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OVERVIEW – GST Return Filing
A GST return is a document that details all income/sales and expenses/purchases of a GST-registered taxpayer (GSTIN) and must be filed with the tax authorities. It helps determine the taxpayer’s net tax liability.
Under GST, registered dealers are required to file returns that generally include:
- Purchases
- Sales
- Output GST (on sales)
- Input tax credit (GST paid on purchases)
For seamless GST return filing, consider using the Clear GST software, which supports data imports from various ERP systems like Tally, Busy, and custom Excel files. Tally users can also utilize the desktop app for direct data upload and filing.
What is Annual Compliance For a One person Company?
Due Date GST Return Filing
The due dates for filing monthly and quarterly GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-5, GSTR-6, GSTR-7, and GSTR-8 for the period ending December 31, 2024, have been extended as follows:
- GSTR-7 & GSTR-8 – Due by January 12, 2025
- GSTR-1 (Monthly) – Due by January 13, 2025
- GSTR-5 & GSTR-6 – Due by January 15, 2025
- GSTR-1 (QRMP) – Due by January 15, 2025
- GSTR-3B (Monthly) – Due by January 22, 2025
- GSTR-3B (QRMP) – Due by:
- January 24, 2025, for Category X States/UTs
- January 26, 2025, for Category Y States/UTs
Category X States/UTs: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
Category Y States/UTs: Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Chandigarh, and New Delhi.
Return Form | Description | Frequency | Due Date |
Details of outward supplies of taxable goods and/or services affected. | Monthly | 11th of the next month. | |
Quarterly (If opted under the QRMP scheme) | 13th of the month succeeding the quarter. | ||
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. |
Summary return of outward supplies and input tax credit claimed, along with payment of tax by the taxpayer. | Monthly | 20th of the next month. | |
Quarterly (For taxpayers under the QRMP scheme) | 22nd or 24th of the month succeeding the quarter*** |
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. | |
Return for a taxpayer registered under the composition scheme under Section 10 of the CGST Act. | Annually | 30th of June suceeding a financial year from FY 24-25 onwards. (earlier 30th of the month succeeding a financial year upto FY 23-24) | |
Return to be filed by a non-resident taxable person. | Monthly | 20th of the next month. | |
Return to be filed by non-resident OIDAR service providers. | Monthly | 20th of the next month. | |
Return for an input service distributor to distribute the eligible input tax credit to its branches. | Monthly | 13th of the next month. | |
Return to be filed by registered persons deducting tax at source (TDS). | Monthly | 10th of the next month. | |
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. |
Annual return by a regular taxpayer. | Annually | 31st December of the next financial year. | |
Self-certified reconciliation statement. | Annually | 31st December of the next financial year. | |
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. | |
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. | |
Statement to be filed by a principal/job-worker about details of goods sent to/received from a job-worker | Annually | 25th April where AATO is up to Rs.5 crore. |
Penalty for Late Filing of GST Returns
Filing GST returns on time is crucial to avoid penalties and interest charges. Here’s what you need to know about the consequences of late GST return filing:
- Filing is Mandatory
All registered taxpayers must file GST returns regularly, even if there is no business activity during the period.
- Delays Can Snowball
Missing one filing deadline prevents you from filing for the next period, leading to a backlog of unfiled returns.
- Penalties for Late Filing
For example, a late GSTR-1 filing results in a penalty that appears when you file GSTR-3B.
- Interest on Late Tax Payments
If you have unpaid taxes, an interest rate of 18% per annum is charged on the outstanding amount, starting from the day after the due date until payment is made.
- Late Filing Fees
A penalty of Rs. 100 per day applies separately for CGST and SGST, with a maximum cap of Rs. 5,000.
- Late Fees for Annual Returns
For annual returns like GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C, the late fee is capped at 0.25% of turnover in the respective state or union territory, unless the government provides relief or modifies the charges.
Taxpayer category | Late fee capped at |
Taxpayers whose total amount of central tax payable is Nil | Rs.250^ |
Taxpayers with an annual aggregate turnover up to Rs.1.5 crore in the previous financial year | Rs.1,000^ |
Taxpayers with an annual aggregate turnover exceeding Rs.1.5 crore and up to Rs.5 crore in the previous financial year | Rs.2,500^ |
How Many Returns Are There Under GST?
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) system includes 13 different returns, each serving a specific purpose based on a taxpayer’s financial transactions. However, not all taxpayers need to file every return—filing requirements depend on the taxpayer’s category and GST registration details.
List of 13 GST Returns:
- GSTR-1: Reports details of outward supplies (sales).
- GSTR-3B: A summarized return covering sales, purchases, and tax payments.
- GSTR-4: Filed by Composition Scheme taxpayers to report turnover and tax liability.
- GSTR-5: For non-resident taxpayers engaged in taxable transactions in India.
- GSTR-5A: Filed by providers of online information and database access/retrieval services.
- GSTR-6: Used by Input Service Distributors to report input tax credit (ITC) distribution.
- GSTR-7: For entities deducting TDS under GST.
- GSTR-8: Filed by e-commerce operators to report transactions on their platform.
- GSTR-9: An annual return summarizing all periodic filings throughout the financial year.
- GSTR-10: A final return upon cancellation or surrender of GST registration.
- GSTR-11: For taxpayers with a Unique Identity Number (UIN) claiming refunds on their purchases.
- CMP-08: A quarterly statement for Composition Scheme taxpayers to report tax liability.
- ITC-04: For manufacturers to report goods sent to and received from job workers.
Additional Return-Related Statements:
- GSTR-2A (Dynamic Report): Provides a real-time view of inward supplies based on suppliers’ reports.
- GSTR-2B (Static Report): A fixed snapshot of eligible input tax credits (ITC) based on supplier filings.
For small taxpayers enrolled in the Quarterly Return Monthly Payment (QRMP) scheme, the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) allows reporting of B2B sales during the first two months of a quarter. However, tax payments must still be made monthly using Form PMT-06.
How to File GST Returns Online?
Filing GST returns online is a straightforward process that requires taxpayers to follow a few simple steps and provide relevant details in the prescribed format. However, before filing, a taxpayer must have a GST Identification Number (GSTIN) and a registered account on the GST portal
Below is a step-by-step guide to filing GST returns online:
Step 1: Log in to the GST Portal
- Visit the GST portal and log in using your User ID and Password.
- Navigate to Services > Returns > Returns Dashboard.
Step 2: Access the Returns Dashboard
- Select the Financial Year, Quarter, and Period (Month) from the options available.
- Click on Search to proceed.
Step 3: Choose the Relevant GST Return Form
- The dashboard will display the return forms applicable to your GSTIN.
- Regular taxpayers will see forms like GSTR-1, GSTR-2A (view only), GSTR-2B, and GSTR-3B.
Step 4: Fill in the Return Form
- Select the return form you need to file and click on Prepare Online.
- Enter the required details, save the form, and click Submit.
- After submission, go to Track Return Status—the status should show as Submitted.
Step 5: Payment of Tax
- Click on Payment of Tax, then select Check Balance to view your available credit and cash balances.
Step 6: Offset Liability & Make Payment
- Click on Offset Liability to adjust the available Input Tax Credit (ITC).
- Pay any remaining tax amount using the cash ledger.
Step 7: File the GST Return
- Check the Declaration Box and select an Authorized Signatory.
- Click on File Form with DSC or File Form with EVC, as applicable, to complete the filing process.