All about GSTR-1

What is GSTR-1?

GSTR-1 is a monthly or quarterly return that should be filed by every registered GST taxpayer, except a few as given in further sections. It contains details of all outward supplies i.e sales. The return has a total of 13 sections, listed down as follows:

• Tables 1, 2 & 3: GSTIN, legal and trade names, and aggregate turnover in the previous year
• Table 4: Taxable outward supplies to registered persons (including UIN-holders) excluding zero-rated supplies and deemed exports
• Table 5: Taxable outward inter-state supplies to unregistered persons where the invoice value is more than Rs.2.5 lakh
• Table 6: Zero-rated supplies as well as deemed exports
• Table 7: Taxable supplies to unregistered persons other than the supplies covered in table 5 (net of debit notes and credit notes)
• Table 8: Outward supplies that are nil rated, exempted and non-GST in nature
• Table 9: Amendments to outward supplies that are taxable and reported in table 4,5 & 6 of the earlier tax periods’ GSTR-1 return (including debit notes, credit notes, refund vouchers issued during the current period)
• Table 10: Debit note and credit note issued to unregistered person
• Table 11: Details of advances received or adjusted in the current tax period or amendments of the information reported in the earlier tax period.
• Table 12: Outward supplies summary based on HSN codes
• Table 13: Documents issued during the period.

When is GSTR-1 due?

The due dates for GSTR-1 are based on your aggregate turnover. Businesses with sales of up to Rs.5 crore have an option to file quarterly returns under the QRMP scheme and are due by the 13th of the month following the relevant quarter.

Whereas, those taxpayers who do not opt for the QRMP scheme or have a total turnover above Rs.5 crore must file the return every month on or before the 11th of the next month.

From 1st January 2022, taxpayers cannot file GSTR-1 if the previous period’s GSTR-3B was not filed.

Who should file GSTR-1?

Every registered person is required to file GSTR-1 irrespective of whether there are any transactions during the period or not. For nil GSTR-1 filers, there is a facility to file through an SMS that began from the 1st week of July 2020. The following registered persons are not required to file GSTR-1:

• Input Service Distributors
• Composition Dealers
• Suppliers of online information and database access or retrieval services (OIDAR), who have to pay tax themselves (as per Section 14 of the IGST Act)
• Non-resident taxable person
• Taxpayer liable to collect TCS
• Taxpayer liable to deduct TDS

How to revise GSTR-1?

A return once filed cannot be revised under GST. Any mistake made in the return can be rectified in the GSTR-1 filed for the next period (month/quarter). It means that if a mistake is made in GSTR-1 of January 2024, rectification for the same can be made in the GSTR-1 of February 2024 or subsequent months.The last date to make amendments, corrections in GSTR-1, and upload missed invoices or debit/notes of one financial year is no longer the due date to file September return of the following year, but it is 30th November of the following year or filing of annual return, whichever is earlier.The amendments also prescribe tax period-wise sequential filing of details of outward supplies.

Late Fees and Penalty

The following table explains the late fee to be charged (for other than nil GSTR-1 filing cases):

The following table explains the late fee to be charged in case of nil GSTR-1 filing:

The original late fees used to be Rs.100 per day under each CGST Act and respective SGST/ UTGST Act. Also, the original late fee for Nil return filers used to be Rs.25 per day under each CGST Act and respective SGST/ UTGST Act.

However, CBIC has notified reduced late fees to provide relief for businesses having difficulties in GST return filing.

Also, the CBIC issued notification 20/2021 dated 1st June 2021, to cap the maximum late fee chargeable from June 2021 onwards.

Note- From 1st January 2022, the GST officers can initiate recovery proceedings without any show-cause notice against taxpayers who under-report sales in GSTR-3B compared to GSTR-1.