How to file a GST return? 

A GST return is an authorised document that must be filed with the tax administration authorities by a registered taxpayer for the Goods and Services Tax. A GST return includes specifics of the taxpayer’s earnings, sales, expenses, and acquisitions. A registered dealer is required to submit GST returns in accordance with the GST, and these returns generally contain the following:

• Sales
• Purchase
• Sales tax on goods and services 
• Input Tax Credit for purchases made with GST

How many returns exist under the GST?

Under GST, there are 13 returns: 

• GSTR-1
• GSTR-3B
• GSTR-4
• GSTR-5
• GSTR-5A
• GSTR-6
• GSTR-7
• GSTR-8
• GSTR-9
• GSTR-10
• GSTR-11
• CMP-08
• ITC-04

However, not all taxpayers are required to do GST filing in the same types of forms. Taxpayers submit their returns in accordance with the kind of taxpayer they are or the type of registration they have got.

Form GSTR-9C, a self-certified accounting statement, must be filed by eligible taxpayers, i.e., those having a yearly revenue of more than Rs.5 crore. In addition to the GST returns that need to be submitted, taxpayers have access to two other statements of an input tax credit. These statements are referred to as GSTR-2A (dynamic) and GSTR-2B. (static).

Small taxpayers enrolled under the QRMP system have access to a facility called the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF), which allows them to provide their invoices for their B2B transactions during the first 2 months of the quarter. These individuals will still be required to make monthly tax payments via Form PMT-06, even if the deferral has been extended.

Who must submit GST returns?

Regular enterprises with annual aggregate revenue of more than Rs.5 crore are required to submit two monthly and one annual return under the Goods and Services Tax regime. Taxpayers who haven’t yet chosen to participate in the QRMP programme are also subject to this obligation. This accounts for a total of 25 returns per year.

Under the QRMP plan, taxpayers who have a revenue of up to 5 crore rupees have the flexibility to submit returns with the government. Each year, QRMP filers are required to submit nine GSTR forms. This tally comprises four GSTR-1 returns, three GSTR-3B returns, and one annual report. 

It is important to note that although QRMP filers are only required to submit their returns once every three months, they must still pay their taxes on a monthly basis.

In exceptional circumstances, such as those involving compositional dealers, who are obliged to submit just five copies of the GSTR each year, supplemental statements and returns must also be submitted.

What are the various forms of GST returns and their respective due dates?

Here is a summary of all required GST returns, along with their respective filing deadlines.

Return Form	Who must submit the tax return, and what must be filed?	Frequency	Deadline
GSTR-1	Specifics on the taxable items and/or services exported that are impacted.	Monthly basis	11th of the following month
		Quarterly if enrolled in the QRMP programme	The 13th day of the month after the quarter.
IFF	Details of impacted B2B sales of taxable products and/or services	Monthly basis	The 13th of the following month
GSTR-3B	Payout of tax by the taxpayer and a summary of outbound deliveries and input tax credits claimed.	Monthly basis	The 20th of the following month
		Quarterly if enrolled in the QRMP programme	22nd or 24th of the next month after the quarter
CMP-08	Statement-cum-challan for a taxpayer enrolled under the composition system under Section 10 of the CGST Act to make a tax payment.	Quarterly	The 18th day of the month after the quarter.
GSTR-4	Return for a user filed under Section 10 of the CGST Act’s composition system.	Annually	The 30th of the month following a fiscal year.
GSTR-5	Return is required to be submitted by a non-resident taxpayer.	Monthly basis	20th of the following month (Budget 2022 revised to 13th; CBIC has not yet been informed.)
GSTR-5A	Non-resident OIDAR companies are obligated to submit this return.	Monthly basis	The 20th of the following month
GSTR-6	Return for a distributor of input services to distribute input tax credits to its branches.	Monthly basis	The 13th of the following month
GSTR-7	Return is to be submitted by registered individuals with source deductions (TDS).	Monthly basis	The 10th of the following month
GSTR-8	Return is completed by e-commerce operators detailing the supply delivered and the amount of tax received at the source.	Monthly basis	The 10th of the following month
GSTR-9	Returns are filed annually by a normal taxpayer.	Annually	December 31 of the following fiscal year.
GSTR-9C	Self-certified declaration of reconciliation	Annually	December 31 of the following fiscal year.
GSTR-10	The last return required of a person whose GST registration has been revoked.	Once, upon cancellation or surrender of the GST registration.	It must be done within three months after cancellation or cancellation order date.
GSTR-11	Details of inbound supplies provided by a UIN-holder who is requesting a refund	Monthly basis	The 28th day of the month after the month in which the statement is submitted, unless otherwise specified.
ITC-04	Statement prepared by a principal/employee about the specifics of products provided to/received from an employee.	Once a year (for AATO up to Rs.5 crores) Half-yearly (for AATO > Rs.5 crores)	April 25th 25th October and 25th April

Future Deadlines for Filing GST Returns

A GST return’s due date might be extended by the issuance of orders or announcements. GST return deadline for FY 2022-23 can be found by navigating to the following link: https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/yearly-deadlines.aspx?yfmv=2022

Late fees for failing to submit a tax return on time

If you fail to submit your GST returns within the allotted time frame, you will be subject to interest charges as well as a late filing cost.

