Business & Tax

GST registration is required for businesses crossing the prescribed turnover threshold or making inter-state supplies. Registration is done free of cost on the official GST portal and issues a GSTIN.

Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN)

Udyam Registration is the official recognition for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It is free, paperless and based on self-declaration using Aadhaar and PAN, and unlocks various government benefits and schemes.

Ministry of MSME

Filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) reports your income and taxes for a financial year. Individuals and businesses file directly on the official Income Tax e-filing portal, often using pre-filled data.

Income Tax Department

GST-registered businesses need to periodically file returns declaring their sales, purchases, and tax liability — mainly GSTR-1 (outward supplies) and GSTR-3B (summary return with tax payment), on a monthly or quarterly basis depending on eligibility.

GST Portal (GSTN)

An Import Export Code (IEC) is required for businesses and individuals looking to import or export goods commercially from India. It's issued by the DGFT, is linked to the applicant's PAN, and must be confirmed/updated online every year even if no details have changed.

DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade)

Registering a trademark protects your brand name, logo or slogan nationally and gives you the exclusive right to use the ® symbol and take legal action against copycats. Applications are filed online through the IP India e-filing portal, examined by the Trade Marks Registry, published for public opposition, and — if unopposed — registered. The whole process commonly takes 12–24 months, though the ™ symbol can be used from the day you file.

Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (IP India)

Anyone manufacturing, storing, distributing or selling food in India — from a home-based tiffin service to a full restaurant or food manufacturing unit — needs FSSAI registration or a license, depending on business size. It's applied for online through FoSCoS, FSSAI's official licensing portal.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

An e-Way Bill is an electronic document required under GST for moving goods worth more than ₹50,000, whether by a registered supplier, recipient, or transporter. It's generated on the official e-Way Bill portal before the goods start moving, and must accompany the consignment (digitally or printed) for verification during transit.

GST Network (GSTN)

If your filed and e-verified Income Tax Return shows a refund due, you can track its processing status directly on the official Income Tax e-filing portal — from 'return processed' through to the refund being credited to your bank account. The refund is paid only into a bank account that's been pre-validated on the portal.

Income Tax Department