There could be many reasons someone would want to surrender the goods and services tax (GST) number. Chances are, you are no longer liable to be registered under GST because your business turnover went down. Or your private company is gearing up to go public. Or you may have discontinued or disposed of your business. Or you may have obtained the GST registration by mistake. 

Whatever the case, in this blog, we’ll detail how to surrender your GST number (GSTIN). 

How to Surrender GST Number?

Surrendering or cancelling the GST number means your business, or you won’t be registered anymore. You wouldn’t be expected to either pay or collect GST nor would you be able to claim input tax credits (ITC). 

To cancel your GST number, follow these steps: 

• Visit the GST portal and log in.
• On the menu tab, find the option for Services. Hover over this and look for the Application for Cancellation of Registration option. 
• In the screen that appears, you’ll be asked to fill in the address for future communication and select the date and reason for cancellation. 
• You’ll also be asked to fill in the details such as pending tax liabilities, payment of tax, ITC reversal
• Once you fill in the information, attach documents such as the final return and bank statement.
• Complete the authentication using EVC or DSC and apply. 

To complete the surrender of your GST number, you must apply for cancellation via GST REG 16 form. The form must contain the following details: 

• Details of inputs, semi-finished or finished goods. If these goods were in stock the day you applied for cancellation, furnish their details. 
• Payment details
• Liability thereon

Within 30 days of submitting this form, the respective officer must issue an order for cancellation in another form called GST REG-19. You can track the registration status by visiting the portal and clicking on Services > Registration > Track Application Status option. 

Conclusion

Once you file for cancellation, you will receive an acknowledgement via text message. However, surrendering the GST number while your business continues to function is considered an offence under the GST Act and attracts heavy penalties. If you plan to continue your business, you can re-apply for a GST number on the GST portal. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel my GST number? 

You must file a return in the form GST REG-16 form to cancel your GST number. You will also have to visit the GST portal and apply for cancellation, providing relevant details and documents. 

What documents are required for the surrender of GST registration?

You will require the following documents: 

• Final return
• Bank statement
• PAN
• GST registration certificate
• Closing stock and liability thereon
• Proof of payment of tax dues

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