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GST Return Filing: Overview
Depending on the category, a GST registered taxpayer must file various returns at the GSTN Portal. The GST prescribes 22 different forms of GST returns, only 11 of which are now functioning.
The due dates are subject to change without notice; please see gst.gov.in for the most up-to-date information. If the taxpayer’s turnover in the previous financial year was less than Rs 5 crore, the tax filing frequency might also be quarterly.
What is a GST Return?
A GST Return is a detailed statement that records all of a person’s financial transactions under GST, including revenues and expenditures. Every GSTIN holder is required to submit this information to the tax authorities in order for them to accurately calculate their net tax liability.
The GST return filing includes several critical elements:
- Purchases (GSTR-2A & 2B): It keeps detailed records of the taxpayer’s purchases.
- Sales (GSTR-1): It provides a detailed record of the taxpayer’s sales activities.
- Output GST (GSTR-3B) (On Sales): It records the GST levied on the taxpayer’s sales.
- Input Tax Credit (GST Paid on Purchases): It shows the GST paid on purchases, which can be deducted from the GST owed on sales.
Who should file GST return?
All business owners and dealers who have registered under the GST system must file GST returns according to the nature of their business or transactions.
- Regular Businesses.
- Businesses registered under the Composition Scheme.
- Other types of business owners and dealers.
- Amendments.
- Auto-drafted Returns.
- Tax Notice
Late fee on Delay in Filing of GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B
To ensure free flow of credit in the tax system, the taxpayer is expected to file the required GST Returns by the due dates. However, late filing of GST returns is allowed but subject to a late fee.
The late fees for NIL GST returns is Rs. 20 per day of delay, and the late fee for Non-NIL GST filings is Rs. 50 per day. To reduce the burden of recurring late penalties on small taxpayers, there is an upper limit on late fees.
| Sr. No. | Turnover | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NIL Tax Liability | Capped at Rs 500/- (Rs 250 CGST + Rs 250 SGST) |
| 2 | Turnover in the previous year is up to Rs 1.5 Crores | Capped at Rs 2000/- (1000 CGST + 1000 SGST) |
| 3 | Turnover in the previous year is more than Rs 1.5 Crores but up to Rs. 5 Crores | Capped at Rs 5000/- (2500 CGST + 2500 SGST) |
| 4 | Turnover in the previous year exceeded Rs 5 Crores | Capped at Rs 10000/- (5000 CGST + 5000 SGST) |
Interest on Delay in payment of GST
The GST is the main source of revenue for the states and the union of India. The taxes are needed to be paid monthly, and any delay in payment of the GST to the credit of the Government of India imposes interest at the rate of 18%.
Regular Businesses
| GST RETURN | PURPOSE |
|---|---|
| GSTR-1 | Tax return for outward supplies made (contains the details of interstate as well as intrastate B2B and B2C sales including purchases under reverse charge and inter-state stock transfers made during the tax period). If Form GSTR-1 is filed late (post the due date), the late fee will be auto-populated and collected in the next open return in Form GSTR-3B. From January 1, 2022, taxpayers will not be permitted to file Form GSTR-1 if they have not filed Form GSTR-3B in the preceding month. |
| GSTR-3B | Temporary consolidated summary return of inward and outward supplies that the Government of India has introduced as a relaxation for businesses that have recently transitioned to GST. Hence, in the months of July and August 2017, the tax payments were based on a simple return called GSTR-3B. |
| GSTR-9 | Annual combined tax return (It details the taxpayer’s income and expenses. These are then regrouped based on the taxpayer’s monthly returns). |
| GSTR-9C | Audit form that needs to be filed by every taxpayer who is liable to get their annual reports audited when their aggregate turnover exceeds Rs. 2 crores in a financial year. |
Businesses Registered under the Composition Scheme
| GST RETURN | PURPOSE |
|---|---|
| GSTR-4 | Quarterly return for compounding vendors (It contains the total value of supply made during the period covered by the return, along with the details of the tax paid at the compounding rate (not more than 1% of aggregate turnover) for the period along with invoice-wise details for inward supplies if they are either imports or purchased from normal taxpayers). |
| GSTR-9A | Annual composition return form that has to be filed by every taxpayer who is enrolled in the composition scheme. |
Other Types of Business Owners and Dealers
| GST RETURN | PURPOSE |
|---|---|
| GSTR-5 | Variable return for Non-resident foreign taxpayers (It contains the details of the taxpayer, period of return and invoice details of all goods and services sold and purchased (this also includes imports) by the taxpayer on Indian soil for the registered period/month). |
