A GST return is a statement that a taxpayer (every GSTIN) is required to file with the tax administration, listing all income/sales, expenses/purchases, and so on. It is an important tool used by tax authorities to calculate net tax liability.

A GST return should include the following information if the dealer is registered.:

    • Purchases

    • Sales

    • GST Output (On sales)

    • Credit for contributions 

Any ordinary firm with an annual aggregate revenue of more than Rs.5 crore is required to file two monthly returns and one yearly return under the GST regime. This is equal to 26 returns in a year.

Under the QRMP scheme, the number of GSTR-1 filings varies for quarterly filers. They file nine GSTR files online each year, including the GSTR-3B and the annual return.

Special circumstances, such as composition dealers with more than five GSTR filings per year, are needed to file separate returns.

Explanation on GST Return Filing Categories:

    1. GSTR

The GSTR 1 is a list of all sales. Suppliers will be required to declare their outbound supplies on this form during the reporting month. All registered taxable persons are required to file by the 11th of the following month, according to the rules.

Who is required to file Form GSTR 1?

GSTR 1 is required to be filed monthly by all registered taxpayers.

If the taxpayer's total revenue exceeds INR 1.5 crores, he can file the returns on a quarterly basis.

GSTR 1 Due Date: On a monthly basis, the 11th of the next month.

    2. GSTR-2 And GSTR-3 are Suspended

    3. GSTR 2A

GSTR-2A is an auto-populated statement that gives the recipient access to all the inbound supplies recorded by your supplier in GSTR-1. When the return is submitted in the Portal, the details will be made available. Aside from the GSTR-1 information, the GSTR-5 (Supplies from Non-resident Taxable Person), GSTR-6 (ISD), GSTR-7 (TDS Deductor), and GSTR-8 (TCS collected by e-commerce operator) information will also be auto-populated.

Who is responsible for completing the GSTR 2A form?

It's a form that fills itself out for you.

    4. GSTR 3B

A registered dealer must complete a monthly self-declaration known as GSTR-3B. The goal of this simplified summary return of inward and outward supply is for taxpayers to declare their summary GST liabilities for the tax period and discharge these liabilities in a timely manner.

Who is required to file Form GSTR 3B?

Every person who has registered for GST, including Nil returns, is required to file the GSTR-3B return.

GSTR 3B Due date: The 20th day of each month would be the due date for all enterprises with sales of 5 million or more. Taxpayers with lower sales have until the 22nd or 24th of the month to file, depending on which state they live in.

    5. GSTR 4 or Form GST CMP 08

GSTR-4 is a document that registered taxpayers who have enrolled in the composition scheme must file once every three months (they are known as composition vendors). The Composition Scheme allows taxpayers with a turnover of up to Rs.1.5 crores to opt in and pay a fixed rate of tax on the declared turnover. GSTR 4 has been phased out in favour of GST CMP 08. CMP-08 is a statement cum challan that requests information on outbound and inbound supplies, as well as the taxes and interest paid on those supplies and imports.

CMP-08 is a positive step that was taken in April of this year. The CMP-08 is a quarterly return that must be filed.

Who needs to fill out form CMP-08 (GSTR 4)?

Those who have chosen the composition plan

On a quarterly basis, the CMP 08 form is due on the 18th of the month after the previous quarter.

    6. GSTR 5.

Every registered non-resident taxable person is required to submit the GSTR-5 form to the GST Portal monthly. Non-resident taxable individuals are suppliers who do not have a permanent commercial presence in India and have come to make supply for a limited time.

Who is required to file Form GSTR 5?

GSTR 5 is filed by every non-resident taxpayer. On a monthly basis, the due date is the 20th of the next month.

    7. GSTR 6 

Goods and Services Tax Return 6 is a monthly document/statement that firms that are also Input Service Distributors must file. This return must include information about inbound supplies and purchases made from other registered taxpayers (B2B) as well as information about the input tax credit that was dispersed among the organization's branches.

Who is required to file Form GSTR 6?

GSTR 6 is used by every Input Service distributor. On a monthly basis, the due date is the 13th of the next month.

    8. GSTR 7

GSTR 7 is a form or statement that is filed by taxpayers who deduct tax from payments made to vendors/suppliers for inward supplies received. This return must include the details of all transactions for which TDS was deducted, as well as the full names and addresses of your suppliers.

Who is required to file Form GSTR 7?

Every taxpayer who deducts tax from their payments is a registered taxpayer.

GSTR 7 On a monthly basis, the due date is the 10th of the next month.

    9. GSTR 8 

It is a monthly statement that e-commerce firms are required to file. It must include information about supply made to clients through the taxpayer's e-commerce site by both registered and unregistered taxable individuals, as well as basic customer information, tax collected at source.

Who is required to file Form GSTR 8?

GSTR 8 due date is the 10th of the next month.

    10. GSTR 9

All GST-registered taxpayers are required to complete an annual return in a specific format. The GSTR 9 is the name of that form. GSTR-9 contains information regarding supplies made and received during the year under several tax heads, such as CGST, SGST, and IGST. It compiles the information provided in the monthly/quarterly returns over the course of the year. The tax authority has always rigorously enforced non-compliance with the law, and GSTR 9 is no exception. The taxpayer may face significant financial penalties if he or she fails to file GSTR 9 or files it after the due date.

The GSTR-9 must be filed by December 31st of the previous year. For example, for the fiscal year 2017-18, the deadline is December 31, 2018.

Who is required to file Form GSTR 9?

Regular taxpayers filing GSTR 1, GSTR 2, GSTR 3, GSTR 3B during the financial year must file this form.

GSTR No. 9 Due date: December 31st of the following fiscal year Annually.

