Proprietorship firm means a firm/entity which is owned by a one natural person only. In this form of business entity, only one person is the owner of such business. All capital investment, risks, rewards, profits, losses, assets, liabilities pertains to such individual person only.
Whereas, in Partnership firm, there are minimum two persons who may or may not be natural persons and where the share of each person (commonly called partner) capital investment, risks, rewards, profits, losses, assets, liabilities is pre-determined through an oral or written agreement. Where, it is determined through written agreement, it is called “Partnership deed”. (Maximum number of partners in the partnership firm can be fifty only.)
Conversion of Proprietor to Partnership
As the legal forms of both type of entities are different, so, PAN number, GST Number, Bank Accounts of both entities will always be different from each other. PAN of individual person owing proprietorship firm serves itself as PAN of such firm. However, for partnership, PAN is different from the PAN of partners.
So to convert the proprietorship firm into a Partnership firm, firstly, it is required to incorporate a partnership firm and then arrange for PAN, GST number, Bank accounts of the Partnership firm.
To incorporate such partnership firm, following are the steps required to be completed :-
Firstly, it is required to write an agreement called “Partnership Deed” which shall describe all the terms and conditions on which such partnership comes into existence. Partnership deed must have following components:-
- Name of Partners
- Address of Partners
- Name of Partnership Firm
- Address of Partnership Firm
- Objects of such firm
- Capital Contribution % of all partners
- Profit % of all partners
- Other Terms and Conditions as mutually agreed.
After this, apply for PAN and TAN number with Income Tax department because PAN number is a mandatory requirement to apply for registration under GST.
Once PAN of partnership firm received, apply for registration under GST. Followings are the set of documents required for application under GST:-
- PAN card of Firm
- Partnership Deed
- PAN card of all partners
- Aadhar Card/Voter ID/Passport/Driving Licence of all partners on which address is correct and matches with address given in Partnership Deed.
- Snap of all Partners
- Authorisation Letter in the name of any one partner to make him/her authorised signatory for GST registration
- Document evidencing address proof for business place(s) of firm.
- Utility bill/Fard/Property Tax Receipt (latest of two months) of such business place
- Copy of certificate of registration under any other act.
Once all above documents compiled, get registration number under GST for this Partnership firm.
Once GST number successfully generated, it is required to open a current account of the firm. After this, complete the process of seeding such Bank account details to GST registration.
Final Conversion process
Now finally, in proprietary firm, file all GST Returns and pay pending taxes.
Once all tax dues paid off, apply for cancellation of GST number giving reasons as ‘Change in legal Structure of firm’. It will also ask to enter GST number of new Partnership firm.
After this, transfer all assets and liabilities into partnership firm as sale of business by proprietor to partnership firm. Under GST laws, it has been provided that in case of such conversion, there is no need to pay GST on such transfer of assets from one entity to another.
However, it is also provided that, in case of conversion, existing firm should cease to be a taxable person at all. There should not be any activity in existing firm after transfer of all assets including stock into new entity.
As per Schedule-2 of CGST/SGST Act, sale of stock or other assets where such stock/other assets moved from existing firm to new firm (in case of re-structuring of business) shall not be deemed as supply of goods in the course or furtherance of business subject to the condition that existing firm ceases to be a taxable person after such re-structuring.
CGST Exemption Schedule for services as set out in CGST Rate Notification-12/2017 has provided an entry for exemption of Services by way of transfer of a going concern, as a whole or an independent part thereof.
By combined reading of both the provisions, it is inferred that transfer of a going concern as a whole or an independent thereof shall not be taxable under GST.
Further, if there are unutilized input tax credits under GST lying at the time of such conversion of proprietorship firm, these credits are allowed to transfer into new entity.
Following is the procedure to transfer unutilized input tax credits into Partnership firm:-
(1) Proprietorship firm shall file in FORM GST ITC-02, along with a request for transfer of unutilized input tax credit lying in his electronic credit ledger to the partnership firm;
(2) The proprietorship firm shall also submit a copy of a certificate issued by a practicing chartered accountant or cost accountant certifying that the sale, merger, de-merger, amalgamation, lease or transfer of business has been done with a specific provision for the transfer of liabilities.
(3) The Partnership firm shall, on the common portal, accept the details so furnished by the proprietorship firm and, upon such acceptance, the un-utilized credit specified in FORM GST ITC-02 shall be credited to his electronic credit ledger.
(4) The inputs and capital goods so transferred shall be duly accounted for by the partnership firm in his books of account.
This is the whole process to be followed to convert a proprietorship firm into partnership firm.
It is further to note that above-said procedure is applicable in every case where entity of one legal form wants to convert into another legal form, e.g. partnership firm into proprietorship firm, conversion into private limited/ OPC/ public limited or vice versa.
Thank you very much sir for your clear explanation.
