The Goods and Services Tax Network introduces a new email verification step for applicants returning via Temporary Reference Number, enhancing security and procedural compliance in GST registration processes.
The Goods and Services Tax Network has tightened access to incomplete registration applications by making email entry mandatory for applicants returning via a Temporary Reference Number, according to an update flagged by a tax specialist and reported by SAG Infotech. Under the revised flow, users entering the New GST Registration section must now provide their email address alongside the TRN and CAPTCHA before they can continue.
The change marks a departure from the process described in the GST portal’s registration manual, which previously allowed applicants to resume an unfinished application by selecting the TRN option, entering the reference number and CAPTCHA, then moving straight to OTP verification. The new step adds another verification point before the portal allows access, which appears designed to strengthen security and reduce the risk of unauthorised use of an application.
That adjustment comes against a wider backdrop of procedural tightening in GST registration. Taxmann reported that GSTN has also issued an advisory covering changes under Rule 8, including separate verification routes for Aadhaar-authenticated and non-Aadhaar-authenticated applicants. Those who do not opt for Aadhaar authentication must visit the designated GST Seva Kendra for photograph capture and document checks, and failure to comply within 15 days can prevent the Application Reference Number from being generated.
The broader GST registration workflow has long relied on email and mobile verification at the start of the process, with the TRN then allowing applicants to return later and complete the filing. Guides from Finnable, TaxAj Support, The India Law and ExpressGST all describe the TRN as a temporary access code that helps applicants resume an incomplete application, typically valid for 15 days. The latest email requirement for TRN access therefore adds a further layer to an already multi-step system, while two proposed GSTN e-way bill changes due from August 1, 2026, remain on hold.
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