GST Council unveils faster refunds and automated registration for businesses

India's GST Council proposed major business reforms on Thursday, including faster registration, automated refunds, and simplified returns, aiming to ease daily compliance burdens. The Council proposed reducing refund order issuance to three working days from seven, with 90% of claims auto-sanctioned via risk assessment. Registration for low-risk applicants is already automated within three days, covering 61% of cases, and certain amendments will be auto-accepted. These changes address that 65% of refunds relate to exports or inverted duty structures, while most return discrepancies stem from data-entry errors. The Council noted the rate structure is settled, shifting focus to operational efficiency.