The interest rate is 18% on an annual basis. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to compute it based on the total amount of tax that is still owed. The time frame will begin on the day after the filing is completed and end on the day that payment is made.

For each day of the overdue, the late cost is Rs 100. As a result, it will cost Rs 100 for CGST and Rs 100 for SGST, respectively. A total of Rs 200 each day, up to a cap of Rs 5,000, would be charged. 

 

Taxpayer category	The maximum late charge allowed (in Rs)
For taxpayers whose entire central tax bill is zero	250
Taxpayers whose combined yearly revenue in the preceding fiscal year was up to Rs. 1.5 crore	1,000
People who made more than Rs. 1.5 crore in the previous year are eligible for a reduced tax rate of 0.5 per cent.	2,500

How Do You Submit Online GST Returns?

The following is a list of the actions that need to be taken in order to file your GST return online:

• Go to the website for the GST (www.gst.gov.in).
• Your PAN number and the code for your state will be used to generate a GST identification number that is fifteen digits long.
• You may either upload your invoices using the GST site or through the software. A unique reference number for the invoice will be generated and attached to each one.
• Following the uploading of invoices and online filing of an outward return, an interior return and a cumulative monthly return are required. You have the opportunity to make any necessary corrections and then re-submit the tax returns after doing so.
• You have until the 10th of the next month, at the very latest, to submit your outbound supply reports using the GSTR-1 form accessible via the information part of the GST Common Website (GSTN).
• The receiver will have access to the information on the supplier’s outgoing supplies that are included in the GSTR-2A form.
• The recipient is responsible for verifying, validating, and amending the information of any outgoing goods. Additionally, the recipient must submit any data about credit/ debit notes.
• The GSTR-2 form requires the recipient to provide specific information on taxable services that have been received.
• The receiver may make available amendments to the specifics of inbound contributions on the GSTR-1A form, and the provider has the option to either approve or disapprove such revisions.

How to Check the Status of GST Returns?

The official GST Login Portal enables you to examine the progress of your GST Returns. There are three distinct approaches to accomplishing the same result. 

Using the ‘Return Filing Period’ option to monitor the progress

• To access the GST portal, go to https://www.gst.gov.in/ 
• Select “Services” from the main menu
• Select ‘Returns’ from the drop-down menu and then ‘Track Return Status.’
• Choose ‘Return Filing Period’ from the drop-down menu that appears.
• Select the fiscal period and the return submission period from the drop-down menus on the following page, respectively.
• The status of your GST return will be shown on your screen if you click on the ‘Search’ option.

Using the ‘ARN’ option to monitor the progress

• To access the GST portal, go to https://www.gst.gov.in/ 
• Select “Services” from the main menu
• Select ‘Returns’ from the drop-down menu and then ‘Track Return Status.’
• Choose ‘ARN’ from the drop-down menu.
• Use the given field to enter the ARN.
• When you press the ‘Search’ button, a pop-up window will show you the current status of your GST Return.

Using the ‘Status’ option to monitor the progress

To access the GST portal, go to https://www.gst.gov.in/ 

• Select “Services” from the main menu
• Select ‘Returns’ from the drop-down menu and then ‘Track Return Status.’
• Choose ‘Status’ from the drop-down menu.
• Choose from the drop-down menu the status of return you are interested in
• When you press the ‘Search’ button, a pop-up window will show you the current status of your GST Return.

How to Download Returns for GST?

Through the official GST Portal, you will be able to download your GST Returns. To download your GST Returns, please complete the procedures listed below:

• Go to the GST portal, and enter your username and password.
• The ‘Services’ tab may be found at the top of the page.
• Under ‘Returns,’ choose ‘Returns Dashboard.
• Select the accounting year and return filing timeframe from the drop-down menus on the following page
• Select the GTR you wish to download by clicking on the ‘Search’ button.
• The ‘Prepare Offline’ button may be found beneath the GSTR you’ve chosen.
• Select ‘Generate File’ from the ‘Download’ menu.
• A typical request to generate the file tends to take approximately 20 minutes.
• There will be a download link provided after the file has been generated. To get a ZIP file comprising your GST Returns, choose ‘Click Here’ from the drop-down menu.