GST Return Filing

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GST Return Filing

In India, every organization registered under GST must file GST returns regularly — whether monthly, quarterly, or annually — depending on the nature and scale of their business. While GST compliance can feel daunting, it becomes straightforward with expert online assistance from LordVenus Pvt. Ltd.Our GST professionals help you navigate each step, ensuring you file your GST returns accurately and on time. It’s essential to adhere to all GST return deadlines because these filings allow the government to determine the nation’s tax obligations and enable your business to claim rightful input tax credits (ITC). Missing deadlines can lead to penalties, interest, and business disruptions.

What is a GST Return?

Every business or individual registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime is required to file GST returns regularly. This obligation applies to any entity whose annual aggregate turnover crosses the prescribed threshold limit set by the tax authorities, which can vary depending on the nature of the business and the state in which it operates. Whether you are a regular taxpayer, a business opting for the Composition Scheme, an e-commerce operator, or even a casual taxable person, timely GST return filing is mandatory. Even if there are no transactions during a particular period, a Nil return must still be filed to stay compliant and avoid late fees, interest, or penalties.

What Does a GST Return Include?

Purchases: Detailed record of goods and services bought during the period.
Sales: Comprehensive log of all outward supplies (sales).
Output GST (on Sales): GST collected from customers on taxable sales.
Input Tax Credit (ITC): The GST paid on purchases that can be claimed as a credit against your output GST.

Key Point: Filing your GST return correctly and on time helps you claim your Input Tax Credit smoothly, avoid penalties, and stay fully compliant with GST regulations.

Who Should File GST Returns?

Under India’s GST regime, every business registered under GST must file returns regularly, but the filing requirements vary depending on turnover, business type, and the nature of transactions. Here’s a clear breakdown:

1. Registered Dealers and Businesses

General Thresholds for GST Registration:

Businesses with annual turnover above ₹20 Lakhs must register for GST.
For services provider businesses exclusively, the threshold is higher at ₹40 Lakhs.
Special Category States: Lower threshold applies.
Businesses with annual turnover above ₹20 Lakhs must register for GST.
For businesses dealing exclusively in goods, the threshold is higher at ₹40 Lakhs.
For service providers or businesses dealing in both goods and services, the threshold remains ₹20 Lakhs.

2. Taxpayers Under the Composition Scheme

Small traders with turnover up to ₹1.5 Crores can opt for the Composition Scheme, which simplifies GST compliance:

Quarterly: File Form CMP-08 (simple challan for tax payment).
Annually: File GSTR-4 Annual Return.
Lordvenus Tip: This scheme is ideal for micro & small businesses wanting minimal compliance hassle.

3. Specific GST Filers

Certain businesses and entities have unique filing needs:

Must register regardless of turnover.
File GSTR-8 monthly for supplies through their platform & TCS details.
B. Input Service Distributors (ISD):
Must file GSTR-6 monthly by the 13th of the next month to distribute tax credit to branches.
C. Non-Resident Taxable Persons:
Must file GSTR-5 monthly if conducting taxable supplies without a fixed place in India.
D. TDS Deductors:
Registered persons who deduct tax at source must file GSTR-7 monthly.
E. UIN Holders (e.g., UN Bodies, Embassies):
Must file GSTR-11 monthly for refund claims on inward supplies.

4. Who Is Exempt from GST Return Filing?

Agriculturalists.

Farmers supplying unprocessed produce are generally exempt.
B. Small Businesses Below Threshold:
Goods: Below ₹40 Lakhs
Services/Mixed: Below ₹20 Lakhs
Lower for special category states
Suppliers of Only Exempt/Nil-Rated Goods & Services: For example, some food products, healthcare, or education services.
Non-GST Supplies: E.g., petrol, alcohol for human consumption.
Govt Entities & PSUs: If dealing exclusively in exempt/non-GST supplies.
UN Bodies & Foreign Consulates: Only file for months when making taxable purchases.

How Many Returns Are There Under GST?

Under India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) system, there are several types of returns designed to cover different aspects of a taxpayer’s transactions and compliance requirements. While there are around 18 key GST returns in total, for most regular businesses, only a few returns are required to be filed every quarter or year. The specific return required depends on the nature of registration and business activities.