| GSTR-6 | Monthly return for ISDs (This return contains the details of the taxpayer’s basic information (name, GSTIN, etc), period to which the return pertains, invoice-level supply details from the GSTR-1 of counter-parties, invoice details including GSTIN of the taxpayer receiving the credit, separate ISD ledger containing the opening ITC balance, credit received, debit for ITC reversed or distributed, and closing balance). |
| GSTR-7 | Monthly return for TDS transactions (Contains taxpayer details, supplier GSTIN, invoices against which tax has been deducted under SGST, CGST and IGST, and details of interest or penalties). |
| GSTR-8 | Monthly return for e-commerce operators (Contains details of supplies made through the portal, customer details, tax collected at source, tax payable and tax paid). |
| GSTR-9B | Annual return form that has to be filed by e-commerce operators who collect tax at source. |
| GSTR-10 | Final GST return before cancelling GST registration (Filed when business activities are terminated or GST registration is cancelled). |
| GSTR-11 | Variable tax return for taxpayers with UIN (Contains details of purchases made by foreign embassies and diplomatic missions for self-consumption). |
Auto-Drafted Returns
| GST RETURN | PURPOSE |
|---|---|
| GSTR-2A | Auto-drafted return for purchases and inward supplies compiled from suppliers’ GSTR-1. |
| GSTR-2B | Auto-drafted ITC statement helping reduce errors, ease reconciliation and simplify compliance. |
| GSTR-4A | Quarterly purchase-related auto-generated return for composition dealers. |
Tax Notice
| GST RETURN | PURPOSE |
|---|---|
| GSTR-3A | Tax notice issued by the tax authority to a defaulter who has failed to file monthly GST returns on time. |
GSTR-9 (Annual Return Filing)
GSTR 9 applies to a certain class of Taxpayers and is an annual return filed by the taxpayer at GSTN by the due date for the respective financial year. The GST Annual Return is a summary of all taxpayers’ monthly or quarterly returns, such as GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B.
The GSTR-9 provides taxpayers with a final opportunity to reconcile their tax filings for a particular financial year and take corrective action. The following are the eligibility and certification requirements for the Annual GST Return Filing or GSTR-9 Filing.
| Sr. No. | Taxpayer Category | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turnover less than 2 Crore – Annual Return in GSTR-9 is optional | Not Required |
| 2 | Turnover less than Rs. 5 Crore | Self Certification |
| 3 | Turnover above Rs. 5 Crore | CA Certification |
GST Return Due Dates
| RETURN FORM | DESCRIPTION | FREQUENCY | DUE DATES |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSTR-1 | Details of outward supplies of taxable goods and/or services affected. | Monthly | 11th of the next month. |
| IFF (Optional by taxpayers under the QRMP scheme) |
Details of B2B supplies of taxable goods and/or services affected. | Monthly (for the first two months of the quarter) | 13th of the next month. |
| GSTR-3B | Summary return of outward supplies and input tax credit claimed, along with payment of tax by the taxpayer. |
Monthly Quarterly (For taxpayers under the QRMP scheme) |
20th of the next month. 22nd or 24th of the month succeeding the quarter*** (for QRMP) |
| CMP-08 | Statement-cum-challan to make a tax payment by a taxpayer registered under the composition scheme under Section 10 of the CGST Act. | Quarterly | 18th of the month succeeding the quarter. |
| GSTR-4 | Return for a taxpayer registered under the composition scheme under Section 10 of the CGST Act. | Annually | 30th of the month succeeding a financial year. |
| GSTR-5 | Return to be filed by a non-resident taxable person. | Monthly | 20th of the next month. |
| GSTR-5A | Return to be filed by non-resident OIDAR service providers. | Monthly | 20th of the next month. |
| GSTR-6 | Return for an input service distributor to distribute the eligible input tax credit to its branches. | Monthly | 13th of the next month. |
| GSTR-7 | Return to be filed by registered persons deducting tax at source (TDS). | Monthly | 10th of the next month. |
| GSTR-8 | Return to be filed by e-commerce operators containing details of supplies effected and the amount of tax collected at source by them. | Monthly | 10th of the next month. |
| GSTR-9 | Annual return by a regular taxpayer. | Annually | 31st December of the next financial year. |
| GSTR-9C | Self-certified reconciliation statement. | Annually | 31st December of the next financial year. |
| GSTR-10 | Final return to be filed by a taxpayer whose GST registration is cancelled. | Once, when the GST registration is cancelled or surrendered. | Within three months of the date of cancellation or date of cancellation order, whichever is later. |
| GSTR-11 | Details of inward supplies to be furnished by a person having UIN and claiming a refund. | Monthly | 28th of the month following the month for which statement is filed. |
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