Business on Facebook, TikTok now requires mandatory registration, says govt

साउन १४, २०८२ १७:०

Kathmandu: The government has made it mandatory for individuals and organizations selling goods and services through social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to be listed on an electronic commerce (e-commerce) platform. The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection issued a notice on Monday, urging such traders to register.

According to the new rule, entrepreneurs using social media as a business platform must register on the department’s e-commerce portal. Bharat Prasad Acharya, Director of the Department, told TechPana, “When applying for listing, applicants must include details about the platform they will use such as their website or Facebook page.”

To complete the listing, certain documents must be uploaded, including a copy of the operator’s Nepali citizenship certificate, a renewed company or business registration certificate, a Permanent Account Number (PAN) or Value Added Tax (VAT) registration certificate, and a tax payment certificate.

What About Existing Entrepreneurs?

Earlier, the government had set a deadline of 19 July for all online entrepreneurs to register under the Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) Act, 2080. However, the department still lacks a clear approach for handling entrepreneurs who are either unregistered or running informal businesses via social media.

“There’s no clear procedure on what to do with those who fail to register within the legal deadline,” Director Acharya said. “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. However, we’ve sent instructions to higher authorities seeking guidance on how to bring late registrants into the system, possibly with penalties.”

He noted that the latest notice is mainly aimed at new businesses. Until a separate policy is introduced, confusion is likely to continue for existing operators. The department’s intent is to bring unregistered and informal online businesses into the legal framework.

“These days, people go to markets, take photos of goods, post them on Facebook, and deliver them in order to make money. That’s not real e-commerce, it's just promotion,” Acharya said. “Registration is mandatory to formalize the process and to protect consumer rights.”

The department stated that the listing process will be entirely online and free of cost. After successful registration, entrepreneurs can download their certificate online and will not need to visit the department in person. If any documents are missing, applicants will be notified through the portal and asked to re-upload them.