GSTR-1

Details of outward supplies (sales). Due 11th monthly or 13th quarterly (QRMP).

GSTR-3B / GSTR-38

Details of outward supplies (sales). Due 11th monthly or 13th quarterly (QRMP).

GSTR-9

Annual return consolidating all GST activities. Due 31st Dec of next FY.

View Full List of GST Returns

GSTR-4 – Annual return for Composition Scheme
GSTR-5 – For non-resident taxable persons
GSTR-5A – For OIDAR service providers (online information/database
GSTR-6 – Input Service Distributors (ISD)
GSTR-7 – For persons required to deduct TDS under GST.
GSTR-8 – E-commerce Operators (TCS)
GSTR-9 – Annual return for regular taxpayers.
GSTR-9C – Reconciliation statement
GSTR-10 – Final return when GST registration is cancelled or surrendered.
GSTR-11 – For persons with a Unique Identity Number (UIN) claiming refunds
CMP-08 – Quarterly statement-cum-challan for Composition taxpayers.
ITC-04 – Job worker transactions

Related Statements:

GSTR-2A (dynamic): Auto-drafted statement showing inward supplies (purchases) as reported by suppliers.
GSTR-2B (static): A fixed statement for input tax credit reconciliation.
For QRMP Taxpayers:
IFF: Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) for businesses with turnover below the QRMP threshold, enabling monthly reporting through GSTR-1 for the last month.

Key GST Returns and Their Filing Requirements

Below is a detailed breakdown of some of the most significant GST returns, who needs to file them, and their respective deadlines:

GSTR-1 (Return for Outward Supplies)

What: GSTR-1 is a mandatory return in which registered taxpayers report details of their outward supplies of goods and services — i.e., all sales invoices and any debit or credit notes for the tax period.

Why: Who should file: Every regular taxpayer under GST, including casual taxable persons. Submission deadlines:

Monthly: 11th of the following month (for taxpayers with annual turnover above ₹5 crore or not under QRMP).
Quarterly: 13th of the month following the end of the quarter (for taxpayers under the QRMP scheme).

GSTR-2A (Dynamic Read-Only Return)

What: What it is : GSTR-2A is a dynamic, auto-populated statement for recipients of goods and services. It reflects details of all inward supplies reported by suppliers in their GSTR-1 or through the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF). It helps taxpayers reconcile their Input Tax Credit (ITC). GSTR-2B (Static Read-Only Return)

Why: What it is : Introduced in August 2020, GSTR-2B is a static monthly statement providing a consistent summary of ITC available for a tax period. It consolidates information from GSTR-1, GSTR-5, and GSTR-6 filed by suppliers and helps taxpayers accurately claim ITC. GSTR-2 & GSTR-3 (Deferred Returns).

GSTR-2 : Was intended as an editable return for taxpayers to declare inward supplies and claim ITC, auto-filled from GSTR-2A. Deferred since September 2017.
GSTR-3 : A monthly consolidated return summarizing outward and inward supplies, ITC, tax liabilities, and payments. Also deferred since September 2017.

GSTR-3B (Monthly/Quarterly Consolidated Return)

Why: Who should file:Every regular taxpayer under GST, including casual taxable persons. Submission deadlines:

Monthly: 20th of the following month (annual turnover > ₹5 crore).Quarterly (QRMP scheme):
- 22nd of the month following the quarter for 'X' category States/UTs- 24th for 'Y' category States/UTs.

GSTR-4 (Annual Return for Composition Taxpayers)

What: Annual return for taxpayers under the Composition Scheme, summarizing turnover and tax liability for the entire financial year.

Why: Submission deadlines:

Due Date: By 30th April of the following financial year.
Quarterly: CMP-08 must be filed quarterly by the 18th of the month following each quarter to pay tax.
Eligibility: Businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore for goods and ₹50 lakh for services.

GSTR-5 (Non-Resident Taxpayers)

What: What it is : For non-resident taxable persons conducting business in India. It includes details of outward and inward supplies, adjustments, tax liabilities, and payments.

Why: What it is : Monthly return for providers of Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval (OIDAR) services to unregistered persons in India.

