Due date to file GST Returns amidst COVID-19 outbreak

List of GST Notifications issued by CBIC:

In the view of the outbreak of COVID-19 the Finance Minister on the 24th of March 2020 had given various relaxations to the taxpayers in the form of extension of various due dates, reduced interest rates, and waiver of late fees and penalty. To give effect to various statutory relaxations the Government passed an Ordinance 2020 on the 31st of March 2020. On the one hand, where the Ordinance gave effect to various direct and indirect tax relaxations, it didn’t speak much about GST. To give effect to various relaxations under GST the CBIC on the 3rd of April, 2020 released a list of notifications. The list of notifications gives clarity on the due date to file GST Returns and interest and late fees to be charged amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Here is the synopsis of notifications issued by CBIC:

1. Notification No. 30/2020

File FORM GST CMP-02 till 30th June, 2020 and cumulative application of rule36(4)

(i)The notification says that any registered person who wants to opt for Composition Scheme for Financial Year 2020-21 will have to intimate in FORM GST CMP-02, which should be duly signed or verified through electronic verification code, on the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner, on or before 30th June, 2020.

(ii) The registered person shall furnish the statement in FORM GST ITC-03 for reversal of ITC up to the 31st of July, 2020.

(iii)The condition to restrict availment of ITC to 20% of the eligible credit in respect of the invoices the details of which have not been uploaded by supplier in GSTR-3B under rule 36(4) in GST shall apply cumulatively for the period February, March, April, May, June, July and August, 2020 and the return in FORM GSTR-3B for the tax period September, 2020 shall be furnished with the cumulative adjustment of input tax credit for the said months.

2. Notification No. 31/2020 and 32/2020

No late fee and reduced interest rates on GSTR-3B

Notification No. 31/2020 reads that no interest on GSTR 3B will be charged for the month of February, March, and April for taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of more than rupees 1.5 crores and up to rupees five crores in the preceding financial year and taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of up to rupees 1.5 crores in the preceding financial year provided GSTR-3B is filed as on the dates notified by CBIC. However, for taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of more than rupees 5 crores in the preceding financial year the interest rate is nil for first 15 days from the due date, and 9 percent thereafter.

3. Notification No. 33/2020:

Due date to file GSTR-1 extended till June 30th without late fee

The due date to file GSTR-1 for the month of March, April, and May and quarter ending 31st March has been extended to 30th June with no late fees.The notification says late fee has been waived for the months of March, 2020, April, 2020 and May, 2020, and for the quarter ending 31st March, 2020, for the registered persons who fail to furnish the details of outward supplies for the said periods in FORM GSTR-1 by the due date, but furnishes the said details in FORM GSTR-1, on or before the 30th June, 2020. 

4. Notification No. 34/2020:

Due date to file FORM GST CMP-08 and GSTR 4 extended

The notification says that the date to file FORM GST CMP-08 for registered persons paying tax under the composition scheme for the quarter ending 31/03/2020 has been extended to 7/07/2020 and the due date to file GSTR 4 for FY ending 31/03/2020 has been extended to 15/07/2020.

5. Notification No. 35/2020:

Extension of validity of e-way bills

The notification says where, any time limit for completion or compliance of any action, by any authority or by any person, has been specified in, or prescribed or notified under the said Act, which falls during the period from the 20th day of March, 2020 to the 29th day of June, 2020, and where completion or compliance of such action has not been made within such time, then, the time limit  shall be extended up to the 30th day of June, 2020, including for the purposes of--

(a) completion of any proceeding or passing of any order or issuance of any notice, intimation, notification, sanction or approval or such other action, by whatever name called, by any authority, commission or tribunal, by whatever name called, under the provisions of the Acts stated above; or

(b) filing of any appeal, reply or application or furnishing of any report, document, return, statement or such other record, by whatever name called, under the provisions of the Acts stated above but, such extension of time shall not be applicable for the compliances of the provisions of the said Act, as mentioned below-

(a) Chapter IV;
(b) sub-section (3) of section 10, sections 25, 27, 31, 37, 47, 50, 69, 90, 122, 129;
(c) section 39, except sub-section (3), (4) and (5);
(d) section 68, in so far as e-way bill is concerned; and
(e) rules made under the provisions specified at clause (a) to (d) above;

(ii) Validity of e-way bills expires during the period 20th of March, 2020 to 15 th of April, 2020, the validity period of such e-way bill shall be deemed to have been extended till the 30th day of April, 2020.

2. This notification shall come into force with effect from the 20th day of March, 2020.

6. Notification No. 36/2020:

Due date to file GSTR-3B for the month of May extended