HI, I AM GOING TO JOIN OPE PROPERITORSHIP FIRM AS A PARTNER. PLS SUGGEST BEST SUITABLE PROCEDURES FOR SMOOTH AND EASY TRANSACTION IN FUTURE AND CAN AWAIL BETTER TAX BENIFITS.
PROBLEM WITH US
1. THE FIRM WHICH I AM GOING TO JOIN IS ALREADY PROPERITORSHIP FIRM ( 2 FIRMS ) ONE IN NAME OF MY PARTNER AND ANOTHER IN NAME OF HER WIFE.
* 1ST FIRM TOTAL T/O IS 3.5CR
* 2ND FIRM TOTAL T/O IS 0.5CR.
2. I WAS TILL DATE SALARIED PERSON AND MY INCOME TAX WAS PAID IN THE SALARY PART. OTHER SIDE MY PARTNER WAS FILING INDIVIDUAL TAX AS IT WAS PROPRIETORSHIP FIRM.
3. EXISTING GST NO IS ALREADY SPREAD TO CLIENT AND PRINCIPLE COMPANIES, IS THERE ANY WAY TO GO WITH EXISTING GST NO FOR FUTURE TRANSACTIONS
Your guidance will help us to start better and smooth transaction
It is not possible to carry same GST number in new Partnership Firm. You have to start from fresh with new partnership deed, new PAN, new Bank Account and new GST Number.
Hello..
We are converting our partnership firm to a private limited company. My partnership firm have lot of unutilized input tax credits, now we would like to transfer those ITC to my new company which has converted from partnership firm. Is this case covering under the transfer of business under section 18 subsection 3 of GST.
Yes. This case falls under Section 18(3). But to satisfy this section, keep in mind to also transfer of liabilities of partnership firm into company.
Is there any tax implication on conversion of sole proprietorship to partnership firm and on transfer of assets and liabilities?
Very straight forward article sir. However with the amendment through CGST Amendment Act, 2018, the Schdule II is excluded from scope of supply and it has be considered only for classification. What about transfer of busienss on going concern? Should GST be paid on closing stock and fixed assets transferred to partnership firm.
CGST Exemption Schedule for services as set out in CGST Rate Notification-12/2017 has provided an entry for exemption of Services by way of transfer of a going concern, as a whole or an independent part thereof.
I am GTA PROVIDING TRANSPORT SERVICE WHICH IS EXEMPTED. I HAVE PURCHASED TRUCKS BUT ON CREDIT IS AVAILED.
NOW I WANT TO SELL TRUCK TO XYZ PERSON GST REGD. IS GST APPLICABLE ?
IF I FORM A PARTNERSHIP FIRM AND AS A CAPITAL INTRODUCTION, I TRANSFER TRUCK IN MY PARTNERSHIP FIRM FROM MY INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT. IS GST APPLICABLE ?
Thanks
Thanks for very good useful information provided regarding conversion of proprietorship to Partnership in GST regime.
Transfer of a going concern as a whole or an independent thereof -what does it mean
Can it be situation- a proprietorship concern having two independents units carrying business under separate licenses and different GSTIN converted its one unit to a partnership firm as a going concern and on such transfer existing GSTIN of that unit is surrendered so it be covered by CGST Rate Notification-12/2017 –No GST is attracted–what will happen if that unit is engaged in supply of NON GST business like liquor –regn taken only for GST on freight payable under reverse charges
Hello…
X is doing business as proprietor and has a stock of Rs. 25 Lakhs. X has not any input tax credit.
X & Y form Partnership firm that will take over business of Proprietorship firm.
How the stock of Proprietorship Firm will be transferred to Partnership Firm ? What are formalities and forms to be filed in GST.?
Dear Sir,
I would like to ask whether the schedule 2 of CGST / SGST Act applicable for conversions to LLP / Pvt Ltd also or it is limited to partnership only???
Schedule 2 is applicable for all type of Business reorganisations including conversion to LLP/Pvt Ltd…..
Dear Sir,
One of my client want to convert proprietorship into partnership firm,Please guide me detail procedures for conversion and please also provide me a sample partnership deed .
Thanking you
CA Pradeep Kumar Sarawagi
If the registration of person is cancelled, then in revocation rejected. Now after applying fresh registration can a person having itc and export credit in cancelled/rejected Gst number transfer to new Gst number
Sir we have convert my proprietorship firm to parternership firm can use proprietorship firm ternover and work expirence.
Hi.. my friend have started IT firm.. he is a sole proprietor right now for his entity.. I want to join him as a partner .. is it possible to join as a partner directly… or should I start new entity to incorporate with his entity
Thank U so much Sir, it is so helpful
Conversion of Proprietorship to partnership impacts of Income tax ?
Can I submit new partnership GST Certificate & partnership Deed to my Bank and continue same Bank Account Number after converting my proprietorship firm into partnership.
I ask one question
If proprietor firm had Bank Loan so can it convert in Partnership firm without repay Bank loan.
If I convert or merge my proprietorship firm to a partnership firm with new name then will i continue the experience of proprietorship firm to partnership firm ?