CBIC provides relief by lowering of the interest rate for a specified time for tax periods March 2021 to May 2021



Quick Summary
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced a reduction in interest rates for taxpayers concerning tax periods from March 2021 to May 2021. This relief measure, effective from 18th May 2021, introduces lower interest rates for a specified duration. The specific rates and grace periods vary based on the taxpayer's aggregate turnover in the preceding financial year.

Vide Notification No. 18/2021 – Central Tax, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has provided relief to taxpayers by lowering the interest rate for a specified time for tax periods March 2021 to May 2021, w.e.f 18th May 2021. Read the official notification and details of the lowered interest rate, below:

[To be published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub- section (i)]

Government of India 
Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue)
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
Notification No. 18/2021 – Central Tax
New Delhi, the 1st June, 2021

G.S.R (E).- In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 50 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017) read with section 148 of the said Act, the Government, on the recommendations of the Council, hereby makes the following further amendments in notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 13/2017 – Central Tax, dated the 28th June, 2017, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R. 661(E), dated the 28th June, 2017, namely: -

Lowered GST Interest Rates for March-May 2021 Tax Periods

In the said notification, in the first paragraph, in the first proviso,-

  • for the words, letters and figure "required to furnish the returns in FORM GSTR-3B, but fail to furnish the said return along with payment of tax", the words "liable to pay tax but fail to do so" shall be substituted;
  • in the Table, in column 4, in the heading, for the words "Tax period", the words "Month/Quarter" shall be substituted;
  • in the Table, for serial number 4, 5, 6 and 7, the following shall be substituted, namely: -

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

"4.

Taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of more than rupees 5 crores in the preceding financial year

9 per cent for the first 15 days from the due date and 18 per cent thereafter

March, 2021,

April, 2021

and

     

May, 2021

5.

Taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of up to rupees 5 crores in the preceding financial year who are liable to furnish the return as specified under sub- section (1) of section 39

Nil for the first 15 days from the due date, 9 per cent for the next 45 days, and 18 per cent thereafter

March, 2021

Nil for the first 15 days from the due date, 9 per cent for the next 30 days, and 18 per cent thereafter

April, 2021

Nil for the first 15 days from the due date, 9 per cent for the next 15 days, and 18 per cent thereafter

May, 2021

6.

Taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of up to rupees 5 crores in the preceding financial year who are liable to furnish the return as specified under proviso to sub-section (1) of section 39

Nil for the first 15 days from the due date, 9 per cent for the next 45 days, and 18 per cent thereafter

March, 2021

Nil for the first 15 days from the due date, 9 per cent for the next 30 days, and 18 per cent thereafter

April, 2021

Nil for the first 15 days from the due date, 9 per cent for the next 15 days, and 18 per cent thereafter

May, 2021

7.

Taxpayers who are liable to furnish the return as specified under sub-section (2) of section 39

Nil for the first 15 days from the due date, 9 per cent for the next 45 days, and 18 per cent thereafter

Quarter ending March, 2021".

2. This notification shall be deemed to have come into force with effect from the 18th day of May, 2021.

[F. No. CBIC-20001/5/2021]

(Rajeev Ranjan) 
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Note: The principal notification number 13/2017 – Central Tax, dated the 28th June, 2017, was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub- section (i) vide number G.S.R. 661(E), dated the 28th June,  2017 and was last amended vide notification number 08/2021 – Central Tax, dated the 1st May, 2021, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R. 304(E), dated the 1st May, 2021.

FAQ :

The CBIC has lowered the interest rate for taxpayers for the tax periods of March 2021 to May 2021.

The reduced interest rate came into effect from 18th May 2021.

Taxpayers with an aggregate turnover of over ₹5 crores have a 9% interest rate for the first 15 days and 18% thereafter. Those with turnover up to ₹5 crores have varying periods of nil interest, 9% interest, and 18% interest depending on the month and the number of days past the due date.

The notification covers the tax periods of March 2021, April 2021, and May 2021.

For March 2021, taxpayers with turnover up to ₹5 crores have nil interest for the first 15 days, 9% for the next 45 days, and 18% thereafter.




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