GST Return Filing - An Overview

What is GST Return?

A GST return is an official record containing details of all income/sales and/or expenses/purchases that a GST-registered taxpayer (every GSTIN) is required to file with the tax administrative authorities. Every taxpayer registered under GST has to file GST returns. These returns are used to calculate the tax liability by the government.

Businesses that are registered under GST have to file the GST returns monthly, quarterly, and annually based on the business.

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

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

Who should file the GST Returns?

GST Return filing in India is to be done by the following:

A person having a valid GSTIN has to compulsorily file the GST returns.
Also, a person whose annual turnover is crossing Rs. 20 lakh has to obtain a GST registration and file the GST returns mandatorily.
In the cases of Special states, the limit for the annual turnover is Rs.10 lakh.

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.

Return form	Description	Frequency	Due date for filing
GSTR-1	Registered taxable supplier should file details of outward supplies of taxable goods and services as effected.	Monthly	11th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-2	Registered taxable recipient should file details of inward supplies of taxable goods and services claiming input tax credit.	Monthly	15th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-3	Registered taxable person should file monthly return on the basis of finalization of details of outward supplies and inward supplies plus the payment of amount of tax.	Monthly	20th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-4	Composition supplier should file quarterly return.	Quarterly	30th of the month succeeding financial year.
GSTR-5	Return for non-resident taxable person.	Monthly	20th of the next month.
GSTR-6	Return for input service distributor.	Monthly	13th of the next month.
GSTR-7	Return for authorities carrying out tax deduction at source.	Monthly	10th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-8	E-commerce operator or tax collector should file details of supplies effected and the amount of tax collected.	Monthly	10th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-9	Registered taxable person should file annual return.	Annual	31 December of the next fiscal year.
GSTR-10	Taxable person whose registration has been cancelled or surrendered should file final return.	Once, after the registration of GST is cancelled	Within 3 months of date of cancellation or date of cancellation order, whichever is later.
GSTR-11	Person having UIN claiming refund should file details of inward supplies.	Monthly	28th of the month, following the month for which the statement was filed.

GSTR 1

GSTR-1 form has to be filed by a registered taxable supplier with details of the outward supplies of goods and services. This form is filled by the supplier. The buyer has to confirm the auto-populated buy information on the form and make modifications if required. The form will contain the following details:

Business name, period for which the return is filed, Goods and Services Taxpayer Identification Number (GSTIN).
Invoices issued in the previous month and the corresponding taxes collected.
Advances received against a supply order that has to be delivered in the future.
Revision in outward sales invoices from the previous tax periods.

GSTR-1 has to be filed by 10th of the following month.

GSTR 2

GSTR-2 form has to be filed by a registered taxable recipient with details of the inward supplies of goods and services. The form will contain the following details:

Business name, a period for which the return is filed, Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN).
Invoices issued in the previous month and the corresponding taxes collected.
Advances received against a supply order that has to be delivered in the future.
Revision in outward sales invoices from the previous tax periods.

GSTR-2 has to be filed by 15th of the following month.

GSTR 2A

The GSTN platform creates the GSTR-2A, a purchase-related tax report, automatically for each entity. It is based on data from your suppliers’ GSTR-1, GSTR-5, GSTR-6, GSTR-7, and GSTR-8 tax forms.

The form for GSTR 2A will contain the following information –

GSTIN (Business name, a period for which the return is filler, Goods and Services Tax Identification)

Taxpayer name

GSTR 2B

The GST platform has included the GSTR-2B, a new static month-by-month auto-drafted statement for normal taxpayers (whether or not they have chosen the QRMP plan). Beginning with the August 2020 tax period, the statement was implemented.

GSTR 3

GSTR-3 form has to be filed by a registered taxpayer with details that are automatically populated by from GSTR-1 and GSTR-2 returns forms. The taxpayer has to verify and make modifications, if any. GSTR-3 return form will contain the following details:

Details about Input Tax Credit, liability, and cash ledger.
Details of tax paid under CGST, SGST, and IGST.
Claim a refund of excess payment or request to carry forward the credit.

GSTR-3 has to be filed by 20th of the following month.

GSTR 3A

It is a notice issued by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) against those who have not filled their GST returns.

GSTR 4

GSTR-4 form has to be filed by taxpayers who have opted for the Composition Scheme. Taxpayers with small business or a turnover of up to Rs.75 lakh can opt for the Composition Scheme wherein he or she have to pay tax at a fixed rate based on the type of business. Taxpayers under this scheme will not have input tax credit facility. GSTR-4 quarterly return form will contain the following details:

The total value of consolidated supply made during the period of return.
Details of tax paid.
Invoice-level purchase information.

GSTR-4 has to be filed by 18th of the following month.

GSTR 4A

The GST Return GSTR-4 is something that a composition dealer is required to submit. Contrary to a regular taxpayer, who must submit three monthly returns, a dealer who chooses the composition scheme is only obliged to submit one return, the GSTR 4, once a year by the 30th of April after the end of the fiscal year.

GSTR 5

GSTR-5 form has to be filed by all registered non-resident taxpayers. This form will contain the following:

Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
Details of outward supplies and inward supplies.
Details of goods imported, any amendments in goods imported during the previous tax periods.
Import of services, amendments in import of services
Details of credit or debit notes, closing stock of goods, and refund claimed from cash ledger.

