GST Amnesty Scheme 2021 & Late Fee Relaxations



Quick Summary
The GST Council introduced an Amnesty Scheme in 2021 to provide relief to small and medium-sized taxpayers. This scheme offers significantly reduced late fees for filing pending GSTR 3B returns from July 2017 to April 2021. The initiative aims to benefit approximately 89% of GST taxpayers by allowing them to clear outstanding returns with lower penalties.

The 43rd GST Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman via video conferencing on Friday, 28th day of May, 2021 via video conferencing in New Delhi to discuss various matters which includes, GST Amnesty Scheme, Relaxation in Returns Filings, exemption on GST for hand sanitizers, face masks, gloves, PPE Kits, temperature scanners and other related medical equipment.

To help the Corporate Industries and small businesses, Finance Ministry notified the GST AMNESTY SCHEME FOR GSTR 3B LATE FEES in their press release to provide relief to small taxpayers. Amnesty scheme 2021 has been recommended for reducing late fee payable by small taxpayers & medium-sized taxpayers. Amnesty Scheme Recommended to Benefit around 89% GST Taxpayers at present.

Taxpayers can now file their pending returns without any high penalty and avail the benefits of this GST Amnesty scheme with reduced late fees.

Relaxation Period

Tax periods from July, 2017 to April, 2021. It means, Taxpayers can avail the benefits of this Amnesty Scheme on all GSTR 3B returns pending since July 2017 till April 2021. This was a much needed relief from the Department.

GST Amnesty Scheme 2021: Reduced Late Fees and Relaxations

Relaxation given in Late - Fee Payment

Late Fee has been reduced / waived as under

Sl.

Return Type (GSTR - 3B)

Relaxation in Late Fee

1.

In case of Nil Return

(No tax liability for the said tax periods)

Maximum Late fee capped: Rs.500/-

(Rs. 250- each for CGST & SGST) per return

2.

In case of Return is not Nil

(Tax liability is there for the said tax periods)

Maximum Late fee capped: Rs.1,000/-

(Rs. 500- each for CGST & SGST) per return

Time Period to Avail GST Amnesty Scheme 2021

GSTR - 3B shall be filed between 1.06.2021 to 31 August, 2021 to avail the benefit of reduced rate of late fees. It means that the pending GSTR 3B returns for the period, July, 2017 to April, 2021 shall be filed on or before 31st August, 2021.

 

Relaxation Effective w.e.f. 01.06.2021

1. Relaxation in Late fees for Return Filings of GSTR 3B and GSTR 1

Rationalization of late fee leviable on account of delay in furnishing return in FORM GSTR-3B and FORM GSTR-1 for Prospective tax period (June, 2021 onwards).

To reduce burden of late fee on taxpayers, the late fee is being capped, as follows

Taxpayer's category

Relaxations in Late Fees

1. Taxpayers having nil tax Liability (Nil Return)

Rs. 500/- (Rs. 250/- each for CGST & SGST) per return

2. For Taxpayers having Tax Liability:

a) For taxpayers having aggregate turnover in preceding FY upto  Rs. 1.5 crores

Rs. 2000/- (Rs. 1000/- each for CGST & SGST) per return

b) For taxpayers having aggregate turnover in preceding FY between Rs. 1.5 crores to Rs. 5 crores

Rs. 5000/- (Rs. 2500/- each for CGST & SGST) per return

c) For taxpayers having aggregate turnover in preceding FY above Rs.  5 crores

Rs. 10000/- (Rs. 5000/- each for CGST & SGST) per return

2. Relaxation in Late fees for Return Filings of GSTR 4

Rationalization of late fee leviable on account of delay in furnishing return in FORM GSTR-4 by composition taxpayers for prospective tax periods (FY 21-22 onwards).

 

Taxpayer's category

Relaxations in Late Fees

1. Taxpayers having nil tax Liability (Nil Return)

Rs. 500/- (Rs. 250/- each for CGST & SGST) per return

c) For Other Taxpayers

Rs. 2000/- (Rs. 1000/- each for CGST & SGST) per return

3. Relaxation in availment of ITC under GST

Compliance related relief for GST Taxpayers Amendment in Rule 36(4) of CGST Rules Relaxation in availment of Input Tax Credit (ITC)

Relaxation: 105% cap on availment of ITC to be applicable on cumulative basis of tax periods April, May and June 2021, to be applied in the return GSTR - 3B for the Tax Period June, 2021.

4. Relaxation in Late fees for Return Filings of GSTR 7

Rationalization of late fee leviable on account of delay in furnishing return in FORM GSTR-7 by Tax Deductors at Source for prospective tax periods (June, 2021 onwards).

Relaxation Given

Filing Particulars

Relaxations

Late Fee payable for delayed furnishing of Return in Form GSTR - 7

Rs. 50 Per day (Rs. 25/- each CGST & SGST) per return

Maximum amount of Late Fee Capped

Rs. 2000/- (Rs. 1000/- each for CGST & SGST) per return

Also Read: Key Updates from 43rd GST Council Meeting

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to avoid errors or omissions in this material. In spite of this, errors may creep in. Any mistake, error or discrepancy noted may be brought to our notice which shall be taken care of in the next edition. In no event the author shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special or incidental damage resulting from or arising out of or in connection with the use of this information. In no event the authors shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special or incidental damage resulting from or arising out of or in connection with the use of this information.

FAQ :

The GST Amnesty Scheme 2021 is a government initiative to reduce late fees for taxpayers who have pending GSTR 3B returns from July 2017 to April 2021, offering relief from high penalties.

For nil returns (no tax liability), the maximum late fee is capped at Rs. 500 per return. For returns with tax liability, the maximum late fee is capped at Rs. 1,000 per return.

The GSTR 3B returns must be filed between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 to avail the benefits of the reduced late fees under the Amnesty Scheme.

Yes, the scheme also rationalises late fees for GSTR 1, GSTR 4 (for composition taxpayers), and GSTR 7 (for tax deductors) for prospective periods starting June 2021.

The 105% cap on availing ITC will be applied cumulatively for April, May, and June 2021, to be claimed in the GSTR 3B return for June 2021.


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Company Secretary having 8+ years of post qualification experience in the Compliance Management Services industry by serving Corporates including Listed Companies, Corporate Secretarial Firms and LLP. Have a keen interest in the Corporate Governance and Compliance Management and the soaring craving to learn everyday. A ... Read more

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