 24 to slow down the community spread of the highly infectious Covid-19 virus.
The novel coronavirus has killed over 57,000 people in the country and more than 8,00,000 people throughout the world, wreaking havoc on business and societies.
According to official sources, the concerned officer may ask for additional documents in lieu of the pre-registration for physical verification of the premises.
“This measure is expected to facilitate genuine and honest taxpayers while at the same time keeping the fake and fraudulent entities away from GST,” said the source.
(Article by Krishnanand Tripathi)
