GSTAT Appeal Filing in Kochi - Overview
TL;DR
The Kochi (Ernakulam) GSTAT Bench serves all of Kerala and Lakshadweep UT - covering 14 Kerala districts through the main bench and Thiruvananthapuram circuit, plus Lakshadweep. The main bench handles 9 districts and Lakshadweep; the Thiruvananthapuram circuit covers 5 southern districts. File Form APL-05 on efiling.gstat.gov.in within 3 months. Pre-deposit of 20% under S.112(8) is mandatory. Kerala HC is co-located in Ernakulam for convenient S.113 appeals. Patron Accounting's CA team handles proceedings end-to-end.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Bench | Kochi (Ernakulam) GSTAT Bench (Kerala + Lakshadweep) |
| Main Bench Jurisdiction | Ernakulam (incl. Aluva), Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod + UT of Lakshadweep (10 jurisdictions) |
| Circuit Bench | Thiruvananthapuram - covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam (5 districts) |
| Bench Status | Operational. Members allotted December 2025 via Order No. 03/2025. |
| Pre-deposit | 20% of disputed tax under S.112(8) CGST Act (cumulative). Cap: Rs 20 crore each CGST and SGST. |
| Limitation Period | 3 months from date of order under S.112(1). Backlog appeals: deadline 30 June 2026. |
| Filing Mode | Online only via efiling.gstat.gov.in - Form APL-05 |
| SGST Authority | Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (State GST), Tax Towers, Thiruvananthapuram |
| CGST Commissionerates | Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode (under Chief Commissioner, CGST, Kochi Zone) |
| State Legislation | Kerala Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (KGST Act) |
| Appeal Court | Kerala High Court at Ernakulam (co-located with GSTAT bench) under S.113 |
Kerala has India's highest per-capita consumer spending, a massive Gulf-remittance-driven retail sector, and significant services and tourism revenue. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (State GST), headquartered at Tax Towers, Thiruvananthapuram, administers KGST enforcement, while three CGST Commissionerates (Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode) handle central tax matters. The Kerala High Court is physically located in Ernakulam (Kochi), making it the conveniently co-located appeal court under S.113.

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