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Chapter VI - Registration

Section 29

Section 29: Cancellation or suspension

Section 29 permits GST registration cancellation on application or by the proper officer for specified grounds. It also allows suspension while cancellation proceedings are pending.

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Need advice on Section 29?

This article is for general information. Refer to the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.

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Statutory text

Bare law

(1) The proper officer may, either on his own motion or on an application filed by the registered person or by his legal heirs, in case of death of such person, cancel the registration, in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed, having regard to the circumstances where,–– (a) the business has been discontinued, transferred fully for any reason including death of the proprietor, amalgamated with other legal entity, demerged or otherwise disposed of; or (b) there is any change in the constitution of the business; or (c) the taxable person is no longer liable to be registered under section 22 or section 24 or intends to optout of the registration voluntarily made under sub-section (3) of section 25: Provided that during pendency of the proceedings relating to cancellation of registration filed by the registered person, the registration may be suspended for such period and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The proper officer may cancel the registration of a person from such date, including any retrospective date, as he may deem fit, where,–– (a) a registered person has contravened such provisions of the Act or the rules made thereunder as may be prescribed; or (b) a person paying tax under section 10 has not furnished the return for a financial year beyond three months from the due date of furnishing the said return; or (c) any registered person, other than a person specified in clause (b), has not furnished returns for such continuous tax period as may be prescribed; or (d) any person who has taken voluntary registration under sub-section (3) of section 25 has not commenced business within six months from the date of registration; or (e) registration has been obtained by means of fraud, wilful misstatement or suppression of facts: Provided that the proper officer shall not cancel the registration without giving the person an opportunity of being heard: Provided further that during pendency of the proceedings relating to cancellation of registration, the proper officer may suspend the registration for such period and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The cancellation of registration under this section shall not affect the liability of the person to pay tax and other dues under this Act or to discharge any obligation under this Act or the rules made thereunder for any period prior to the date of cancellation whether or not such tax and other dues are determined before or after the date of cancellation.

(4) The cancellation of registration under the State Goods and Services Tax Act or the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be a cancellation of registration under this Act.

(5) Every registered person whose registration is cancelled shall pay an amount, by way of debit in the electronic credit ledger or electronic cash ledger, equivalent to the credit of input tax in respect of inputs held in stock and inputs contained in semi-finished or finished goods held in stock or capital goods or plant and machinery on the day immediately preceding the date of such cancellation or the output tax payable on such goods, whichever is higher, calculated in such manner as may be prescribed: Provided that in case of capital goods or plant and machinery, the taxable person shall pay an amount equal to the input tax credit taken on the said capital goods or plant and machinery, reduced by such percentage points as may be prescribed or the tax on the transaction value of such capital goods or plant and machinery under section 15, whichever is higher.

(6) The amount payable under sub-section (5) shall be calculated in such manner as may be prescribed.

Introduction

Typical grounds include closing or transferring the business, changed constitution, no continuing registration liability, specified return defaults, non-commencement after voluntary registration, or fraud. Cancellation does not erase earlier tax and compliance obligations.

Key takeaways

1

Both application and officer action are possible

The proper officer may act on a registered person's or legal heir's application, or on its own motion on stated grounds.

2

Hearing protects against officer cancellation

Subsection (2) bars officer cancellation without giving an opportunity to be heard.

3

Past dues survive

Cancellation does not remove tax, other dues or obligations relating to a period before its effective date.

4

Stock and capital-goods credit must be settled

Subsection (5) requires a prescribed comparison and payment on goods and capital assets held immediately before cancellation.

Application-based cancellation

Record whether the business stopped, transferred, amalgamated, demerged, changed constitution or is no longer required to register. A person who registered voluntarily may also seek to opt out under the statutory clause. Use the current prescribed application procedure.

Officer-initiated cancellation or suspension

Subsection (2) lists rule contravention, specified return defaults, six-month non-commencement for voluntary registration and fraud or wilful misstatement. Some default periods are prescribed rather than fixed in the Act. The officer may suspend while proceedings are pending, subject to Rules.

Liabilities after cancellation

Reconcile pre-cancellation tax and obligations, which survive. Calculate the subsection (5) stock/capital-goods payment using the current Rules and compare with output tax as the Act directs. Coordinate final returns and ledger balances.

Practical checklist

Do

  • Keep evidence for the cancellation ground and effective date.
  • Respond to an officer notice and use the hearing opportunity.
  • Reconcile prior liabilities, stock credit and final compliance.

Avoid

  • Assume cancellation wipes historical tax dues.
  • Assume every return-default period is the same without current Rules.
  • Ignore stock/capital-goods credit adjustment.

Frequently asked questions

Does cancellation remove earlier GST liabilities?

No. Section 29(3) preserves tax, dues and obligations for earlier periods.

Can registration be suspended during a cancellation proceeding?

Yes, subject to the Act and prescribed manner and period.

Need help applying this provision to your situation?

Contact Bizeneed

Last updated 10 October 2026