How to File GST returns?
GST Stands for “Goods and Services Taxes”. There are millions of Indian Traders are submitting their GST Returns for the business transactions starting from 1st Jul 2017. But everyone has one question – “How to file GST Returns” and how to file GST Returns on GST portal and steps to follow?
After Completing the GST registration, business owners have to submit GSTR-1 form / GST filing every monthly basis. Late filing will attract penalties and these are all streamlined in automation mode.
Everyone is facing problems and have questions on what data to be returned, when to file the return, in what format, where and how? We referred to Central board of Excise and Customs India for more details and simplified the contents for ease of understanding and follow.
How to file GST Returns?: GST Returns can be filed using any of the following methods:
- GSTN portal (www.gst.gov.in )
- Offline utilities provided by GSTN
- GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs) or ERP Service providers.
Following table lists the various types of GST returns: This gives details like When and How to file GST Returns?
| Return | Description | Who Files? | Date for filing |
| GSTR-1 | Monthly Statement of Outward supplies of Goods or Services | Registered Person |
10th of the next month |
| GSTR-2 | Monthly Statement of Inward supplies of Goods or Services | Registered Person |
15th of the next month |
| GSTR-3 | Monthly Return for a normal taxpayer | Registered Person | 20th of the next month |
| GSTR-4 | Quarterly Return | Taxable Person opting for Composition Levy | 18th of the month succeeding the quarter |
| GSTR-5 | Monthly Return for a non-resident taxpayer | Non-resident Taxpayer | 20th of the month succeeding the tax period & within 7 days after expiry of registration |
| GSTR-6 | Monthly Return for an Input Service Distributor (ISD) | Input Service Distributor | 13th of the next month |
| GSTR-7 | Monthly Return for authorities deducting tax at source | Tax Deductor | 10th of the next month |
| GSTR-8 | Monthly Statement for E-Commerce Operator depicting supplies effecting through it | E-Commerce Operator | 10th of the next month |
| GSTR-9 | Annual Return | Registered Person other than an ISD, TDS/TCS Taxpayer, Casual Taxable Person and Non-resident Taxpayer | 31st December of next Financial Year |
| GSTR-10 | Final Return | Taxable Person whose registration has been surrendered or cancelled | Within three months of the date of cancellation or date of order of cancellation, whichever is later. |
The basic features of the returns mechanism in GST include electronic filing of returns, uploading of invoice level information and auto-population of information relating to Input Tax Credit (ITC) from returns of supplier to that of recipient, invoice-level information matching and auto-reversal of Input Tax Credit in case of mismatch. The returns mechanism is designed to assist the taxpayer to file returns and avail ITC.
Under GST, a regular taxpayer needs to furnish monthly returns and one annual return. There are separate types of GST returns for Regular taxpayers registered under the composition scheme, Non-Resident Taxable Persons, taxpayer registered as an Input Service Distributor, a person liable to deduct or collect the tax (TDS/TCS) and a person granted Unique Identification Number. It is important to note that a taxpayer is NOT required to file all types of returns. In fact, taxpayers are required to file returns depending on the activities they undertake.
Those taxpayers who have an aggregate turnover of up to Rs.5 crore in the previous financial year, need to use different types of GST returns like either Sugam, Sahaj, or normal (quarterly) returns mode. If any adjustment to be done, then issue a debit note and upload into GST Portal.
How to file GST Returns?
A normal taxpayer has to file the following returns:
- GSTR-1 Form (Statement of Outward Supplies): a. This return signifies the tax liability of the supplier for the supplies effected during the previous month. b. It needs to be filed by the 10th of every month in relation to supplies effected during the previous month. For example, a statement of all the outward supplies made during the month of July 2017 needs to be filed by 10th August, 2017
- GSTR-2 (Statement of Inward Supplies): a. This return signifies accrual of ITC (Input Tax Credit) from the inputs received during the previous month. b. It is auto-populated from the GSTR-1s filed by the corresponding suppliers of the Taxpayer except for a few fields like imports, and purchases from unregistered suppliers. c. It needs to be filed by the 15th of every month in relation to supplies received during the previous month. For example, a statement of all the inward supplies received during the month of July 2017 needs to be filed by 15th August, 2017.
