GST: Where to Get Support on GST Online?

Important Links & Portals for Assistance

Filing GST returns is a complicated and tiresome process, especially for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), who are already facing the brunt of the economic slowdown due to the pandemic. The law makes it clear that not only those companies that are not filing the returns, but also those that are dealing with them, will have to face the music. To add to their woes, the GST laws are also being constantly altered, and the process is taking a toll on the entrepreneurs since it is too time-consuming and complicated.

Taxpayers can log onto the new self-help portal https://selfservice.gstsystem.in/ to report issues of GST. This portal is live on 22nd January 2018. Some of the other important GST links are www.cbec.gov.in, www.sermon.nic.in, www.icegate.gov.in, etc.

1. Cleartax.in

Founded in 2011, Cleartax.in is built on the base of the massive digitisation of India’s tax programs. Cleartax.in has built Taxcloud and GST software to help Cas do GST billing and filing. When the government introduced the massive indirect tax reform with the announcement of GST, most businesses were not clear about its compliance requirements and implications. So the company built a product to simplify GST for businesses which quickly became the largest GST solution in India. 8% of India’s GST returns are filed through it and more than 80,000 businesses have adopted it.

2. www.gst.gov.in

www.gst.gov.in is the government’s official GST site. This website offers numerous GST services for taxpayers ranging from obtaining GST registration and filing returns to applications for refunds and also cancellation of GST registration. This portal handles all communications such as approving, responding, and rejecting applications. It includes intimation of notices by the tax department and windows for responding by the taxpayers.

The Help tab on the GST portal homepage contains many “How to guides”, system requirements for various GST filing online, user manuals, videos and FAQs, and a link redirecting users to the grievance redressal portal. Further, advisories on new facilities and a list of common errors with their solutions are also available. A list of GST Subidha Providers (GSPs), and also of free accounting and billing software are provided here. The GST portal helps to resolve any issues or doubts during GST registration, or the return filing process.

3. Tally.ERP 9

Tally.ERP 9 is a one-stop solution from accounting to GST compliance and simplifies the work. It has the following benefits:

• Generate GST invoices very quickly.
• Tally’s Prevention-Detection-Correction system ensures the credibility of data, every time.
• You can file GSTR 1, GSTR 3B, or GSTR 9 with ease.
• You can export your GST return in either MS-Word or Javascript Object Notation (JSON) format easily.

CMP-08 in Tally.ERP 9 supports Composite dealers.

• Get a seamless e-way bill experience with its e-way bill capabilities.
• Its fully secure connection helps you to access business data from any device or browser 24x7.
• Get up-to-date business information in one click.
• You can reconcile your books of accounts with your bank statement automatically.

4. Onlinelegalindia.com

The GST experts at onlinelegalindia.com will help you to get GST number and become more competitive in the market. It has three different fee structures:

• If you pay a basic fee of Rs 1499, you will get help in GST registration, and also call, chat, and email support.
• After paying the standard fee of Rs 2999, you will get all benefits of the basic plan along with 3 months GST return filing and 3 months free consultation.
• The premium plan costs Rs 4999, and apart from all benefits of the standard plan, you will get 6 months of GST return filing, and consultation, and after-sales support.

It works in the following way:

1. Fill the form and make the payment.
2. Then you will receive a call from their GST expert.
3. You have to then upload the required documents.
4. Then Acquirer Reference Number (ARN), and Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), will be generated.
5. Then your GSTIN, which is a unique 15 digit code given to every taxpayer when they register for GST.
6. Finally, your GST certificate will be sent to you.

Onlinelegalindia.com also helps you to file your GST return easily.

5. www.gstcouncil.gov.in

The Goods and Services Tax council has a GST Grievance Redressal Mechanism which operates a pan-India 24x7 help-desk, CBECMITRA. This help desk caters to all the queries related to law and procedure under GST and related IT issues. The national toll-free number is 1800-1200-232. You can also email me at cbecmitra.helpdesk@cegate.gov.in.

Some helpdesks guide users on how to track GST. The caller can further call the helpdesk manager in case he is not satisfied with the response.

6. http://www.wepdigital.com

WeP Digital Services Ltd is a Bengaluru based digital services provider whose innovative open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) facilitate cashless, paperless, and innovative digital solutions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), and Fortune 500 companies across industries. This versatile software helps businesses become GST compliant and is built to scale. This GST software provides seamless integration between the client and the accountant and it is hosted on the cloud-based Microsoft Azure platform. WeP has got empanelment as an Aadhar Authentication Agency from UIDAI and as a GST suvidha provider (GSP) from GSTN thus diversifying into new areas.

7. www.selfservice.gstsystem.in

Taxpayers and other stakeholders can complain about this portal. Instead of lodging complaints to the helpdesk, users can lodge their complaints here about any problems that they face while working on the portal. Its user-friendly design helps the users upload screen-shot images of the problem that they face thus resolving their grievances quickly.

The important aspect of the GST regime is that the tax administrator must have strong technology backing. This has been possible due to the help provided by IT majors like Infosys. So the taxpayers do not have to visit the offices in person but do their filing with the help of the online support websites, portals, and links described above.

Also read:

1) What Happens to Indian's Tax Money after Payment?
2) Top-10 Highest Tax Paying States in India
3) Why Do We Pay Income Tax in India? Importance, Applicability & more
4) Types of Direct & Indirect Taxes in India
5) OkCredit: Simple, Paperless & Secure solution for businesses