What is GST Return?

A GST Return is a detailed statement that captures all the financial transactions of a person registered under GST, reflecting revenues and expenditures. GST filing online is a mandatory submission for every holder of GSTIN to the tax authorities, allowing them to determine the net tax liability with precision.

The GST return filing online encompasses several critical elements:

• Purchases: It records in detail the purchases the taxpayer has made.
• Sales: It provides a comprehensive log of the taxpayer’s sales activities.
• Output GST (On Sales): It notes the GST charged on the taxpayer’s sales.
• Input Tax Credit (GST Paid on Purchases): It lists the GST paid on purchases, which is eligible to be deducted from the GST owed on sales.

For those seeking guidance on GST return filing online or support with managing their GST compliance, ZuluFilings offers GST software designed to streamline the process.

Who Should File GST Returns?

GST returns must be filed by any business or individual registered under the GST regime. This obligation applies to entities whose annual aggregate turnover surpasses the specified threshold, which is set by the tax authorities and may differ for various classifications of taxpayers, such as standard taxpayers and those opting for the composition scheme. All those applicable entities must file GST returns before the due date to avoid late GST filing charges.

How Many Returns are there under GST?

Within the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system, 13 returns cater to different facets of a taxpayer’s financial dealings. It’s important to recognize that not all taxpayers must file every type of return; the specific returns that need to be filed depend on the taxpayer’s category and the particulars of their GST registration.

Below is a snapshot of the 13 GST returns:

• GSTR-1: Filed for disclosing details of outward supplies, essentially the sales.
• GSTR-3B: A summarised return that outlines both sales and purchases, inclusive of tax payments.
• GSTR-4: Applicable to those under the Composition Scheme, summarizing turnover and corresponding tax.
• GSTR-5: For non-resident taxpayers conducting taxable transactions in India.
• GSTR-5A: For providers of online information and database access or retrieval services.
• GSTR-6: Used by Input Service Distributors for detailing input tax credit distribution.
• GSTR-7: For entities required to deduct TDS under GST.
• GSTR-8: To be filed by e-commerce operators reporting transactions on their platform.
• GSTR-9: An annual comprehensive return summarizing all periodical filings over the fiscal year.
• GSTR-10: The final return upon cancellation or surrender of GST registration.
• GSTR-11: For those with a Unique Identity Number, claiming refunds on their purchases.
• CMP-08: A quarterly statement for Composition Scheme taxpayers detailing tax liability.
• ITC-04: For manufacturers to declare details about goods dispatched to and received from a job worker.

Additionally, there are return-related statements for input tax credits:

• GSTR-2A (dynamic): Offers a real-time perspective of inward supplies as suppliers report.
• GSTR-2B (static): Provides a fixed snapshot of inward supplies based on the suppliers’ filings.

For small taxpayers enrolled in the Quarterly Return Monthly Payment (QRMP) scheme, the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) permits the declaration of B2B sales during the first two months of a quarter. Nonetheless, these taxpayers are obligated to remit taxes monthly using Form PMT-06.

GSTR-1 (Return for Outward Supplies)

GSTR-1 is the mandatory return for businesses to detail their outward supplies of goods and services. This encompasses all sales-related invoices and adjustment notes for the given tax period. Every regular taxpayer under GST, including those classified as casual taxable persons, is obligated to file GSTR-1.

Submission Deadlines

• Monthly GST filing: Due on the 11th of the subsequent month for businesses whose yearly turnover exceeds Rs. 5 crore or for those not enrolled in the QRMP scheme.
• Quarterly GST filing: Due on the 13th of the month after the quarter’s end for businesses participating in the QRMP scheme.

GSTR-2A (Dynamic Read-Only Return)

GSTR-2A is a dynamic, read-only return for the recipients or purchasers of goods and services, capturing details of all incoming supplies from registered GST vendors within a tax period. The information in GSTR-2A is filled automatically from the GSTR-1 returns of suppliers and the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) data for those in the QRMP scheme.

GSTR-2B (Static Read-Only Return)

Introduced in August 2020, GSTR-2B is a static read-only return that provides consistent ITC information sourced from the previous month’s GSTR-1 filings. It supports purchasers in matching their ITC claims for each tax period, advising on necessary actions for each listed invoice, including any need for reversals, ineligibility, or application of the reverse charge.

GSTR-2 (Deferred Return)

GSTR-2, an editable return, is presently deferred and was meant for registered purchasers to declare their inward supply of goods and services for a tax period. Initially planned to be auto-filled from GSTR-2A, this GST filing online has been on hold since September 2017.

