GST Payment: How to Pay GST on the GST Portal Online?

Paying GST is a mandatory responsibility for every registered business in India. Whether you are a small business owner, freelancer, startup founder, or enterprise, GST returns and GST payments must be completed on time to avoid penalties, late fees, and interest.

In this guide, you’ll learn the complete GST payment process step by step, including how to generate a challan, payment methods, what happens after payment, and how to download the receipt. 

What Is GST Payment?

GST payment refers to paying the tax that your business owes to the government after calculating outward supplies (sales) and input tax credit (ITC). If your ITC is lower than your GST liability, you must pay the difference.

You can pay GST on the GST Portal (www.gst.gov.in) using:

• Net banking
• UPI
• Credit/Debit card
• NEFT/RTGS
• Over-the-counter (for small amounts)

GST payment happens before filing your GST return, typically every month or quarterly, depending on your scheme.

When Do You Need to Pay GST?

You must pay GST when:

• Your output tax is higher than your input tax credit
• You have interest or late fees due
• You are filing monthly GSTR-3B
• You choose QRMP scheme and use the payment option for monthly tax deposition

To avoid penalties, you must pay GST before submitting GSTR-3B.

Documents Needed to Pay GST Online

Paying GST online is very easy. You only need:

• Your login credentials for the GST portal
• GSTIN
• Amount of tax/interest/late fee/penalty
• Bank account details or UPI

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Pay GST on the GST Portal Online

This is the most searched topic and an important part of this guide. Here is the GST payment process step by step.

Step 1: Visit the GST Portal

Go to  www.gst.gov.in Click on Login and enter your username, password, and captcha.

Step 2: Go to ‘Create Challan’

After logging in, click: Services → Payments → Create Challan

This is where you generate the GST challan for payment.

Step 3: Enter the Tax Amount

You will see different components:

• CGST
• SGST
• IGST
• Cess

Enter the tax amount based on your liability.

You can also pay:

• Interest
• Penalty
• Late fees

Once the details are filled, click Proceed.

Step 4: Choose Mode of Payment

You will now choose how you want to pay. The GST Portal offers multiple methods:

Mode 1: Net Banking

Instant payment using your bank’s net banking account.

Mode 2: Credit or Debit Card

Available for selected banks.

Mode 3: UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm)

Fastest and easiest mode.

Mode 4: NEFT / RTGS

Useful when the bank is not integrated with GST.

Mode 5: Over-the-Counter

Only for amounts up to ₹10,000 per challan.

Choose your preferred payment method and click Generate Challan.

Step 5: Make the Payment

Once your challan is generated, you will be redirected to your bank’s page or UPI interface. Complete the payment. After successful payment, your CIN (Challan Identification Number) is automatically updated on the GST portal.

Step 6: Check GST Payment Status

To confirm payment:
Go to
Services → Payments → Payment History

Search by challan date or CIN.

If the status shows Paid, your tax payment is complete.

Step 7: Download the GST Payment Receipt

You can download the challan by clicking Download. This challan acts as proof of GST payment and should be kept for compliance and audit.

Types of GST Payments You May Need to Make

How to Pay GST Without Logging In?

If you only want to generate a challan and pay without logging in:

1. Go to gst.gov.in
2. Click Services → Payments → Create Challan
3. Enter GSTIN
4. Enter tax amount
5. Choose payment method
6. Complete payment

This is useful when an accountant prepares a challan for you.

you may also read: SEBI Moves to Cut Complexity

What if GST Payment Fails?

Sometimes payments fail due to network issues or bank downtime.

Here’s what you should do:

• Wait 30 minutes
• Check Payments → Payment History
• If CIN is updated → no action needed
• If status still shows Not Paid, contact your bank

Banks usually reprocess the payment automatically.

What Is CPIN and CIN in GST?

Understanding these numbers is important.

CPIN (Common Portal Identification Number)

• Generated when you create a challan
• Valid for 15 days 

CIN (Challan Identification Number)

• Generated only after successful payment
• Acts as your official proof for tax paid

Advantages of Paying GST Online

Paying GST online through the portal has many benefits:

• Fast and convenient: You can pay from mobile or laptop within minutes.
• Multiple payment options: UPI, Net banking, NEFT/RTGS, OTC.
• Real-time update: CIN is updated instantly on the portal.
• Secure: No risk of manual errors.
• Anytime access: You can download challans anytime.
• Common Mistakes to Avoid During GST Payment

Many taxpayers make mistakes that lead to penalties. Avoid these:

• Wrong tax head (CGST vs SGST vs IGST)
• Paying after GSTR-3B submission
• Not downloading challan receipt
• Forgetting to adjust ITC before paying
• Using an expired challan (older than 15 days)

GST Payment Through UPI – The Fastest Method

UPI-based GST payment is becoming very popular because:

• It is instant
• Works with any UPI app
• No login required if using CPIN
• No need to enter bank details

Simply scan the QR code and pay.

GST Payment Through NEFT/RTGS

For banks not connected to the GST system:

1. Generate challan
2. Select NEFT/RTGS
3. Visit your bank branch
4. Transfer funds
5. Wait for CIN (usually 1–2 hours)

Late Fees and Interest for Not Paying GST on Time

If you miss the due date:

• Interest: 18% per annum
• Late Fee: ₹50 per day (₹25 CGST + ₹25 SGST)
• Nil Return Late Fee: ₹20 per day

Paying early helps avoid extra charges.

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Final Summary

GST payment through the GST portal is simple, fast, and convenient. Whether you are paying through UPI, net banking, NEFT/RTGS, or over the counter, the entire system is designed to be transparent and secure.

Following this step-by-step guide ensures:

• No penalties
• On-time tax filings
• Smooth compliance
• Easy business operations

Now you can confidently make GST payments online and keep your business compliant.

FAQs

1. Can I pay GST online using UPI or Google Pay?
   Yes, UPI is one of the fastest payment methods.
2. Can I modify a challan after generating it?
   No. You must create a new challan.
3. How do I know my GST payment is successful?
   The CIN number appears in the payment history.
4. Is GST payment allowed through credit cards?
   Yes, selected banks support credit card payments.
5. Can I pay GST without logging into the portal?
   Yes, you can create and pay challan without login.