Which GST Returns are required to be filed? (From 1st January 2021)
A registered person is required to file following returns:
- GSTR-3B (Quarterly or Monthly)
- GSTR-1 (Quarterly or Monthly)
- GSTR-9 (Annual Return)
Along with these returns, there are two forms IFF and PMT-06 which can be filed by persons filing returns on quarterly basis. These are optional forms and no penalty is applicable for not filing them.
Quarterly or Monthly Returns
Starting from 1st January 2021, a person with turnover more than Rs. 5 crore has to file on monthly basis only.
A person with turnover up to Rs. 5 crore in the preceding year can file return on quarterly basis. However, he can choose to file on monthly basis also. If he select to file on quarterly basis then GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B, both will be filed on quarterly basis, otherwise both will be filed on monthly basis. Although payment of tax is required to be made on monthly basis using PMT-06.
Such person can select the basis on which he is fling (quarterly or monthly) for every quarter. Such selection can be made before end of first month of each quarter. For example, for quarter July 21 to September 21, he can change it up to 31st July 21. He is not required to select for each quarter, if he wants to change then only he has to do that on GST portal, otherwise old selection will keep on continue.
GSTR-1
In GSTR-1 return, only sales and sales return details are to be filed. It includes all types of sales and sales return like B2B, B2C, export sales, exempted sales and also amendment in invoices previously uploaded.
Due date for filing GSTR-1 for monthly filers is 11th of the next month and for quarterly filers is 13th of next month of quarter. Due date is not different for different states like it is in GSTR-3B.
Here is a summary of details to be filed in GSTR-1:
- B2B Sales – Every invoice issued to other business (which provided GSTIN) is to be entered. Date, invoice number, GSTIN, Invoice value and taxable value (rate-wise) is to be entered for each invoice issued.
- B2C Net Sales – Net sales (sales – sales return) and IGST/CGST/SGST is to be reported state-wise and rate-wise. For example, sales and tax to be report for sales in Delhi at rate of 18% and in Delhi at rate of 12% to be reported separately, likewise for all states or union-territories. There is no need of invoice wise details.
- Credit-Note/Debit-Note – Details of each Credit note and debit note issued is to be entered individually.
- Export Sales – Details of each invoice of export sales is to be entered.
- Other details – other details such as nil rated sales, exempted sales, tax on advance payment, amendment in old invoices, hsn/sac summary, document details are to be entered. Some of them are optional for small taxpayers.
GSTR-3B
In GSTR-3B, summary of all transactions are to be entered. Details of each invoice is not entered in GSTR-3B.
Before final submission of GSTR-3B, it is required to pay the tax and late fees due. Otherwise, you cannot file the return.
Note – Late fees for a month/quarter is payable in next month/quarter.
Due date to file GSTR-3B is 20th of next month for monthly filers and 22nd or 24th (state-wise) of next month for quarterly filers as under
| State | Due Date |
| 01 – Jammu and Kashmir | 24 |
| 02 – Himachal Pradesh | 24 |
| 03 – Punjab | 24 |
| 04 – Chandigarh | 24 |
| 05 – Uttarakhand | 24 |
| 06 – Haryana | 24 |
| 07 – Delhi | 24 |
| 08 – Rajasthan | 24 |
| 09 – Uttar Pradesh | 24 |
| 10 – Bihar | 24 |
| 11 – Sikkim | 24 |
| 12 – Arunachal Pradesh | 24 |
| 13 – Nagaland | 24 |
| 14 – Manipur | 24 |
| 15 – Mizoram | 24 |
| 16 – Tripura | 24 |
| 17 – Meghalaya | 24 |
| 18 – Assam | 24 |
| 19 – West Bengal | 24 |
| 20 – Jharkhand | 24 |
| 21 – Odisha | 24 |
| 22 – Chhattisgarh | 22 |
| 23 – Madhya Pradesh | 22 |
| 24 – Gujarat | 22 |
| 25 – Daman and Diu | 22 |
| 26 – Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 22 |
| 27 – Maharashtra | 22 |
| 29 -Karnataka | 22 |
| 30 – Goa | 22 |
| 31 – Lakshadweep | 22 |
| 32 – Kerala | 22 |
| 33 – Tamil Nadu | 22 |
| 34 – Puducherry | 22 |
| 35 – Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 22 |
| 36 – Telangana | 22 |
| 37 – Andhra Pradesh | 22 |
| 38 – Ladakh | 24 |
Here is a summary of details to be filed in GSTR-3B:
- Net Sales and net tax payable
- Net export sales
- Net exempted sales
- State wise sales to unregistered persons/composition scheme dealers/UIN holders.
- Interest and Late fees payable
IFF (Invoice Furnishing Facility)
In GST system, the purchaser gets the credit of GST paid by him when the supplier files the invoices in his returns. Those persons who files returns on quarterly basis was facing issues that his customers who were filing returns on monthly basis gets credit lately.
So, IFF is introduced which can be filed by quarterly filers for first and second month of each quarter. For third quarter, invoices are to be entered in GSTR-1 itself.
In IFF, only invoices, credits notes and debit notes issued to registered persons can be entered. Details of each invoice is to be given separately along with GSTIN, Invoice number, invoice value, taxable value rate-wise.
Due date to file IFF is 13th of the next month. Filing IFF is optional and there is no late fees or penalty in case it is not filed.
IFF can only be filed up to the due date and it cannot be filed after due date, even with any late fees or penalty. If you have not filed IFF for a month then you can file such invoices or credit notes in IFF of next month or next GSTR-1 filed.
PMT-06
Even if GST returns are filed on quarterly basis, payment of tax is to be made in quarterly basis. Such payment is to be made using PMT-06 form. On GST portal, it comes under challan and no separate option of PMT-06 comes. And this is a payment form only, no late fees is payable on late filing on non-filing.
