All GST registered businesses have to file monthly or quarterly GST returns and an annual GST return based on the type of business. These GSTR filings are done online on the GST portal.
What is a GST Return?
A GST return is a document containing details of all income/sales and/or expenses/purchases that a GST-registered taxpayer (every GSTIN) is required to file with the tax administrative authorities. This is used by tax authorities to calculate net tax liability.
Under GST, a registered dealer has to file GST returns that broadly include:
- Purchases
- Sales
- Output GST (On sales)
- Input tax credit (GST paid on purchases)
Who should file GST Returns?
Under the GST regime, regular businesses having more than Rs.5 crore as annual aggregate turnover (and taxpayers who have not opted for the QRMP scheme) have to file two monthly returns and one annual return. This amounts to 25 returns each year.
Taxpayers with a turnover of up to Rs.5 crore have the option to file returns under the QRMP scheme. The number of GSTR filings for QRMP filers is 9 each year, which include 4 GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B returns each and an annual return. Note that QRMP filers have to pay tax on a monthly basis even though they are filing returns quarterly.
There are also separate statements/returns required to be filed in special cases such as composition dealers where the number of GSTR filings is 5 each year (4 statement-cum-challans in CMP-08 and 1 annual return GSTR-4).
Late Fees for not Filing Return on Time
If GST returns are not filed within the specified time limits, you will be liable to pay interest and a late fee.
Interest is charged at 18% per annum. It has to be calculated by the taxpayer on the amount of outstanding tax to be paid. The time period will be from the next day of filing to the date of payment.
Late fees are charged at Rs.100 per day per Act. Hence, it will be Rs.100 under CGST and Rs.100 under SGST. The total will be Rs.200 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs.5,000. Please note that from the month of/quarter ended June 2021, the maximum amount of late fees has been revised as below.
| Taxpayer category | Late fee capped at |
| Taxpayers whose total amount of central tax payable is Nil | Rs.250^ |
| Taxpayers with an annual aggregate turnover up to Rs.1.5 crore in the previous financial year | Rs.1,000^ |
| Taxpayers with an annual aggregate turnover exceeding Rs.1.5 crore and up to Rs.5 crore in the previous financial year | Rs.2,500^ |
^Taxpayers should note that an equal penalty will apply under SGST. There are no late fees under IGST.