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Govt and legal proceedings

List of Approved GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs)

Anil Tanwar 8 Stories

Monday January 21, 2019 , 4 min Read

The sudden introduction of a changed return filing system under Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime created a spur of confusion among taxpayers. Therefore, the concept of GSPs was boosted so as to reduce these confusions among the taxpayers. Lists of GSPs were approved by the GST Network (GSTN) to help taxpayers in carrying out various processes of filing returns.

The topics covered in this article are:

1. What is GSP?

2. How is GSP Approved?

3. List of Approved GSPs

1. What is a GSP?

A GST Suvidha Provider (GSP) is a facilitator which helps taxpayers to file their returns efficiently. These GSPs also come of aid to businesses by carrying out various functions of a business. GSPs bridge the gap between taxpayers and the GST Network(GSTN) through their ASPs. They provide software applications to taxpayers in the form of Application Service Providers (ASPs) which provide an interface through which the return filing processes can be made easier.

2. How is GSP Approved?

A GSP first needs to be approved by the GSTN. Once approved, it is provided with an API through which the GSP can enhance systems for taxpayers. GSPs cannot read any data or modify it, but can use the interface (API) that the GST Network provides them to make the return filing processes more simple and accurate for taxpayers. Through these APIs, GSPs can enhance the systems to improve the return filing mechanism for taxpayers.

The criteria for selection of GSP were:

1. Financial Strength:

GSP must have paid or raised a capital of minimum Rs. 2 crores
GSP should have had an average turnover of minimum Rs. 5 crores in the previous three financial years (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17)
Unaudited results of the respective Financial Year duly authenticated by only the Company Secretary may be quoted so as to be followed up by signed and audited balance sheets. A copy of audited balance sheet’s relevant page should be shared.

2. Technical Capability: GSP had to create software to file GSTR-1, GSTR-2, and GSTR-3 along with reconciliation so as to demonstrate its technical capabilitywithin a month of being offered the opportunity.

3. Technical Eligibility: Potential GSP should achieve at least 60% marks on the software demonstration test to be approved as a GSP.

3. List of Approved GSPs

Upon passing the criteria, the following list of 34 GSPs was approved by the GSTN in 2017: