Tax Consultant
1110 Points
Posted on 19 June 2026
GSTR-9C is treated as part of the annual return requirement under Section 44. Not filing GSTR-9C when required exposes you to a late fee under Section 47.
HERE IS HOW THE LATE FEE WORKS:
- Late fee is Rs 200 per day (Rs 100 CGST plus Rs 100 SGST) for non-filing of annual return
- Maximum cap: Rs 0.25% of turnover in the state (for CGST) plus Rs 0.25% of turnover (for SGST)
- GSTR-9C non-filing is treated as incomplete compliance for the year, even if GSTR-9 was filed on time
BUT NOTE: GST Council has repeatedly waived late fees through amnesties. Check whether an active amnesty or waiver notification covers your period. For FY 2023-24 and earlier, several notifications have reduced or waived late fees for deferred filers.
PRACTICAL STEPS IF GSTR-9C IS STILL PENDING:
1. File immediately. The late fee stops accruing from the date of filing.
2. Check the GST portal for any active late fee waiver notification for your turnover slab and financial year.
3. Compute the late fee using the total number of days from the due date (December 31) to the filing date.
For the full late fee and penalty structure across GST returns, see this [guide to GST, TDS, and ROC filing penalties](https://taxgarden.in/blog/true-cost-late-gst-tds-roc-filing-penalties-india-2026).