GST

1. What is GST Return?

A return is a document containing details of income which a taxpayer is required to file with the tax administrative authorities. This is used by tax authorities to calculate tax liability.

Under GST, a registered dealer has to file GST returns that include:

• Purchases
• Sales
• Output GST (On sales)
• Input tax credit (GST paid on purchases)

To file GST returns, GST compliant sales and purchase invoices are required. You can generate GST compliant invoices for free on ClearTax BillBook.

2. Who should file GST Returns?

In the GST regime, any regular business has to file two monthly returns and one annual return. This amounts to 26 returns in a year.

The beauty of the system is that one has to manually enter details of one monthly return – GSTR-1. The other return GSTR 3B will get auto-populated by deriving information from GSTR-1 filed by you and your vendors.

There are separate returns required to be filed by special cases such as composition dealers.

3. What are the types of GST Returns?

Here is a list of all the returns to be filed as prescribed under the GST Law along with the due dates.

3.1. Any regular business:

As per the CGST Act ( Note : subject to change by Notifications /orders)

Return Form	Particulars	Interval	Due Date
GSTR-1	Details of outward supplies of taxable goods and/or services affected from July 2018 to March 2019 ( Taxpayers whose turnover is more than Rs. 1.5 Crores in previous year)	Monthly*	11th of the next month**
GSTR-2	Details of inward supplies of taxable goods and/or services effected claiming input tax credit.	Monthly*	15th of the next month (Suspended now )
GSTR-3	Monthly return on the basis of finalization of details of outward supplies and inward supplies along with the payment of amount of tax.	Monthly*	20th of the next month
GSTR-9	Annual Return	Annually	31st December of next financial year
GSTR-3B	Return for the months of up to March 2019	Monthly	20th of the next month

** Details of outward supplies of taxable goods and/or services affected till June 2018 will be 10th of the next month.

** Taxpayers whose turnover was less than Rs. 1.5 Crores in the previous financial year has the option to file a quarterly GSTR-1 by end of the next month affected July 2018 to March 2019.

3.2. A dealer opting for composition scheme :

A composition dealer will enjoy the benefits of lesser returns & compliance along with payment of taxes at nominal rates. A composition dealer will file only 2 returns:

Return Form	Particulars	Interval	Due Date
GSTR-4	Return for compounding taxable person	Quarterly	18th of the month succeeding quarter**
GSTR-9A	Annual Return	Monthly	31st December of next financial year

3.3. Returns to be filed by certain specific registered dealers:

Return Form	Particulars	Interval	Due Date
GSTR-5	Return for Non-Resident foreign taxable person	Monthly	20th of the next month***
GSTR-5A	Return for Non-resident persons providing OIDAR services	Monthly	20th of the next month***
GSTR-6	Return for Input Service Distributor	Monthly	13th of the next month***
GSTR-7	Return for authorities deducting tax at source.	Monthly	10th of the next month
GSTR-8	Details of supplies effected through e-commerce operator and the amount of tax collected	Monthly	10th of the next month
GSTR-10	Final Return	Once. When 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 refund	Monthly	28th of the month following the month for which statement is filed

Here is a video to understand who should file GST Return and why should it be filed –

Here is a video to understand who should file GST Return and why should it be filed – 

4.Due Dates to file GST Returns

Due Dates for filing GST Returns can be extended by issuing Orders or Notifications. Here, we have got for you the list of upcoming GST returns due dates that you must not miss!

GSTR-1

For turnover upto Rs 1.5 cr and who opted Quarterly filing

Period	Due dates
Jan- Mar	30th April 2018
Apr-June 2018	31st July 2018
July-Sept 2018	31st Oct 2018

For turnover of more than Rs 1.5 cr/ For turnover of less than 1.5 cr but opted Monthly filing

Period	Dates
April 2018	31st May 2018
May 2018	10th June 2018
June 2018	10th July 2018
July 2018	10th Aug 2018
Aug 2018	10th Sept 2018
Sept 2018	10th Oct 2018

GSTR-2 and GSTR-3

GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 filing has been suspended.  Know more about what was discussed on Return filing at 27th GST Council Meeting!

GSTR-3B

• GSTR-3B has been extended to March 2019.
• All businesses have to file GSTR-3B by 20th of next month until March 2019.

Due date for the month September 2018 is 20th October 2018.

GSTR-4

Due date  for the quarter July 2018 to September 2018 is 18th October 2018

GSTR-5

Due date for September 2018 is 20th October 2018

GSTR-5A

Due date for September 2018 is 20th October 2018

GSTR-6

Due date of GSTR-6 for the months from July 2017 to August 2018 is extended to 30th September 2018.

5. Late Fees for not Filing Return on Time

If GST Returns are not filed within time, you will be liable to pay interest and a late fee.

Interest is 18% per annum. It has to be calculated by the taxpayer on the amount of outstanding tax to be paid. The time period will be from the next day of filing to the date of payment.

Late fee is Rs. 100 per day per Act. So it is 100 under CGST & 100 under SGST. Total will be Rs. 200/day. Maximum is Rs. 5,000. There is no late fee on IGST.