Due date: 20th of the following month.
Due date: 20th of every month.

GSTR-6 (Input Service Distributors - ISD)

What: What it is : Filed by ISDs to report ITC received and its distribution among different branches.

Why: Due date: 13th of the following month.

GSTR-7 (TDS Return)
What it is : For taxpayers required to deduct TDS under GST. It includes details of TDS deducted, paid, and any refunds claimed.
Due date: 10th of the following month.

GSTR-8 (E-commerce Operators)

What: What it is: Filed by e-commerce operators to report supplies made through their platform and tax collected at source (TCS).

Why: Due date: 10th of the following month.

GSTR-9 (Annual Return)
What it is : A consolidated annual return summarizing all outward and inward supplies, tax paid, and ITC claimed throughout the year.
Due date: December 31st following the end of the financial year.

Due dates for various types of GST returns

GST Return	Type of Taxpayer	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)	31st December (filed with GSTR-9), by 31st December of the following financial year

Penalty for Late Filing of GST Returns

Timely filing of GST returns is crucial for every registered taxpayer to remain compliant and avoid unnecessary penalties and interest. Here’s what you need to know about late filing consequences:

1. Filing is Mandatory

Every registered taxpayer must file GST returns regularly—even if there are no sales or purchases (nil return) for the period.
Failure to file on time blocks you from filing returns for subsequent periods until the pending return is filed.

2. Late Filing Leads to a Cascade

Missing one return deadline can create a backlog, as you cannot proceed to file the next return unless the previous one is filed.
This can result in multiple late fees and mounting interest.

3. Late Filing Penalty (Late Fee)

For each day of delay:
Rs. 100 per day for CGST + Rs. 100 per day for SGST/UTGST
So, a total of Rs. 200 per day.
Maximum cap: Rs. 5,000 per return per Act (CGST/SGST).
No late fee for Nil GST/return (this is usually waived, but any interest on IGST must still be paid).

4. Interest on Late Payment of Tax

If you have any tax liability and you pay it late, you must pay 18% interest per annum on the outstanding amount.
The interest is calculated from the day after the due date until the date of payment.

5. Annual Return Late Fees

For annual returns like GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C, the late fee is capped at 0.25% of the taxpayer’s turnover in the relevant State or Union Territory.
Sometimes, the government may reduce or waive late fees by notification.

Documents Required for GST Return Filing

To file GST returns accurately, businesses must keep certain documents ready and up to date. Below is a checklist of the essential documents:

1. Invoices for Outward Supplies (Sales)

Sales invoices issued to customers
Must include: GSTIN, name and address of customer, invoice number and date, description of goods/services,
taxable value, GST charged, and the supplier’s signature.

2. Invoices for Inward Supplies (Purchases)

Purchase invoices from suppliers.
Should contain similar details as sales invoices: GSTIN, name and address of supplier, invoice number and date, description, value, and tax amounts.
Crucial for claiming Input Tax Credit (ITC).

3. Bank Statements for Reconciliation

Monthly bank statements are required to reconcile your business’s financial transactions with GST filings.

4. Details of Debit and Credit Notes Issued

Issued when goods are returned or when there is a change in invoice value.
Should include original invoice number, revised amount, and the differential tax details

5. Summary of Inter-State and Intra-State Sales

A consolidated report showing sales categorized by GST rate.
Must distinguish between intra-state and inter-state sales.

6. Bill of Supply

Issued for exempted goods/services or by businesses under the Composition Scheme.
Includes basic business details, description, and value of supplies.

7. Advance Receipt Vouchers

Required when you receive advance payments for future supplies.
Must detail supplier and recipient information, description, value, and tax payable on the advance

8. Delivery Challans

Used when goods are moved for reasons other than supply (e.g., job work).
Should contain the name, address, GSTIN, description of goods, and the purpose of transportation.

9. Account Ledgers

Maintain detailed records of all financial transactions to ensure accurate reporting and for audit purposes.

How to File GST Returns Online

To file GST returns online, you need an active GST Identification Number (GSTIN) and a registered account on the official GST portal. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Log In to the GST Portal

Visit the official GST website: www.gst.gov.in.
Enter your GSTIN, username, and password.
Complete the CAPTCHA if required.

