GST Compliance Guide for Pune Businesses

A business operating from Pune (Maharashtra) must obtain GST registration if its aggregate turnover crosses the prescribed threshold in a financial year:

• ₹40 lakh for suppliers of goods (Maharashtra is a normal-category state).
• ₹20 lakh for suppliers of services.
• ₹0 (mandatory) for inter-state suppliers, e-commerce operators, casual taxable persons, and businesses liable under reverse charge — regardless of turnover.

Voluntary registration is often worth considering for Pune startups dealing with corporate customers, since B2B buyers usually prefer GST-registered vendors to claim input tax credit.

• PAN of the business and authorised signatory
• Aadhaar of proprietor / partners / directors (for Aadhaar authentication)
• Proof of business address in Pune — electricity bill, property tax receipt, or registered rent agreement with NOC
• Bank account proof — cancelled cheque or first page of passbook
• Certificate of incorporation / partnership deed / LLP agreement, as applicable
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for companies and LLPs

The core monthly and quarterly returns most Pune businesses deal with:

• GSTR-1 — outward supplies. Monthly by the 11th of the next month, or quarterly under the QRMP scheme (turnover up to ₹5 crore) by the 13th of the month after the quarter.
• GSTR-3B — summary return with tax payment. Monthly by the 20th, or quarterly (QRMP) by the 22nd for Maharashtra.
• CMP-08 — composition dealers, quarterly by the 18th.
• GSTR-9 — annual return, by 31 December following the financial year (applicable if turnover > ₹2 crore).
• GSTR-9C — self-certified reconciliation, applicable if turnover > ₹5 crore.

Late filing attracts interest at 18% p.a. on tax payable plus late fees of ₹50/day (₹20/day for NIL returns), capped per return.

To claim ITC on a purchase invoice, all four conditions in Section 16 of the CGST Act must be met:

1. You hold a valid tax invoice or debit note from a registered supplier.
2. You have received the goods or services.
3. The supplier has actually paid the tax to the government and filed GSTR-1, so the invoice appears in your GSTR-2B.
4. You have filed your GSTR-3B for the period.

Payment to the supplier must be made within 180 days of the invoice date, otherwise the ITC must be reversed (with interest) and reclaimed only on actual payment. Reconcile purchase register with GSTR-2B every month — this is the single biggest source of GST notices in Pune.

• E-invoicing is mandatory for B2B supplies if aggregate turnover in any financial year from 2017-18 onwards exceeded ₹5 crore. Generate the IRN from the IRP portal before issuing the invoice to the customer.
• E-way bills are required for movement of goods of value > ₹50,000 (intra-state limit in Maharashtra is also ₹1,00,000 for certain goods — confirm at the time of dispatch).
• Keep IRN, QR code, and e-way bill numbers cross-referenced in your invoice series — mismatches are flagged by the GSTN system.

• Failure to register: 10% of tax due or ₹10,000, whichever is higher; up to 100% in fraud cases.
• Wrong / excess ITC claim: tax + interest @ 18% p.a. + penalty up to the tax amount.
• Non-filing of returns for 6 months continuously: registration can be cancelled by the proper officer.
• Common notices Pune businesses receive: DRC-01B (GSTR-1 vs 3B mismatch), DRC-01C (ITC mismatch with 2B), and ASMT-10 (scrutiny).

• Issue all B2B invoices with correct GSTIN, place of supply, HSN/SAC code, and IRN (if applicable).
• Reconcile purchase register with GSTR-2B before the 14th of each month.
• File GSTR-1 (or IFF under QRMP) by the 11th / 13th.
• Pay tax and file GSTR-3B by the 20th / 22nd.
• Generate and archive e-way bills for every dispatch above the threshold.
• Track 180-day vendor payment rule to avoid ITC reversal.
• Reconcile books, GSTR-1, GSTR-3B and GSTR-2B at the end of every quarter.