State GST department launches GST registration drive in Kerala

The State Goods and Services Tax department has kicked off a GST registration rive in the State in a bid to bring more traders under the tax net and ensure tax returns are filed on time.

Presenting the 2025-26 State Budget last February, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal had announced that State-level campaigns would be organised to bring traders under the ambit of GST system and to improve the filing of GST returns.

Special tax squads will carry out field surveys in all districts as part of the drive. They will visit businesses to raise awareness about the registration, the Additional Commissioner, State GST Department, said.

Traders exclusively handling goods and having an annual turnover above ₹40 lakh and businessmen with turnover is above ₹20 lakh whose businesses also include services should mandatorily take GST registration.

Traders coming under the ambit of Section 24 of the GST Act which deals with ‘Compulsory registration in certain cases’ are required to register regardless of their annual turnover. The GST registration mechanism is a wholly online system. The details can be accessed on www.gst.gov.in.