You applied for GST registration and instead of a GSTIN you got an email: “Notice for seeking additional information / clarification / documents”. That is FORM GST REG-03. It is common, it is not a penalty, and it can be answered. But it has a short deadline, and a missed or weak reply leads to rejection.
What REG-03 means
Under Rule 9(2) of the CGST Rules, the officer can ask for clarification, information or documents when the application is incomplete or something needs checking. The notice is usually issued within 7 working days of the application, or within 30 days where physical verification applies.
| Step | Form | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Officer raises a query | REG-03 | Within 7 working days of the application (30 days in verification cases) |
| You reply | REG-04 | Within 7 working days of receiving the notice |
| Officer decides | Approval, or rejection in REG-05 | Treated as approved if no action within 7 working days of your reply |
If you do not reply, or the officer is not satisfied with the reply, Rule 9(4) allows the application to be rejected in FORM GST REG-05, with reasons recorded in writing.
Common queries we see in Gurugram
| Query raised | What usually fixes it |
|---|---|
| Address proof not clear or does not match | A current electricity bill or property tax receipt with the same address as the application |
| Rent agreement unsigned, expired or incomplete | A signed and current rent agreement, with the owner’s ID and ownership proof |
| Property belongs to a relative | A consent letter from the owner with their ID and ownership proof |
| Photo of the premises required | Clear photos of the outside with the business name board, and of the inside |
| Business activity or HSN/SAC codes unclear | A short description of what you sell, with the correct codes |
| Authorised signatory not authorised | A board resolution or authorisation letter signed by the partners or directors |
How to reply in REG-04, step by step
- Log in to the GST portal and open Services > Registration > Application for Filing Clarifications.
- Choose the ARN of your application.
- Answer every point in the notice in the reply box. Keep it short and specific: one line per query, saying what you are uploading.
- Tick Modification in the application only if a detail in the application itself must change (for example the address typed wrongly), and correct it.
- Upload clear PDFs or images for each point.
- Submit with DSC or EVC within the 7 working days.
A sample reply
With reference to the notice in FORM GST REG-03, the clarifications are as follows:
- Address proof: the latest electricity bill of the premises at the declared address is uploaded.
- Rent agreement: the signed rent agreement valid till March 2027 and the owner’s ownership proof are uploaded.
- Photographs: photographs of the premises showing the name board are uploaded. We request that the application be approved.
Adapt the points to your notice. Never upload a document you do not hold in original: if the officer orders physical or biometric verification, originals are checked.
If the application was already rejected
A rejection in REG-05 is not the end. You can file a fresh application with the defects fixed. Read common reasons GST registration gets rejected first, and see how long GST registration takes.
Received a REG-03 notice? Send it to us on WhatsApp. We prepare the reply and the documents within the deadline. See our GST registration service.