18 Voluntary Registration

(1) On January 1, 2008, a dealer, who is otherwise not liable to pay tax, and if such dealer either carries on business or intends to carry on business, may apply at any time on or after January 1, 2008 for issue of registration certificate in the form and manner prescribed under subsection

(2) of section 17 alongwith proof of deposit of fee prescribed under that sub-section. (2) Every other dealer who has held immediately before January 1, 2008 a registration certificate under the erstwhile Act but otherwise is not liable to pay tax under this Act, shall be deemed a voluntarily registered dealer under this Act provided he informs the registering authority within a period of thirty days from January 1, 2008 in the form prescribed under sub-section (5) of section 17, of his intention to remain registered dealer under this Act:

Provided that where a dealer was required to pay any fee for renewal of the registration certificate under the provisions of the erstwhile Act, if the same has not been paid, the registration certificate shall not be deemed valid unless such dealer deposits renewal fee along with late fee of one hundred rupees within a period of thirty days form the date of the commencement of this Act.

(3) A dealer to whom registration certificate is issued under the erstwhile Act after January 1, 2008 and where such dealer is not otherwise liable to pay tax under this Act from January 1, 2008, shall be deemed a registered dealer if such dealer, after depositing renewal fee and late fee, if any, informs the registering authority or the assessing authority, as the case may be, in the prescribed form, within thirty days from the date on which registration certificate is issued to him, of his intention to retain registration certificate voluntarily.

(4) Provisions of sub-sections (5) and (7) to (14) of section 17 shall mutatis mutandis apply to every registration certificate issued or held under this section.