- GSTR-3: This is a consolidated return. It needs to be filed by the 20th of every month. It consolidates the following details a. Outward Supplies (Auto-Populated from GSTR-1) b. Inward Supplies (Auto-Populated from GSTR-2) c. ITC availed d. Tax Payable e. Tax Paid (Using both Cash and ITC)
How to file GST Returns? – Annual Returns
This Annual return needs to be filed by 31st December of the next Financial Year. In this return, the taxpayer needs to furnish details of expenditure and details of income for the entire Financial Year.
NOTE: Payment should be made on or before 20th of every month.
NOTE: 1. Taxpayer’s GSTR-2 is auto-populated from the Suppliers’ GSTR-1s 2. Taxpayer’s GSTR-3 is significantly auto-populated from tax payer’s GSTR-1 and GSTR-2
Return Filing Milestones on “How to file GST Returns?”
GSTR-1
- File via GSTN/Easy upload tools provided by GSTN/GSPs
- Periodical uploading allowed
- Filed by 10th
- Frozen after 10th
GSTR-2
- Auto-populated from GSTR-1s filed by a Tax Payer’s Suppliers
- Changes allowed between 10th and 15th
- Filed by 15th
- Occurs between 15th and 17th. Tax Payer can add additional invoices.
- Supplier has the option to accept/reject additional invoices. Supplier’s GSTR-1 gets amended to that effect.
GSTR-3
- Auto-populated from GSTR-1 and GSTR-2
- Filed by 20th
- Payment can be made anytime before or on 20th
Revision of Returns:
The mechanism of filing revised returns for any correction of errors/ omissions has been done away with.The rectification of errors/ omissions is allowed in the subsequent returns. However, no rectification is allowed after furnishing the return for the month of September following the end of the financial year to which, such details pertain, or furnishing of the relevant annual return, whichever is earlier.
Penal Provisions Relating to “how to file GST Returns”:
Any registered person who fails to furnish form GSTR-1, GSTR-2, GSTR-3 or Final Return within the due dates, shall be liable to pay a late fee of Rs. 100 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs. 5,000. ITC Matching and Auto-Reversal:
- It is a mechanism to prevent revenue leakage.
- The process of ITC Matching begins after the due date for filing of the return (20th of every month). This is carried out by GSTN.
- The details of every inward supply furnished by the taxable person (i.e. the “recipient” of goods and/or services) in form GSTR-2 shall be matched with the corresponding details of outward supply furnished by the corresponding taxable person (i.e. the “supplier” of goods and/or services) in his valid return. A return may be considered to be a valid return only when the appropriate GST has been paid in full by the taxable person, as shown in such return for a given tax period.
- In case the details match, then the ITC claimed by the recipient in his valid returns shall be considered as finally accepted and such acceptance shall be communicated to the recipient. Failure to file valid return by the supplier may lead to denial of ITC in the hands of the recipient.
- In case the ITC claimed by the recipient is in excess of the tax declared by the supplier or where the details of outward supply are not declared by the supplier in his valid returns, the discrepancy shall be communicated to both the supplier and the recipient. Similarly, in case, there is duplication of claim of ITC, the same shall be communicated to the recipient.
- The recipient will be asked to rectify the discrepancy of excess claim of ITC and in case the supplier has not rectified the discrepancy communicated in his valid returns for the month in which, the discrepancy is communicated, then such excess ITC as claimed by the recipient shall be added to the output tax liability of the recipient in the succeeding month.
- Similarly, duplication of ITC claimed by the recipient shall be added to the output tax liability of the recipient in the month in which, such duplication is communicated.
- The recipient shall be liable to pay interest on the excess or duplicate ITC added back to the output tax liability of the recipient from the date of availing of ITC till the corresponding additions are made in their returns.
- Re-claim of ITC refers to taking back the ITC reversed in the Electronic Credit Ledger of the recipient by way of reducing the output tax liability. Such re-claim can be made by the recipient only in case the supplier declares the details of the Invoice and/or Debit Notes in his valid return within the prescribed timeframe. In such case, the interest paid by the recipient shall be refunded to him by way of crediting the amount to his Electronic Cash Ledger.
* Above data is reproduced from Central Board of Excise and Customs and you can download the PDF for more details.
Please refer to Central Board of Excise for any changes in the rules or How to file GST returns with filing procedure, GST return 3b. You can also check with us for the GST return format and GST return filing due dates, Online GST Return, Process of filing GST return. GST Returns Online etc.