Gujarat VAT Registration, TIN Registration and VAT Tax Rates

Gujarat is one of the most business oriented states in India and the sale of goods in the State of Gujarat is taxed under the Gujarat Value Added Tax Act, 2003. In India, levy, collection and procedures relating to VAT is determined by each of the State under the Central Government's guidance. Therefore, the Gujarat Value Added Tax, 2003 extends to the whole of Gujarat and determines all aspects of VAT tax in the state of Gujarat. In this article, we look at the procedure for VAT or TIN Registration in Gujarat, Gujarat VAT Tax Rates and Gujarat VAT Return Filing.

Gujarat VAT Registration

In Gujarat, VAT registration is mandatory for all dealers having a total turnover of more than Rs.5,00,000 and/or having taxable turnover of Rs.10,000 or more. In addition, Gujarat VAT Registration in mandatory for all dealers who must be registered under the Central Sales Tax (CST) Act or having a total turnover in the first year that exceeds the threshold turnover for registration. Further, casual dealers and auctioneers having a taxable turnover of over Rs.10,000 are also required to obtain Gujarat VAT Registration. Any other person wishing to start a business in the state of Gujarat may also obtain Gujarat VAT registration voluntarily.

Click here to download the complete Gujarat VAT Act.

Gujarat VAT Tax Rates

The Gujarat VAT Tax Rates are dependent on the nature of transaction and the type of goods sold/transferred. Broadly, the tax rates can be divided into three parts based on the Schedule of taxes in Gujarat as follows:

Schedule 1 - VAT Tax Exempt Goods - (Eg: Aids for handicapped persons, books, periodicals and journals, eggs, electricity, etc.,)
Schedule 2 - Various VAT Tax Rates depending on the type of goods (Eg: Bicycles, cotton, honey, IT equipments, papers, plant and machinery, etc.,)
Schedule 3 - Various VAT Tax Rates covering sale of Aviation Fuel, High Speed Diesel Oil and Motor Spirits.

In the state of Gujarat, sale of goods to the Developer or Co-developer of a Special Economic Zone or sales of goods to an undertaking in a Special Economic Zone or export sales is exempt from VAT tax. Click here to download the complete Gujarat VAT Tax Rates.

Gujarat VAT Return Filing

In Gujarat, dealers having a VAT payment of more than Rs.60,000 in the current or previous year, importers, exporters, dealers of Schedule III goods, dealers enjoying deferment or exemption, dealers in SEZs and dealers having refunds or remission under section 40 or 41 must file monthly Gujarat VAT returns. Those dealers having permission to lump sum tax and those dealers who do not have vat tax of Rs.60,000 or more are allowed to file quarterly returns. In addition to the monthly or quarterly returns, the dealer must furnish an annual return by way of assessment by June 30, if annual turnover is less than Rs. 1 crore or by December 31st, if annual turnover is over Rs.1 crore. Gujarat VAT Return filing can be done through http://www.commercialtax.gujarat.gov.in website.

Gujarat VAT Payment Due Date

Gujarat VAT payments must be made within 22 days from the end of the month or quarter in which the VAT Return is filed. Only those dealers dealing in Goods listed under Schedule 3 must make their VAT payment within 12 days from the end of the month.