Short answer: yes, you can sell on Meesho without GST registration. Since 1 October 2023, small sellers of goods can supply through e-commerce platforms using a free GST enrolment ID instead of a GSTIN, under Notification 34/2023-Central Tax. You get the enrolment ID on the GST portal with just your PAN, in a few minutes, and enter it on the Meesho supplier panel when it asks for GST. The catch: you can sell only to buyers in your own state, only goods, from only one state, and only while your total turnover stays below the GST registration limit (₹40 lakh for goods in most states). Cross any of those lines and you need regular GST registration. This guide covers the steps, the rules most sellers miss, and the income tax side.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Platform rules can change, so check Meesho’s supplier panel for current conditions in your category.
Until September 2023, GST law required every seller of goods on a marketplace that collects tax at source to register for GST, however small. That is why Meesho, Amazon and Flipkart used to insist on a GSTIN. From 1 October 2023, Notification 34/2023-Central Tax exempts small sellers from registration if they meet all of these conditions:
The marketplace is not allowed to let you sell until the enrolment number has been allotted, and it is not allowed to let enrolled sellers make inter-state sales. That is why Meesho enforces the within-state rule itself.
Two things to get right at this stage. First, choose the state you will ship from, because the exemption lets you sell through marketplaces from only one state. Second, enter the address exactly as you will give it to Meesho as your pickup address. Mismatches between the enrolment address, the pickup address and your bank details are the commonest reason onboarding gets stuck.
Your listings are shown only to customers in your enrolled state. A seller in Surat reaches buyers across Gujarat, but not in Mumbai. For sellers in large states this is a big market; for sellers in small states or union territories it can be very limiting. Factor it in before you choose this route over regular GST.
The exemption depends on your aggregate turnover under your PAN, which includes offline shop sales, sales on other apps, and any other taxable supplies. The threshold for suppliers of goods is ₹40 lakh a year in most states, but lower in some special category states (₹20 lakh, and ₹10 lakh in a few). If you run a shop with ₹30 lakh of offline sales, you have only ₹10 lakh of headroom online. Meesho itself requires non-GST sellers to move to a regular GSTIN once annual net sales cross ₹40 lakh (₹20 lakh in north-eastern states).
The enrolment route covers supply of goods. You can hold only one enrolment number in a state and sell from only one state. If you want to ship from a warehouse in another state, you need GST registration there.
Without a GSTIN you don’t collect GST on your sales, and you can’t claim input tax credit on your purchases either. The GST you pay on stock and packaging is a cost to you. For most small resellers on Meesho, who sell to consumers, that’s acceptable. If your margins are thin and your suppliers charge you GST, compare the numbers with the composition scheme or regular registration.
Meesho decides which categories it opens to non-GST sellers, and it may restrict some, typically branded or higher-value goods. The supplier panel shows which categories are available to your account. Don’t list in a category your account isn’t eligible for; it can lead to listings being removed.
Not needing GST doesn’t mean your Meesho income is tax-free. Two things to know:
Also keep simple records from day one: sales and returns from Meesho’s payment reports, purchases with bills, and expenses like packaging. Even a basic spreadsheet makes the return, and any later GST registration, much easier. If you need to give invoices to offline customers too, our free invoice generator helps.
Udyam registration is free and needs only Aadhaar and PAN. For a reseller it mainly helps with bank credit, because retail and wholesale traders on Udyam get priority sector lending status; see our posts on the Udyam registration fee and choosing the right NIC code (online retail is 47912). If you make the products you sell, register the manufacturing activity too.
Once you get GST registration, the enrolment number stops being valid from the effective date of registration, and you update your GSTIN on the Meesho panel. Most GST applications get stuck on the premises documents, so read our guide to rent agreements and consent letters for GST registration before you apply, especially if you sell from home.
Is the GST enrolment ID the same as a GST number?
No. It is an identification issued to unregistered sellers so marketplaces can onboard them. You don’t file GST returns with it, don’t collect GST, and can’t claim input tax credit.
Is there a fee for the enrolment ID?
No. It is free on gst.gov.in. Meesho supplier registration is free too.
Can I use the same enrolment ID on Amazon or Flipkart?
The enrolment ID is issued under GST law, not by Meesho, so it can be used on any e-commerce operator that onboards sellers through this route. Each platform decides how it supports it, so check their seller registration page.
Can I sell to other states without GST?
No. The exemption allows only intra-state supply, and the marketplace blocks inter-state orders for enrolled sellers.
Do I need a shop or office?
You need a place of business address for the enrolment and a pickup address for Meesho; for most small sellers that is home. If you later register for GST, a home address is acceptable with the right documents.
For more guides on registration, GST and running a small business, see our small business guides.
Sources: Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, Sections 22, 24 and 52; Notification No. 34/2023-Central Tax dated 31 July 2023 (effective 1 October 2023); GSTN advisory dated 12 October 2023 on enrolment of unregistered suppliers through e-commerce operators; Meesho supplier onboarding conditions for non-GST sellers; Income-tax provisions on TDS by e-commerce operators. Updated November 2026.
