The GST registration process is fully online and free on the official GST portal. Fill Part A of form GST REG-01 with your PAN, mobile number and email, verify both with OTPs to receive an ARN, and then complete Part B by uploading the required documents. A GST officer verifies the application, and once approved, your GSTIN and registration certificate are issued, usually within 7 working days. Aadhaar authentication can speed up approval since it reduces the chances of physical verification.

You typically need the PAN and Aadhaar of the proprietor or partners, a photograph, proof of the principal place of business such as an electricity bill or rent agreement (with the owner's NOC if rented), and bank proof like a cancelled cheque or bank statement. For companies and LLPs, the certificate of incorporation, authorisation letter or board resolution, and a digital signature are also required.

Businesses supplying goods must register for GST once aggregate turnover crosses ₹40 lakh in a financial year, while the threshold for service providers is ₹20 lakh. Special category states such as the north-eastern states, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have lower limits of ₹10–20 lakh. Registration is also compulsory irrespective of turnover in certain cases, such as inter-state supply of goods, selling through e-commerce platforms, or operating as a casual taxable person.

There is no government fee for GST registration — it is free on the official GST portal. If you hire a chartered accountant or tax consultant to handle it, professional charges generally range from a few hundred to a few thousand rupees depending on your business structure and the documents involved.

Log in to the GST portal and go to Services → User Services → View/Download Certificates, then select your registration certificate and download it as a PDF. The certificate becomes available after your application is approved, and you must display a printed copy at your principal place of business.

On the GST portal, go to Services → Registration → Track Application Status and enter your ARN to see where your new application stands. To verify an existing business, use the Search Taxpayer option and enter its 15-digit GSTIN — an active taxpayer's details will appear with the status shown as "Active".

A GST registration number, or GSTIN, is a unique 15-digit identity number allotted to every registered taxpayer. It is made up of a 2-digit state code, the 10-character PAN of the business, an entity-specific number, the letter Z, and a checksum digit. You can find a business's GSTIN on its GST certificate or verify it through the Search Taxpayer facility on the GST portal.

Log in to the income tax filing portal using your PAN as the user ID, then go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return, select the assessment year and the correct ITR form, and fill in or verify the pre-filled details of salary, other income and deductions. Validate the form, submit it, and complete e-verification within 30 days, since the return is processed only after verification.

For most salaried individuals and non-audit taxpayers, the income tax filing last date is 31 July of the relevant assessment year — for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), this would be 31 July 2026, unless the government extends it as it has in some recent years. Taxpayers whose accounts require an audit get a later deadline, and returns can still be filed after the due date as belated returns with late fee under Section 234F, generally until 31 December.

Log in to the e-filing portal and open e-File → Income Tax Returns → View Filed Returns to see the current status of your submitted ITR. The status may show as "Submitted and pending for processing", "Processed" or "Defective", and once processed, you can also check whether a refund has been issued from the same menu.

Tax planning in income tax means arranging your income, investments and expenses in advance so that you legally reduce your tax liability using the exemptions, deductions, rebates and slab benefits available under the Income-tax Act — for example, Section 80C, 80D, HRA exemption, and choosing between the old and new tax regimes. It must be done within the framework of the law and works best when started early in the financial year.

Yes, tax planning is completely legal when done using provisions of the Income-tax Act, such as deductions, exemptions and lower rates that the law itself encourages for savings and investment. It is different from tax evasion, which is the illegal concealment of income. Filing accurate returns and keeping proper documentation of all claims keeps your planning fully compliant.

Start at the beginning of the financial year instead of rushing in March. Estimate your total taxable income, compare the old and new regimes to see which suits you, and then use deductions such as 80C (ELSS, PPF, EPF, life insurance up to ₹1.5 lakh), 80D for health insurance, and 80CCD(1B) for an additional ₹50,000 through NPS, along with exemptions like HRA and home loan interest where applicable. Keep proofs of all investments ready so claims are smooth while filing.

For salaried employees, tax planning begins with the salary structure — maximise HRA exemption with rent receipts, use the standard deduction, and declare planned investments to your employer early in the year. Build your 80C basket (EPF, PPF, ELSS, life insurance), add health insurance under 80D, consider NPS for the extra ₹50,000 deduction under 80CCD(1B), and claim LTA or home loan interest if applicable. Compare both tax regimes before finalising, since the better option depends on your income and total deductions.

Consider hiring a tax planning consultant when you have multiple income sources such as salary plus freelancing, capital gains or business income, when you are choosing between tax regimes or a business structure, when you receive an income tax notice, or when your finances change significantly — for example, buying property or earning NRI income. Engaging one at the start of the financial year is far more effective than last-minute planning in March, because most deductions need time-backed investments.