What is GST return filing?

Businesses that are registered under GST have to file the GST returns monthly, quarterly, and annually based on the business. Here it is necessary to provide the details of the sales or purchases of the goods and services along with the tax that is collected and paid. Implementation of a comprehensive Income Tax System like GST in India has ensured that taxpayer services such as registration, returns, and compliance are in range and perfectly aligned.

An individual taxpayer filing the GST returns has to file 4 forms for filing the GST returns such as the returns for the supplies, returns for the purchases made, monthly returns, and the annual returns.

GST return filing in India is mandatory for all the entities that have a valid GST registration irrespective of the business activity or the sales or the profitability during the period of filing the returns. Hence, even a dormant business that has a valid GST registration must file the GST returns.

GST return is a document that contains the details of all the income or the expenses that a taxpayer is required to file with the tax administrative authorities.

Eligibility Criteria

GST Return filing in India is to be done by the following:

• A person having a valid GSTIN has to compulsorily file the GST returns.

• Also, a person whose annual turnover is crossing Rs. 20 lakh has to obtain a GST registration and file the GST returns mandatorily.
• In the cases of Special states, the limit for the annual turnover is Rs.10 lakh.

Types of GST Registration

GSTR 1	Details of the outward supplies of the taxable goods and or services	Monthly
		Quarterly (If opted under the QRMP scheme)

Due dates for filing the GST returns

GSTR 1: The 11th of Subsequent of that month

GSTR 3B: The 20th of that subsequent month

CMP 08: 18th of the month succeeding the quarter of the specific fiscal year.

GSTR 4: 18th of the month succeeding the quarter.

GSTR 5: 20th of the subsequent month

GSTR 6: 13th of the subsequent month

GSTR 7: 10th of the subsequent month

GSTR 8: 10th of the subsequent month

GSTR 9: 31st December of the Fiscal year.

GSTR 10: Within 3 months of the date of cancellation or the date of cancellation order whichever is earlier.

GSTR 11: 28th of the month that is following the month for which the statement was filed.

GST Return Filing Process

All persons registered under the Composition Scheme are required to pay taxes using CMP-08 every quarter and GSTR 4 to be filled annually through the GST Common Portal or a GST Facilitation Centre. GST return for those enrolled under Composition Scheme is due on the 18th of the month, succeeding a quarter. Hence, the GST return for the composition scheme would be due on April 18th, July 18th, October 18th, and January 18th. The GST return filed by a Composition Scheme supplier must include details of:

• Invoice wise inter-State and intra-State inward supplies received from registered and unregistered persons
• Consolidated details of outward supplies made

If a registered person opted to pay tax under composition scheme from the beginning of a financial year, then the taxpayer must file monthly GST returns on the 10th, 15th, and 20th of each month and monthly returns till the due date of furnishing the return for September of the succeeding financial year or furnishing of annual return of the preceding financial year, whichever is earlier. Hence, even if a taxable person under GST opted for a composition scheme from April onwards, the taxpayer must continue filing monthly GST returns until September.

What are the penalties, late fees, and interest rates?

If there are any offenses committed then a penalty has to be paid under GST

Late filing

Late filing of the GST returns can attract a penalty called a late fee. And according to the Goods and Service Tax can attract a penalty which is Rs. 100 under CGST and Rs.100 under SGST that accounts for Rs.200 a day.

With the late fee, an interest of 18% has to be paid per annum. It is calculated on the tax to be paid.

Non-compliance

In case if the taxpayer is not filing the GST returns then the subsequent returns cannot be filed. Hence, to avoid heavy fines and penalties it is better to file the GST returns on time as it will lead to a cascading effect.

For 21 offenses with no intention of fraud or tax evasion

An offender who is not paying taxes or is making short payments must pay a penalty of 10% of the amount of tax due subject to a minimum of Rs.10,000.

For 21 offenses with the intention of fraud or tax evasion

An offender is subject to a penalty amount of tax evasion or short deducted.

Find GST Filing Return Due Dates for GSTR 1 to GSTR 11

GSTR-1 (Monthly)

Monthly GSTR 1 returns must be filed by taxpayers having a turnover of more than Rs.1.5 crores on 11th of every month.

GSTR-1 (Quarterly)

Quarterly returns must be filed by taxpayers having a turnover of less than Rs.1.5 crores on 13th of every quarter.

CMP-08- Quarterly-Composition Scheme

CMP-08 must be filed by taxpayers registered under the GST composition scheme having a turnover of upto Rs.1 Crore on 18th of every quarter.

GSTR-4- Annual-Composition scheme

The due date for filing GSTR 4 is 30th of the month succeeding the financial year for which the composite taxpayer is filing the annual return.

GSTR-9- Annual returns

Annual GST return filing for the financial year is due on 31st December. This is mandatory for all entities.

GSTR-1 Return

GSTR 1 or return of outward supplies must be filed by all taxpayers having regular GST registration. The due date for filing GSTR 1 return is the 10th of every month. For July, September and October, the GST return due dates are different from the normal schedule.

GSTR-2 Return

GSTR2 or return of inward supplies must be filed by all taxpayers having regular GST registration. The due date for filing GSTR 2 return is the 15th of every month. For July, September and October, GSTR2 return due dates are different from the normal schedule.

GSTR-3 Return

GSTR3 or monthly GST return must be filed by a taxpayer after filing GSTR1 and GSTR2 return. GSTR3 is due on the 20th of every month. For July, September and October, GSTR2 return due dates are different from the normal schedule.

GSTR-4 Return

GSTR4 return must be filed by taxpayer registered under the GST composition scheme. GSTR4 is a quarterly return that is due on the 18th of October, January, April and July.

GSTR-5 Return

GSTR5 return must be filed by persons registered under GST as a non-resident taxable person. GSTR5 is due on the 20th of every month.

GSTR-6 Return

GSTR6 return must be filed by persons registered under GST as an input service distributor. GSTR6 return is due on the 13th of every month.

GSTR-7 Return

GSTR7 return must be filed by all taxpayers required to deduct tax at source (GST TDS). Under GST, only certain government agencies are required to deduct tax at source after obtaining registration. Hence, GSTR7 is due only for those entities having GST TDS registration. GSTR7 is due on the 10th of every month.

GSTR-8 Return

GSTR8 return must be filed by taxpayers required to collect tax at source. E-commerce operators are required to collect tax at source. Hence, any persons operating an e-commerce venture must register for TCS, collect tax at source and file GSTR8 return before the 10th of every month.

GSTR-9 Return

GSTR9 is GST annual return that must be filed by all regular taxpayers. Details submitted with GSTR9 must be audited if the entity has a turnover of more than Rs.2 crores. GSTR9 is due on or before the 31st of December.

GSTR-10 Return

GSTR10 return must be filed by any person whose GST registration has been cancelled or surrendered. GSTR10 must be filed within 3 months of the date of cancellation order or surrender.

GSTR-11 Return

GSTR11 must be filed by persons having Unique Identity Number. GST Unique Identity Number is allotted to Consulate, Embassies and UN Bodies for claiming refund on inward supplies.

Documents Required For GST Return Filing

• Invoice
• Purchase Invoices
• Bank Statement
• Sales Invoices
• Amended Invoices
• Credit Notes
• Debit Notes
• Accounting Data