GSTR-5 has to be filed by 20th of the following month.

GSTR 6

GSTR-6 form has to be filed by all taxpayers who are registered as an Input Service Distributor. This form will contain the following:

Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
Details of input credit distributed.
Supplies received from registered persons.
The amount of input credit availed under the current tax period.
Details of inward supplies will be auto-populated from GSTR-1 and GSTR-5 return forms.
Details of the receiver of input credit corresponding to his or her GSTIN.
Details of credit or debit notes.
Input tax credit received, input tax credit reverted, and input tax credit distributed as SGST, CGST, and IGST.

GSTR-6 has to be filed by 13th of the following month.

GSTR 7

GSTR-7 form has to be filed by all registered taxpayers who are required to deduct tax at source under the GST rule. This form will contain the following:

Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
TDS details and amendments in invoice amount, TDS amount or contract details.
TDS liability will be auto-populated. Details of fees for late filing of return and interest on delayed payment of TDS.
Refund received from Electronic Cash Ledger will be auto-populated.

GSTR-7 has to be filed by 10th of the following month.

GSTR 8

GSTR-8 form has to be filed by all e-Commerce operators who are required to collect tax at source under the GST rule. This form will contain details of supplies effected and the amount of tax collected under Sub-section (1) of Section 43C of Model GST Law. Other details include:

Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
Details of supplies made to registered taxable person and amendments, if any.
Details of supplies made to unregistered persons.
Details of Tax Collected at Source.
TDS liability will be auto-populated. Details of fees for late filing of return and interest on delayed payment of TDS.

GSTR-8 has to be filed by 10th of the following month.

GSTR 9

GSTR-9 form is filed by normal taxpayers with details of all income and expenditure for the year. This detail will be regrouped in accordance with the monthly returns. The taxpayer will have the opportunity to make modifications in the information provided if required. GSTR-9 has to be filed by 31st December of the following financial year along with the audited copies of the annual accounts.

GSTR 10

GSTR-10 form has to be filed by any taxpayer who opts for cancellation of GST registration. This form will contain the following:

Application Reference Number (ARN).

Date of cancellation of GST registration.
Unique ID of cancellation order.
Date of cancellation order.
Details of closing stock including amount of tax payable on closing stock.

GSTR-10 final return form has to be filed within 3 months of the date of cancellation or date of cancellation order, whichever is later.

GSTR 11

GSTR-11 form has to be filed by everyone who has been issued a Unique Identity Number (UIN) and claims a refund of the taxes paid on inward supplies. This form will contain the following details:

Name of the government entity, UIN, and period of return.
All inward purchases from GST registered supplier will be auto-populated.

Based on the above-mentioned details, the tax refund will be made. GSTR-11 form has to be filed on 28th of the month, following the month for which supply was received.

Steps to File GST Returns Online:

You can file the GST return online as follows.

Step 1: Register for GSTIN

For those taxpayers who are not registered, you need to register to get the GSTIN number. It is a 15-digit number that is generated based on your state code of operation and PAN.

Step 2: Log in to the GST portal

You must log in to the GST portal (https://www.gst.gov.in/) using your username and password and then click on the tab called ‘Services’.

Step 3: Returns dashboard

You will see an option called the ‘Returns dashboard’. Click on that. You will be asked to choose a financial year for which you are filing the GST return. Choose the appropriate one from the drop-down menu provided.

Step 4: Prepare online

You must then select the return you wish to file. You will be given options of how you wish to file. For the online GST return process, click on the ‘Prepare Online’ option.

Step 5: Enter details

You will need to enter all the details correctly in the fields provided. Note that if you have any pending late fees, you must fill in the details of that as well when you are filing your GST returns. Next, you need to save the form and then submit it.

Step 6: Check submission status

When the GST return form has been submitted, you need to ensure the status of the GST return has been changed to ‘Submitted’.

Step 7: Tax payment

When the status shows the return has been submitted, then you need to click on ‘Payment of Tax.’ You will see a ‘Check Balance’ option which you need to click. The balance shown will reveal the credit and cash balance.

Step 8: Offset liability

You must click on the option that says ‘Offset Liability’ to make the GST payment online in a few minutes. You need to then check the relevant boxes for declaration purposes. Then click on ‘File Form with DSC’/’File Form with EVC’ and then make the payment.

Penalty for late filing of GST Returns:

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

A total of Rs.200 (Rs.100 as CGST and Rs.100 as SGST) is charged per day, which can go as high as up to Rs.5000. However, this rate may change depending on present regulations. The time period will be calculated from the day after the final deadline till the day the complete payment is made.

Integrated Goods and Services Tax does not attract any late fee, although the taxpayer will be required to pay an additional 18% interest in addition to the late fee.

For more details contact out team at +91-7991109093 or drop email us at [email protected]

Note: This Post was last updated on February 16, 2023

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this document have been prepared on the basis of relevant provisions and as per the information existing at the time of the preparation i.e. February 16, 2023. Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, We assume no responsibility therefore. Users of this information are expected to refer to the relevant existing provisions of applicable Laws. The user of the information agrees that the information is not a professional advice and is subject to change without notice. We assume no responsibility for the consequences of use of such information. IN NO EVENT SHALL WE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.

GST Return Filing – An Overview