GST Returns Filing

Goods and Services Tax is a single indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services from the manufacturer to the consumer. Input tax credits paid at each stage will be made available in the following stage of value addition. GST is basically a tax levied on value addition at each stage. Therefore, the consumer has to pay only the GST charged by the last dealer or supplier in the supply chain.

Calculate Your Tax

All individuals registered under the GST Act has to furnish the details of the sales and purchases of goods and services along with the tax collected and paid. This can be done by filing online returns. GST Returns are the Goods and Services Tax Return forms that taxpayers of all types have to file with the income tax authorities of India under the new GST rules.

Implementation of a comprehensive Income Tax system like GST in India will ensure that taxpayer services such as registration, returns, and compliance are transparent and straightforward. Individual taxpayers will be using 4 forms for filing their returns such as the return for supplies, return for purchases, monthly returns, and annual return. Small taxpayers who have opted for composition scheme will have to file quarterly returns. All filing of returns will be done online.

Different Types of Returns applicable under the new GST Law

Return form	Who should file the return and what should be filed?	Due date for filing returns
GSTR-1	Registered taxable supplier should file details of outward supplies of taxable goods and services as effected.	10th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-2	Registered taxable recipient should file details of inward supplies of taxable goods and services claiming input tax credit.	15th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-3	Registered taxable person should file monthly return on the basis of finalization of details of outward supplies and inward supplies plus the payment of amount of tax.	20th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-4	Composition supplier should file quarterly return.	18th of the month succeeding quarter.
GSTR-5	Return for non-resident taxable person.	20th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-6	Return for input service distributor.	13th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-7	Return for authorities carrying out tax deduction at source.	10th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-8	E-commerce operator or tax collector should file details of supplies effected and the amount of tax collected.	10th of the subsequent month.
GSTR-9	Registered taxable person should file annual return.	31 December of the next fiscal year.
GSTR-10	Taxable person whose registration has been cancelled or surrendered should file final return.	Within 3 months of date of cancellation or date of cancellation order, whichever is later.
GSTR-11	Person having UIN claiming refund should file details of inward supplies.	28th of the month, following the month for which the statement was filed.

Return Forms

GST return can be filed using different forms depending on the type of transaction and registration of the taxpayer. Return forms for normal taxpayers are:

GSTR-1

GSTR-1 return form has to be filed by a registered taxable supplier with details of the outward supplies of goods and services. This form is filled by the supplier. The buyer has to validate the auto-populated purchase information on the form and make modifications if required. The form will contain the following details:

• Business name, period for which the return is filed, Goods and Services Taxpayer Identification Number (GSTIN).
• Invoices issued in the previous month and the corresponding taxes collected.
• Advances received against a supply order that has to be delivered in the future.
• Revision in outward sales invoices from the previous tax periods.

GSTR-1 has to be filed by 10th of the following month.

GSTR-2

GSTR-2 return form has to be filed by a registered taxable recipient with details of the inward supplies of goods and services. The form will contain the following details:

• Business name, period for which the return is filed, Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN).
• Invoices issued in the previous month and the corresponding taxes collected.
• Advances received against a supply order that has to be delivered in the future.
• Revision in outward sales invoices from the previous tax periods.

GSTR-2 has to be filed by 15th of the following month.

GSTR-3

GSTR-3 return form has to be filed by a registered taxpayer with details that are automatically populated by from GSTR-1 and GSTR-2 returns forms. The taxpayer has to verify and make modifications, if any. GSTR-3 return form will contain the following details:

• Details about Input Tax Credit, liability, and cash ledger.
• Details of tax paid under CGST, SGST, and IGST.
• Claim a refund of excess payment or request to carry forward the credit.

GSTR-3 has to be filed by 20th of the following month.

GSTR-4

GSTR-4 return form has to be filed by taxpayers who have opted for the Composition Scheme. Taxpayers with small business or a turnover of up to Rs.75 lakh can opt for the Composition Scheme wherein he or she have to pay tax at a fixed rate based on the type of business. Taxpayers under this scheme will not have input tax credit facility. GSTR-4 quarterly return form will contain the following details:

• The total value of consolidated supply made during the period of return.
• Details of tax paid.
• Invoice-level purchase information.

GSTR-4 has to be filed by 18th of the following month.

GSTR-5

GSTR-5 return form has to be filed by all registered non-resident taxpayers. This form will contain the following:

• Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
• Details of outward supplies and inward supplies.
• Details of goods imported, any amendments in goods imported during the previous tax periods.
• Import of services, amendments in import of services
• Details of credit or debit notes, closing stock of goods, and refund claimed from cash ledger.

GSTR-5 has to be filed by 20th of the following month.