Update as on 7th March 2018!

• CBEC withdraws the reduction in Late fees for only GSTR-5A charged for delay in return filing with effect from 7th March 2018.

This means that the late fees to be paid by taxpayers for late-filing of GSTR-5A now stands at a total of Rs. 200 per day of delay (Rs. 100 per day of delay for NIL return) subject to the maximum cap in the late fees at Rs. 5,000

As on 7th March 2018, the reduced late fees for other returns such as GSTR-1, GSTR-3B(October 2017 onwards), GSTR-4, GSTR-5 &  GSTR-6 continue to apply.

There are prescribed formats for each of the above of the returns. The forms may seem complex and difficult to understand. Do not worry, you can file your returns very easily usingClearTax GST Software. 

Sign-up now and try it yourself.

ALL ARTICLES

1. Quick comparison of GSTR-9 & GSTR-9C
   Although GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C sounds similar there are huge differences between the two. Read to know more as we compare the two forms.
2. Everything you need to know about GSTR 4A
   GSTR 4A is a record of all invoices received by the composition dealers from the suppliers in a particular tax period. Read to know more about Form GSTR-4A.
3. GST Sahaj Return
   The GST council announced the new GST quarterly returns for small taxpayers known as Sahaj & Sugam. Read to know about Sahaj form in detail.
4. GST Sugam Return
   The GST council introduced new quarterly returns called Sahaj & Sugam in 27th GST council meeting. Let us know the GST Sugam returns in detail.
5. Guide to Download GSTR 2A in Excel
   GSTR 2A for reconciliation can be downloaded from the GST portal in JSON and excel format. Know the steps to download GSTR 2A in excel format.
6. GSTR 9C : Reconciliation Statement & Certification- Filing, Format & Rules
   GSTR-9C is to be filed where the taxpayer is subject to GST Audit for FY. Get to know about this reconciliation statement, certification & filing process
7. GSTR-9A – Overview, Due Dates & Format
   GSTR-9A forms are released and must be filed by Composition dealers by 31st December 2018. Know the rules and compliance around this.
8. Guide To File GSTR-5A on GST Portal
   GSTR-5A must be filed monthly by 20th of next month by OIDAR service provider. Here are steps to be followed to file this GST returns on the Government portal.
9. GUIDE TO FILE GSTR-5 ON GST PORTAL
   GSTR-5 must be filed monthly by 20th of next month by Non resident GST taxpayers. Here is step-by-step guide to file GSTR-5 on GST portal.
10. Information return under GST
    The government mandates the filing of Information Returns under GST for certain class of persons. Information returns are not tax returns.
11. GSTR 5A GST For Non-Resident OIDAR Service Providers
    Filing GSTR 5A is mandatory for the non-resident OIDAR service providers even if there is no business activity within 20th day of the succeeding month
12. Checksum Validation Failed Error in GST Return
    GST Return filers are getting an error called 'Checksum Validation: Failed' while filing their GSTR-3B and GSTR-4. Here are a few solutions that might work.
13. Amendments of Details in GSTR 1 and Error Messages
    Amendments can be made in each invoice and details at summary level also. Both type of amendments have there own limitations. Read this article to know more
14. GSTR-06 : Guide to File on GST Portal
    Learn to file GSTR-06 on the GST Portal. GSTR-06 is a monthly return to be filed by Input Service Distributor. Important return for distribution of credit.
15. Table 6A of GSTR-1 : Refund on Export
    A dealer who wants to claim refund on export has to file the Table 6A of GSTR-1. Here is a guide on how to do file the Table 6A of GSTR-1 on GST portal
16. Details to be mentioned in GSTR-4 Return
    GSTR-4 is a quarterly return to be filed by Composition dealers. This article contains in detail each section and the details to be provided in it.
17. Is it Possible to Revise GSTR-3B ?
    not possible to revise GSTR-3B once filed. But Government has now allowed to ‘Reset GSTR 3B’ after submission but before filing the return.
18. Details to be Mentioned in GSTR-1 Return
    GSTR 1 is a monthly or quarterly return to be filed by a regular taxpayer. This article is a detailed analysis of GST Form GSTR-1.
19. Guide to File GSTR-3B using Tally
    All regular taxpayers have to file GSTR-3B every month. Here is a step-by-step guide for Tally users to generate the report and enter values in GST Portal.
20. Guide to File GSTR-3B on GST Portal
    GSTR-3B is a monthly return required to be filed by all regular taxpayers till March 2019. Here is a step-by-step guide to filing your return on GST Portal.
21. Guide on filing GSTR-4 on GST Portal
    A step-by-step guide on filing GSTR-4 on GST Portal to help composition dealers in easy GST return filing.
22. GSTR-2A: Convert JSON to Excel Format
    A dealer has to convert GSTR-2A JSON to Excel. This conversion is required for matching and reconciliation, an important step in GSTR 2 return filing.
23. Guide on GSTR-2 Filing on GST Portal
    GSTR-2 is a return containing details of all inward supplies. Based on this return the Input Tax Credit that a taxpayer is eligible to avail is determined.