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Basics of GST, GST Return and Filing

Ishita Ramani , Last updated: 08 April 2020  
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GST 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. India being the world’s 3rd largest economy has headed towards the destination based tax-reporting structure. To simplify the process of GST return the GST Council have come up with a solution to record all invoices in one place and collate data for the taxpayer. The processes have been simplified, and many taxes have been removed. The whole nation shall report using the same structure irrespective of where and how you carry your business.

GST returns filing is mandatory irrespective of any transaction made or not, as any non-compliance towards the same may lead to disallowance of input tax credit, apart from attracting penalties and interests, etc. Proper filing of information and passing the same in the returns is a mandatory process for smooth flow of credit to the last recipient.

GST returns are designed so that all transactions are in sync with each other and hence no transaction is left unattended between the buyer and the seller. All the data is stored in GSTN, which can be accessed by the users/taxpayers at any point of time online. While filing GST returns the registered dealer should include the details of Purchase, sales, output GST (on sales), and Input tax credit (GST paid on purchases)

1. Who should file GST Returns?

In the GST regime, any regular business who has obtained the GST registration has to file two monthly returns and one annual return. There is a clear system that one has to manually enter details of one monthly return – GSTR-1. The other returns GSTR 3B will get auto-populated by deriving information from GSTR-1 filed by you and your vendors.

2. What are GST Return Filing Dates?

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

Return Form

Particulars

When to file Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly

Due Date

GSTR-1

Details of outward supplies of taxable goods and/or services affected

Monthly

11th* of the next month with effect from October 2018

*Previously, the due date was 10th

GSTR-3B

Simple Return in which summary of outward supplies along with Input Tax Credit is declared  and payment of tax is affected by taxpayer

Monthly

20th of the next month

GSTR-4

Return for a taxpayer registered under the composition levy

Quarterly

18th of the month succeeding quarter

GSTR-5

Return for a Non-Resident foreign taxable person

Monthly

20th of the next month

GSTR-6

Return for an 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-9

Annual Return for a Normal Taxpayer

Annually

31st December of next financial year*

GSTR-9A

Annual Return a taxpayer registered under the composition levy anytime during the year

Annually

31st December of next financial year*

GSTR-10

Final Return

Once, when GST 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 a refund

Monthly

28th of the month following the month for which statement is filed

3. How to check the GST Return Filing Status?

There are different types of GST Return Application status which relies on the action of the taxpayer and they are as following:

  • In case the return is due but it has not yet been filed then it will show the status “TO BE FILED.
  • When the return has been validated but shows the filing status pending than the status would show “SUBMITTED BUT NOT FILLED.
  • In case the return has been filed without any pending status than it shows “FILED-VALID” status.

When the return has been filed but tax is not paid or less/short paid than the status would show “FILED-INVALID.


Published by

Ishita Ramani
(Director - Operations)
Category GST   Report

6 Likes   18457 Views

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