The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) recently issued an advisory to GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs), warning them against malpractices like scraping the GST Common Portal. GST Suvidha Providers are third-party service providers authorized by GSTN to help taxpayers comply with the complex requirements of the GST system in India. They act as an essential bridge between end-users and the GST Common Portal.

The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) recently issued an advisory to GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs), warning them against malpractices like scraping the GST Common Portal. GST Suvidha Providers are third-party service providers authorized by GSTN to help taxpayers comply with the complex requirements of the GST system in India. They act as an essential bridge between end-users and the GST Common Portal.

The advisory came to light due to the alarming activities of certain GSPs and their associated Application Service Providers (ASPs). They were found to be scraping data from the GST Common Portal, essentially defying ethical business practices and the original purpose of GSPs—distributing traffic and providing innovative solutions to end-users.

Key Points:

1. Role of GSPs (GST Suvidha Providers): These are organizations authorized to provide specific services to help taxpayers comply with the Goods and Services Tax in India. They act as intermediaries between the end-users and the GSTN.

2. Ethical Conduct Expected: The advisory highlights that GSPs should adhere to ethical business practices. This is a foundational expectation for maintaining a trusted, functional system.

3. Prohibited Activities: The advisory notes that some GSPs or their associated Application Service Providers (ASPs) are engaging in unauthorized scraping of the GST Common Portal.

4. Security Threats & Legal Implications: Such activities not only violate the intended use and distribution of traffic but also pose security risks. They breach intellectual property rights and may violate the terms of the agreement between the GSPs and the GSTN.

5. Refer to Policies: The advisory points to the detailed usage policies on their official website, likely for further clarification on what is and isn't permitted.

6. Warning & Future Actions: GSTN states that they reserve the right to take appropriate actions against any entity found to be in violation of these terms.

7. Call for Cooperation: The notice ends with a call for all involved parties to cooperate in order to maintain a sustainable and stable GST Ecosystem.

The GSTN advisory serves as a clear reminder and warning to all GSPs and associated ASPs to adhere to ethical and legal business practices. By ensuring compliance, the GST ecosystem can remain robust, secure, and efficient, fulfilling its core objective of making tax compliance easier for end-users. Ignoring such advisories could lead to serious implications, not just for the errant GSPs, but for the GST system as a whole. Therefore, adherence to these guidelines is not merely advisable, but imperative for the continued functioning of the GST network.

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Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN)

GSTN advisory Malpractices of scraping GST Common Portal for undue gains

GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs) are an integral part, and an equal partner, of the GST Ecosystem along with GSTN. Each member of the GSPs community is expected to uphold, and adhere to, ethical business practices.

However, it has come to our knowledge that certain GSPs, and/or their associated Application Service Providers (ASPs), are engaging in prohibited activities like scraping the GST Common Portal for undue gains.

One of the basic inception objectives of the GSP community was to distribute traffic on the GST Common Portal and the underlying Web APIs, while making provision for innovative solution for end consumers. Malpractices like scraping the GST Common Portal or unauthorized BOTs etc., not only defeats such premise, but also are serious security threat to the core system, breach of GSTN's IP rights and the GST Suvidha Provider agreement.

Kindly refer to https://www.gst.gov.in/policies/website for detailed usage policy for the GST Portal.

GSTN expects all GST Suvidha Providers to ensure that such malicious practices do not take place in their line of business, or by any of the associated ASPs. GSTN reserves its right to take appropriate action if such instances come to its notice.