Is it mandatory to pay GST if my business turnover is below the threshold?

Generally, if your turnover is genuinely below the applicable threshold for your category of business and state, you are not required to register for GST or charge it on your supplies — this exemption exists specifically to reduce compliance burden for smaller businesses.

However, certain categories of businesses are required to register regardless of turnover — for example, if you make inter-state supplies, sell through an e-commerce platform, or fall into specific categories the law has carved out as mandatory registration cases, the general threshold exemption may not apply to you.

It's worth double-checking your specific business activity against these exceptions, since operating without required registration (where an exception actually applies to you) can expose you to penalties. A tax consultant or lawyer familiar with GST can quickly confirm whether your specific business genuinely qualifies for the threshold exemption or falls under one of the mandatory registration categories.