Step 2: Select the GST Return Form

Navigate to ‘Services’ > ‘Returns’ > ‘Returns Dashboard’.
Choose your financial year and return filing period (month or quarter).
Choose the relevant GST return form (e.g., GSTR-1 for outward supplies or GSTR-3B summary return).

Step 3: Enter Data & Details

Fill in details for your sales (outward supplies), purchases (inward supplies), Input Tax Credit (ITC), and tax
liabilities.
Ensure all information is accurate — errors can lead to penalties.

Step 4: Upload Invoices and Sales Data

Upload invoices for outward supplies in the prescribed format.
If you want to claim ITC, add invoices for purchases as applicable.

Step 5: Review and Validate Data

Cross-check all entries before submission.
The system will auto-calculate your tax payable after ITC adjustments.

Step 6: Make GST Payment (If Required)

If you have net tax liability, make the payment.
You can pay using net banking, debit/credit card, NEFT/RTGS, or UPI.

Step 6: Submit the GST Return

Click Submit to freeze the data for that tax period — no edits are possible afterward.
Complete verification using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) (mandatory for companies/LLPs) or an Electronic Verification Code (EVC) (OTP sent to your registered mobile).

Note: After successful filing, an Application Reference Number (ARN) is generated. Download and retain the acknowledgement for compliance and record-keeping.

How to Check GST Return Status?

Taxpayers can track their GST return filing status online through the official GST portal using various options:

1. Tracking Through ARN

The Application Reference Number (ARN) is a unique 15-digit code received after submitting aGST application or return. It confirms that the GST system has received the application.To track using ARN:
Visit the GST Portal: Go to the official GST website (www.gst.gov.in).
Log in to Your Account: Click the 'Login' button and enter your username and password.
Navigate to Track Return Status: On the dashboard, click 'Services' > 'Returns' > 'Track ReturnStatus'.
Choose ARN Option: Select 'ARN' from the tracking methods.
Enter ARN: Input the ARN received via email or SMS.
EClick Search: Click the 'Search' button to view the return status.

2. Tracking through GST Returns Filing Period

This method allows checking the status of all returns filed within a specific timeframe.To track using the filing period:
Visit the GST Portal and Log in: Similar to the ARN method, you need to log in through the GST portal with your username & password.
Navigate to Track Return Status: Click “Returns” on the “Services” option from the navigation menu. Then select “Track Return Status”.
Choose Return Filing Period Option: Select 'Return Filing Period'.
Select Dates: Use the calendar to select the start and end dates for the period(DD/MM/YYYY).
Click Search: Click the 'Search' button. The portal will display the status of all returns filed during that period.

3. Tracking by Filing Status

This method allows filtering returns by their current processing status.To track using status:
Visit the GST Portal and Log in: Similar to the ARN method, you need to log in through theGST portal with your username & password
Navigate to Track Return Status: Click “Returns” on the “Services” option from the navigationmenu. Then select “Track Return Status”.
Choose Return Filing Period Option: Select 'Return Filing Period'.
Select Dates: Use the calendar to select the start and end dates for the period(DD/MM/YYYY).
Click Search: Click the 'Search' button. The portal will display the status of all returns filed during that period.

How to Download GST Returns Online?

Taxpayers can easily download their filed GST return forms from the official GST portal for record-keeping and verification purposes.

Here are the steps to download GST return forms:

Visit the GST Portal: Go to the official GST website.
Log in to Your GST Account: Click the ‘Login’ button, enter your Username and Password, and input the Captcha code. Click ‘LOGIN’.
Navigate to the Returns Dashboard: Once logged in, click on the ‘Services’ tab, then ‘Returns,’ and select ‘Returns Dashboard’.
Select the Financial Year and Period: Choose the specific financial year and the appropriate return period (monthly, quarterly, or annually) for which you want to download the return form.
Download the GST Return Form: Click on the specific form type (e.g., GSTR-1, GSTR-3B) to open it. Look for the ‘Download’ option and click on it. The form will be downloaded to your device, typically in PDF or Excel format.

Past GST return forms can be accessed by selecting the relevant financial year and return period on the ‘Returns Dashboard’.