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Do I Need GST Registration? Free Checker for Freelancers

Enter what you’ve billed this year and what’s still coming. See straight away whether you need a GSTIN now, soon, or not at all.

  • 100% free
  • No signup
  • Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded
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All clients, India and abroad, from 1 April. Include exempt work too.

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Work you’re fairly sure to bill for the rest of the year.

Where is your business based?

Not yet, but you’re getting close

You expect ₹18 lakh, which is 90% of the ₹20 lakh limit. Keep an eye on it. A big project could push you over.

Your limit
₹20 lakh
Projected turnover
₹18 lakh
Room left before you must register
₹8,00,000

Registered or not, TracEasy makes the right invoice: tax invoice with GST once you have a GSTIN, a plain bill before that, and export invoices in USD or EUR.

Try TracEasy free

The rule in one line

If your aggregate turnover in a financial year (April to March) exceeds ₹20 lakh, you must register for GST within 30 days. In Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura the limit is ₹10 lakh. This checker covers people who sell services: developers, designers, writers, consultants, tutors and other professionals.

What counts in aggregate turnover

CountsDoesn’t count
Billing to Indian clients, in any stateYour salary from an employer
Exports: payments from foreign clients, via Upwork, PayPal or wireGST itself (turnover is before tax)
Exempt services you providePayments you pass on at cost as a pure agent (e.g. a client’s ad spend)
Billing under every business on the same PAN, across India

Worked example

Priya is a UI designer in Pune. By December she has billed ₹9 lakh to a US agency and ₹5 lakh to Indian startups, a total of ₹14 lakh. She expects ₹8 lakh more by March. Her projected turnover is ₹22 lakh, over the ₹20 lakh limit. She doesn’t have to register yet, but when her billing passes ₹20 lakh she has 30 days to apply. After that she charges 18% GST to Indian clients and can bill foreign clients without GST under a Letter of Undertaking (LUT).

After you register

  • Charge GST on invoices to Indian clients: CGST + SGST in your state, IGST outside it. See CGST, SGST and IGST.
  • File an LUT on the GST portal each year so exports go out without IGST.
  • Use SAC codes on invoices. See HSN and SAC codes.
  • File GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B monthly, or quarterly under QRMP if your turnover is up to ₹5 crore.

Ready to bill? Make a GST-compliant invoice with the free invoice generator, or estimate your income tax with the Section 44ADA calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GST registration limit for freelancers?

For services it is ₹20 lakh of aggregate turnover in a financial year. In Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura it is ₹10 lakh. You must register once your turnover exceeds the limit. Reaching it exactly doesn’t count.

Do payments from foreign clients count towards ₹20 lakh?

Yes. Exports of services are zero-rated supplies, and aggregate turnover includes them. A freelancer billing ₹15 lakh to US clients and ₹6 lakh to Indian clients has ₹21 lakh of turnover and must register.

I work for clients in other states. Do I need GST registration from day one?

No. Service providers making inter-state supplies are exempt from compulsory registration until they cross the threshold. The rule that forces inter-state sellers to register from the first rupee applies to goods, not services.

Does my salary count in aggregate turnover?

No. Services an employee provides to their employer are not a supply under GST, so salary is left out. Only your freelance or professional billing counts.

How soon must I apply after crossing the limit?

Within 30 days of becoming liable. GST applies to your supplies from the date you crossed the limit, so apply on time and start charging GST on invoices from then.

Should I register voluntarily below ₹20 lakh?

It can help if your clients are GST-registered businesses that want to claim input tax credit, or if you pay GST on software and equipment you’d like to claim back. The cost is monthly or quarterly returns and charging GST to clients who can’t claim it. Once registered you must follow all the rules, even below the limit.

Related free tools

Free Section 44ADA Tax Calculator

Presumptive tax for freelancers and professionals, with TDS and advance tax.

Free GST Invoice Generator

GST tax invoice with per-item GST, CGST/SGST or IGST, UPI QR. PDF, print or email.

Free GSTIN Validator

Check a GST number’s format and check digit. Single or bulk, offline.

Last reviewed 24 September 2026 by the TracEasy team. For information only. Check tax positions for your business with your accountant.