    11. GSTR 9A

GSTR-9A is a streamlined yearly return for GST-registered businesses that have chosen the composition scheme. This return contains all the compounding dealers' quarterly returns for that fiscal year.

Who is required to submit GSTR 9A?

Those who have chosen the composition plan.

GSTR 9A Due date: December 31st of the following fiscal year Annual

    12. GSTR 9B

GSTR-9B is a summary of information reported in GSTR-8 by taxpayers who are GST-registered E-commerce operators.

GSTR 9B should be filed by who?

Electronic Commerce Operator must file this form.

    13. GSTR 9C

GSTR 9C is a statement of reconciliation between the figures in the taxpayer's audited annual financial statements and the figures in the annual returns submitted in GSTR 9 for that financial year. GSTR-9C is a return form that registered taxpayers must fill out if their total revenue exceeds Rs.2 crores. In this scenario, the taxpayer must also produce a copy of audited yearly accounts and reconciliation documents, which reconcile the value of supplies declared in the financial return.

    14. Who is required to file GSTR 9C?

Those with a combined turnover of greater than Rs.2 crores who are registered taxpayers.

GSTR 9C due date: 31st December of the next financial year for those who are required to have their accounts audited under Section 35 of the CGST Act.

    15. GSTR 10

The GSTR 10 is not the same as the Annual GST Return. It is only filed once, as the last GST return. Anyone who chooses to cancel their GST registration must file this return within three months of the cancellation date or the date on which the cancellation order was issued.

Who is required to file GSTR 10?

A taxpayer who wishes to revoke his or her GST registration

GSTR 10 After the registration is cancelled or surrendered, the registration must be cancelled or surrendered within 3 months of the date of cancellation or the date of cancellation order, whichever comes first.

    16.  GSTR 11 

Goods and Services Tax Return 11 is a document/statement that must be filed by every registered organization/person who is given a Unique Identification Number (UIN) only during the months they purchase products for their own consumption while simultaneously receiving a tax credit/refund.

Who is required to file GSTR 11?

GSTR-11 return filing is compulsory for all individuals who have a Unique Identity Number (UIN).

GSTR 11 is an abbreviated version of GSTR Due date: The 28th of the month following the month for which a monthly statement is filed.

The documents listed below are necessary for GSTR filing:

    • Invoices' List (B2B Services, B2C Services)

    • GSTIN of the customer

    • Invoice Types

    • Number of Invoices

    • Location of Supply

    • Rate of GST

    • Value Subject to Taxation

    • The amount of CGST, SGST, IGST, and GST Cess that will be charged.

    • Sales inside and between states have been merged.

    • HSN information as per-HSN basis.

    • A summary of the required paperwork, such as the Debit and Credit Note.

If you're wondering how to file GST returns, don't worry; it's not a difficult or time-consuming process. It can be filed via the Goods and Services Tax Network's (GSTN) software, which will auto-populate the forms.

The procedure for submitting a GST return over the internet

The following steps will walk you through the process of completing a GST return online.

Step 1: Go to www.gst.gov.in to access the GST portal.

Step 2: A 15-digit number will be generated based on your state code and PAN number.

Step 3: You must upload each invoice that you have. A reference number will be assigned to each invoice. 

Step 4: The outside returns, inward returns, and aggregate monthly returns must all be filed after that. All mistakes can be fixed.

Step 5: On or before the 10th of the month, file GSTR-1 outward supply returns using the information area of the GST Common Portal.

Step 6: The GSTR-2A will be used to obtain the supplier's outward supply.

Step 7: The receiver must next verify the details of the outgoing supplies and provide credit or debit note information.

Step 8: Fill out the GSTR-2 form with information about inbound goods and services.

Step 9: The provider can accept or reject the information provided in the GSTR-1A by inward supplies.

If you don't file your GST returns on time, you'll be charged interest and a late fee.

The annual interest rate is 18 percent. It must be estimated by the taxpayer based on the amount of unpaid tax. From the next day of filing to the day of payment, the time will be calculated.

According to the Act, late costs are Rs. 100 per day.

As a result, it's 100 under the CGST and 100 under the SGST. The total cost every day will be Rs. 200. The maximum amount is Rs. 5,000. On IGST, there is no late fee. For individuals who file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B, however, a reduced late fee of Rs 50 per day of delay (Rs 20 for NIL return) is currently in effect. For each of the above returns, there are specific forms that must be followed.

    1. What does GST Return imply?

In the new indirect-tax administration, a GST Return is a declaration of details relevant to the taxable person's business operations within a certain tax period. A taxable individual is required by law to declare his or her tax liability, provide information concerning taxes paid, and file a correct and full return by the due date. The Goods and Services Tax is a destination-based tax structure that is self-assessed. The submission and processing of tax returns establishes a vital link between taxpayers and the IRS.

    2. Is there a GST Return that must be filed every six months?

No! In the GST system, there is no such requirement to file a half-yearly return.

    3. What is an annual return, and which section of the GST Act explains what it entails?

Every registered person is required to file an annual return for each Financial Year under Section 44 of the GST Act, 2017.

    4. When is the deadline for submitting the Annual Return?

According to Section 44 of the GST Act of 2017, the annual return must be filed online through by the 31st of December following the end of the relevant financial year.

    5. What returns must a taxable assesses who is a "non-resident" file?

A non-resident taxable assesses must file GST Return – GSTR-5 to report monthly details of "inward" and "outward" supply, debit/credit notes, tax paid details, closing stock details, and any refund requested.

    6. ISD stands for Input Service Distributors. What are the types of returns do they have to file?

It is the corporate office of a products and service supplier that collects tax bills for inward supplies produced by vendors on behalf of branch offices to distribute tax credits.