GSTR-3 (Deferred Return)

GSTR-3, a suspended monthly summary return for regular taxpayers, compiled concise figures of both outward and inward supplies, input tax credits, tax liabilities, and tax payments. It was automatically generated from GSTR-1 and GSTR-2 filings but has been deferred since September 2017.

GSTR-3B (Consolidated Return)

GSTR-3B, a monthly summary declaration for normal taxpayers, summarizes outward supplies, input tax credits, and tax dues. Before submitting GSTR-3B, it is critical to reconcile sales and ITC details with GSTR-1 and GSTR-2B records.

Submission Deadlines

• Monthly: Due by the 20th of the month following the reporting month for taxpayers with an annual turnover above Rs. 5 crore.
• Quarterly: Due by the 22nd of the month following the quarter for ‘X’ category states and by the 24th for ‘Y’ category states for taxpayers with a turnover of up to Rs. 5 crore in the QRMP scheme.

GSTR-4 (Return for Composition Scheme Taxpayers)

GSTR-4 is the yearly return for those under the Composition Scheme, due by April 30th of the subsequent financial year. GSTR-4 has replaced the prior quarterly submissions, with taxpayers now submitting a simplified challan via Form CMP-08 by the 18th following each quarter’s end

Under the Composition Scheme, businesses with goods turnover up to Rs. 1.5 crores may pay tax at a predetermined rate on their turnover. Service providers with a turnover of up to Rs. 50 lakh can opt for a similar benefit

GSTR-5 (Return for Non-Resident Foreign Taxpayers)

GSTR-5, required by non-resident foreign taxpayers engaged in business in India, details their outward and inward transactions, adjustments, tax liabilities, and payments, with submissions due by the 20th of each month

GSTR-5A (Return for OIDAR Service Providers)

GSTR-5A is the monthly summary for providers of Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval Services, due by the 20th of every month.

GSTR-6 (Return for Input Service Distributors)

Input Service Distributors must file GSTR-6 monthly, reporting the ITC received and allocated, including detailed documentation related to the distribution of credits, by the 13th of each month.

GSTR-7 (TDS Return)

Entities must deduct TDS under GST file GSTR-7 monthly, documenting TDS deducted, due and paid amounts, and any TDS refunds, with filings due by the 10th of the subsequent month.

GSTR-8 (Return for E-commerce Operators)

E-commerce operators under GST must submit GSTR-8 monthly, recording the supplies made and tax collected at source, due by the 10th of the following month.

GSTR-9 (Annual Return)

All GST-registered taxpayers must file GSTR-9 annually, summarizing their outward and inward supply details, taxes due, and paid. The due date is December 31st of the year after the

Due dates for various types of GST returns

GST Return and Type of Taxpayer and Due Date
GSTR-1 Regular Taxpayer

Monthly: 11th of the following month

Quarterly: 13th of the month following the quarter

GSTR-2A (Auto-generated) All Taxpayers Auto-generated, utilized for reconciliation purposes
GSTR-3B Regular Taxpayer Monthly: 20th of the following month
GSTR-4 Composition Scheme Dealer Annually: 30th of April following the end of the financial year
GSTR-5 Non-Resident Foreign Taxpayer 20th of the following month
GSTR-6 Input Service Distributor 13th of the following month
GSTR-7 Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) 10th of the following month
GSTR-8 E-commerce Operator 10th of the following month
GSTR-9 Regular Taxpayer (Annual) 31st December of the following financial year
GSTR-9C Regular Taxpayer (Annual) Filed along with GSTR-9, by 31st December of the following financial year

Penalty for Late Filing GST Returns

If you submit GST returns late, you could face penalties and additional GST filing charges. Businesses should submit on time to avoid these costs. Here’s what you need to know about late GST returns:

• Filing Returns is Required: Every registered taxpayer has to file GST returns regularly, even if there’s no business activity.
• Delays Lead to More Delays: If you miss a filing deadline, you can’t file for the next period until you’ve filed for the previous one. This can lead to a pile-up of late returns.
• Penalties for Late Filing: If you file GSTR-1 late, for example, you’ll get a penalty that shows up when you file GSTR-3B. You are required to pay GST filing charges for delayed filing.
• Interest on Late Tax Payments: If you owe taxes and pay late, you’ll be charged 18% interest per year on the amount you owe, starting from the day after the due date until you pay
• Late GST return filing fees: The law sets the late GST return filing fees at Rs. 100 per day for each CGST and SGST, with a maximum of Rs. 5,000.
• Annual Return Late Fees: For yearly returns like GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C, the late fee is capped at 0.25% of your turnover in your state or UT unless the government provides relief or changes the fees.

Documents Required For GST Return Filing

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