Tamil Nadu shops law: who registers and who sends an intimation
The Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947 is administered by the state’s Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department. A 2018 amendment rewrote sections 3 and 3-A, setting out two routes depending on size, summarised below.
Since G.O. Ms. No. 55 of 2 July 2024, the application is made online in Form-Y with a ₹100 fee, and the certificate is issued in Form-Z.
A Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2023 also exists. We have not confirmed what it changed, so check labour.tn.gov.in for the current position before relying on the 2018 figures. The central labour codes in force from 21 November 2025 carry a separate establishment registration, which may apply as well.
- 10 or more workers: register within six months of starting; the registration lasts five years and is deemed granted if not issued within 30 days
- Fewer than 10 workers: send an intimation within six months
Profession tax in Tamil Nadu is a local-body tax
In Tamil Nadu, profession tax is levied by urban local bodies under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998 and the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023. It is collected half-yearly, with employers deducting it from salaries.
Each local body sets and publishes its own rates; Greater Chennai Corporation, for instance, issued a press release on its slabs in August 2026. We have not confirmed rates for other municipalities, so ask your local body. TrueOrbis does not register for or file profession tax.
Registrations a new business in Tamil Nadu may need
TrueOrbis files GST and Udyam applications with you and sets up seller accounts; shops law and profession tax filings stay with the owner or their accountant.
- GST registration through the GST portal; Tamil Nadu GSTINs start with 33
- Shops and establishments registration (10 or more workers) or intimation, online through the Labour Department
- Profession tax with your urban local body
- Udyam MSME registration, if it helps with credit or buyers
- Approvals through the Tamil Nadu Single Window Portal (tnswp.com, run with Guidance Tamil Nadu) for projects needing state clearances
National rules, and how we work from Delhi
Two registrations do not change in Tamil Nadu at all. GST applications use the same national portal as every other state, and Udyam is a single Ministry of MSME form whose rules are the same from Chennai to Chandigarh.
Our Tamil Nadu work is entirely remote. After a scoping call, documents arrive through a secure folder, filings and setup happen over screen-share with you present, and follow-ups run on WhatsApp or email. Calls are scheduled within IST working hours, Monday to Saturday.
Cities we cover in Tamil Nadu
Chennai has a dedicated page. Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Tiruppur and the rest of the state are served remotely.
Common questions
My Coimbatore shop employs six people. Do I need full registration?
Under the 2018 provisions, an establishment with fewer than 10 workers sends an intimation within six months instead of registering. A 2023 amendment also exists, so check labour.tn.gov.in for anything that has changed.
How often is profession tax collected in Tamil Nadu?
Half-yearly. It is levied by urban local bodies under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998 and its 2023 Rules, and employers deduct it from salaries.
Is there a government fee for shops registration in Tamil Nadu?
Yes. The 2024 online rules (G.O. Ms. No. 55) set a ₹100 fee for the Form-Y application, with the certificate issued in Form-Z.
Does TrueOrbis have staff in Chennai?
No. We serve Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu remotely by video, phone, WhatsApp and remote session. On-site visits are offered only in Delhi NCR.
Official sources
Rules and portals change. Always confirm the current position on the official source before you apply.
- GST registration (new applicant) (opens in a new tab) — Goods and Services Tax Network
- GST state codes (master codes) (opens in a new tab) — e-Invoice System, GSTN
- Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2018 (TN Gazette, copy) (opens in a new tab) — PRS Legislative Research
- G.O. Ms. No. 55 (2024): online registration rules (TN Gazette Ex. No. 217) (opens in a new tab) — Government of Tamil Nadu
- Labour Department online services (opens in a new tab) — Labour Department, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Profession tax press release (opens in a new tab) — Greater Chennai Corporation
- Tamil Nadu Single Window Portal (opens in a new tab) — Guidance Tamil Nadu, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Udyam registration portal (opens in a new tab) — Ministry of MSME, Government of India
- Labour Codes in force from 21 November 2025 (Parliament answer) (opens in a new tab) — Parliament of India (eParlib)
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