GSTR-6

GSTR-6 return form has to be filed by all taxpayers who are registered as an Input Service Distributor. This form will contain the following:

• Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
• Details of input credit distributed.
• Supplies received from registered persons.
• The amount of input credit availed under the current tax period.
• Details of inward supplies will be auto-populated from GSTR-1 and GSTR-5 return forms.
• Details of the receiver of input credit corresponding to his or her GSTIN.
• Details of credit or debit notes.
• Input tax credit received, input tax credit reverted, and input tax credit distributed as SGST, CGST, and IGST.

GSTR-6 has to be filed by 13th of the following month.

GSTR-7

GSTR-7 return form has to be filed by all registered taxpayers who are required to deduct tax at source under the GST rule. This form will contain the following:

• Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
• TDS details and amendments in invoice amount, TDS amount or contract details.
• TDS liability will be auto-populated. Details of fees for late filing of return and interest on delayed payment of TDS.
• Refund received from Electronic Cash Ledger will be auto-populated.

GSTR-7 has to be filed by 10th of the following month.

GSTR-8

GSTR-8 return form has to be filed by all e-Commerce operators who are required to collect tax at source under the GST rule. This form will contain details of supplies effected and the amount of tax collected under Sub-section (1) of Section 43C of Model GST Law. Other details include:

• Name and address of the taxpayer, GSTIN, and period of return.
• Details of supplies made to registered taxable person and amendments, if any.
• Details of supplies made to unregistered persons.
• Details of Tax Collected at Source.
• TDS liability will be auto-populated. Details of fees for late filing of return and interest on delayed payment of TDS.

GSTR-8 has to be filed by 10th of the following month.

GSTR-9

GSTR-9 return form is filed by normal taxpayers with details of all income and expenditure for the year. This detail will be regrouped in accordance with the monthly returns. The taxpayer will have the opportunity to make modifications in the information provided if required. GSTR-9 has to be filed by 31st December of the following financial year along with the audited copies of the annual accounts.

GSTR-10

GSTR-10 return form has to be filed by any taxpayer who opts for cancellation of GST registration. This form will contain the following:

• Application Reference Number (ARN).

• Date of cancellation of GST registration.
• Unique ID of cancellation order.
• Date of cancellation order.
• Details of closing stock including amount of tax payable on closing stock.

GSTR-10 final return form has to be filed within 3 months of the date of cancellation or date of cancellation order, whichever is later.

GSTR- 11

GSTR-11 return form has to be filed by everyone who has been issued a Unique Identity Number (UIN) and claims a refund of the taxes paid on inward supplies. This form will contain the following details:

• Name of the government entity, UIN, and period of return.
• All inward purchases from GST registered supplier will be auto-populated.

Based on the above mentioned details, the tax refund will be made. GSTR-11 form has to be filed on 28th of the month, following the month for which supply was received.

How to File GST Returns Online?

From manufacturers and suppliers to dealers and consumers, all taxpayers have to file their tax returns with the GST department every year. Under the new GST regime, filing tax returns has become automated. GST returns can be filed online using the software or apps provided by Goods and Service Tax Network (GSTN) which will auto-populate the details on each GSTR forms. Listed below are the steps for filing GST returns online:

• Visit the GST portal (www.gst.gov.in).
• A 15-digit GST identification number will be issued based on your state code and PAN number.
• Upload invoices on the GST portal or the software. An invoice reference number will be issued against each invoice.
• After uploading invoices, outward return, inward return, and cumulative monthly return have to be filed online. If there are any errors, you have the option to correct it and refile the returns.
• File the outward supply returns in GSTR-1 form through the information section at the GST Common Portal (GSTN) on or before 10th of the following month.
• Details of outward supplies furnished by the supplier will be made available in GSTR-2A to the recipient.
• Recipient has to verify, validate, and modify the details of outward supplies, and also file details of credit or debit notes.
• Recipient has to furnish the details of inward supplies of taxable goods and services in GSTR-2 form.
• The supplier can either accept or reject the modifications of the details of inward supplies made available by the recipient in GSTR-1A.

File GST return with GSTN

The Goods and Service Tax Network will store information of all GST registered sellers and buyers, combine the submitted details, and maintain registers for future reference. Companies have to file 3 monthly returns every 3 months and one annual return in a financial year (37 returns in total). GSTN has launched a simple excel based template to make filing of returns easier for businesses. This excel workbook can be downloaded from the GST common portal free of charge. Taxpayers can use this template to collate invoice data on a regular basis. The details of inward and outward supplies can be uploaded on the GST portal on or before the due date. The data preparation can be done offline. Only while uploading the prepared file on the GST portal will the taxpayer need Internet.