CASE STUDIES / VIKAS-PUNE

[CS-03]

I just wanted to do my work -
not decode section 44ada.

A conversation with

Vikas T.

Freelance Photographer

About

Vikas shoots weddings and corporate events in Pune. His turnover edged over the GST threshold by just ₹10k, and he hadn’t registered.

Field

Photography

Works with

Wedding & corporate clients (India)

Income via

Bank transfers, UPI

Location

Pune

Annual income bracket

25–30L INR

Tax complexity

  • Crossed GST threshold; registration pending
  • Invoices not GST-compliant
  • Missed ITC planning on high-value gear

Challenge

"Crossed the GST threshold by just ₹10k."

He assumed being ‘almost under’ meant he could delay registration. Corporate clients started demanding GST invoices.

Risk of late-registration penalties

Lost ITC on cameras, lenses, lighting

Potential vendor rejections from corporates

Even a small overshoot makes registration mandatory — credibility depends on it.

The TaxTap Moment

"Taxtap helped me register immediately, file correctly, and plan invoicing—avoiding heavier penalties and claiming ITC on future purchases."

They moved fast to regularize compliance and protect margins:

Completed GST registration and first filings

Implemented GST-compliant invoice templates

Mapped gear/software for forward-looking ITC

Numbers?

Avoided mounting penalties by timely registration

Secured ITC benefits on eligible purchases

Improved acceptance with corporate clients

"Now I send compliant invoices and stop worrying about missing out on bigger gigs."

The Reality Before Taxtap

Good revenue, but a compliance blind spot with real financial impact.

1. Delayed Registration

    Crossed threshold but continued as non-GST.

2. No ITC Strategy

    Upfront costs higher than they needed to be.

How Taxtap Helped

Clarity, structure, and a simple monthly routine.

✅ Registration & Filings

  • GSTR-1, 3B on time

✅ ITC Mapping

  • Camera gear, editing tools, studio costs

"GST isn’t scary anymore — it’s just part of running a bigger business."

Lessons for Freelancers in Similar Situations

Crossing the threshold (even slightly) triggers GST

ITC planning reduces cost of growth purchases

You do the earning.
We do the filing.

All filings. All deadlines. All that scary government stuff?
Handled — by real CAs, not robots.