PMT-06 is to be filed also for first two month of quarter. And in third month, tax is to be paid while filing GSTR-3B.
Due date for PMT-06 is 25th of the next month.
In Quarterly return monthly payment (QRMP) scheme, there is another option with quarterly filers. They can pay 35% of the tax which was net payable in last quarter for the first two months of current quarter. In that way they are not required to do calculations to find out the tax liability.
In that case, even if the actual tax is more than 35%, no interest in payable on late payment.
GSTR-9 (Annual Return)
GSTR-9 is the annual return which has to be filed for every financial year i.e. from April to March. All persons whether filing on monthly basis or quarterly basis, are required to file this return.
Filing GSTR-9 is made optional for the year 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 for persons with aggregate turnover of less then Rs. 2 crore.
GSTR-9 contains details for sales, purchases, input tax credit, tax payable, adjustments made in next financial year etc.
If there is some tax payable as per GSTR-9 (due to any mistake or adjustment) then you have to file DRC-03 after making payment in regular manner.
Note: If there is more than one GSTIN on same PAN, separate GST returns are to be filed for each GSTIN.
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GST Return Filing up to December 2020
Till December 2020, every person has to file GSTR-3B on monthly basis. And GSTR-1 is to be filed on quarterly basis by persons with turnover of less than Rs. 1.5 crore.
The returns to be filed by a person registered in normal scheme are
| GST Return | Frequency | Due Date |
| GSTR-3B (Till Dec 2019) | Monthly | 20th of Next month |
| GSTR-3B (From Jan 2020)* | Monthly | 20, 22 & 24 th of Next month (as per state list given above) |
| GSTR-1 (For persons with turnover in preceding financial year exceeding Rs. 1.5 crore or those who had opt this option voluntarily. | Monthly | 11th of Next month |
| GSTR-1 (For person with turnover in preceding financial year less than Rs. 1.5 crore) | Quarterly | 30th or 31st of Next month |
| GSTR-9 (Annual Return) | Annual | 31st December after year end** |
*To resolve the server issue on the last dates, Government introduced GSTR3B filing in stagered manner from January 2020. As per this new method, the due date for the taxpayers which have turnover of Rs 5 crore or more will be 20th of each month and for the other taxpayer the due date will be 22nd or 24th on the basis of their registration state which is as follows: –
Revised Returns
GST returns cannot be revised in the present filing system. The mistake made in a return can be rectified in the subsequent return when such mistake comes into notice.
Although, the rectification is not allowed in following cases:-
- An error is found as a result of scrutiny, audit, inspection or enforcement activity by the tax authorities.
- After any of the following dates
(a) due date of return of month of September or quarter July to September of following year
(b) actual date of furnishing annual return of the relevant year
Also Read – How to Resolve Errors made in GSTR-3B
Late fees for delay in filing GST Return
A Late fee of Rs. 50 per day is liable to be paid if any monthly/quarterly return is not submitted within due date.
Maximum penalty from 1st June 2021 will be as follows
- For taxpayers having Annual Aggregate Turnover (AATO) in preceding year upto Rs 1.5 crore, late fee to be capped to a maximum of Rs 2000 (1000 CGST+1000 SGST).
- For taxpayers having AATO in preceding year between Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 5 crore, late fee to be capped to a maximum of Rs 5000 (2500 CGST+2500 SGST).
- For taxpayers having AATO in preceding year above Rs 5 crores, late fee to be capped to a maximum of Rs 10000 (5000 CGST+5000 SGST).
In case of an Annual return, a penalty is payable at Rs. 200 per day. Maximum penalty in such case is 0.25% of the turnover in the state or union territory.
Interest on Late Payment of Taxes
If tax is paid after the due date of payment of tax, then interest is payable at rate of 18% per annum. Unlike Income tax, interest is payable by calculation on daily basis.
As mentioned before, if tax is paid under QRMP scheme as 35% of the net tax paid in last quarter, even if actual tax is more than 35%, no interest is payable.
All GST Return Forms
| S No. | Form No. | Form to be used for |
| 1 | Form GSTR-1 | Details of outwards supplies of goods or services (monthly or quarterly) |
| 2 | Form GSTR-2A | Details of supplies auto drafted from GSTR-1 or GSTR-5 to recipient |
| 3 | Form GSTR-3 | Details of sales and purchases (monthly or quarterly) |
| 4 | Form GSTR-3A | Notice to return defaulter u/s 46 |
| 5 | Form GSTR-4 | Annual return for registered persons opting composition levy |
| 6 | Form GSTR-4A | Auto drafted details for registered persons opting composition levy |
| 7 | Form GSTR-5 | Return for Non-Resident Taxable Persons |
| 8 | Form GSTR-5A | Details of supplies of online information and database access or retrieval services by a person located outside India made to non-taxable persons in India |
| 9 | Form GSTR-6 | Return for input service distributors |
| 10 | Form GSTR-6A | Details of supplies auto drafted from GSTR-1 or GSTR-5 to ISD. |
| 11 | Form GSTR-7 | Return for Tax Deduction at Source |
| 12 | Form GSTR-7A | Tax Deduction at Source Certificate |
| 13 | Form GSTR-8 | Statement for Tax Collection at Source |
| 14 | Form GSTR-9 | Annual return |
| 15 | Form GSTR-9A | Annual return by Compounding taxable persons registered under section 10 |
| 16 | Form GSTR-9B | Annual Return by E-Commerce operator |
| 17 | Form GSTR-9C | Reconciliation Statement |
| 18 | Form GSTR-10 | Final return |
| 19 | Form GSTR-11 | Inward supplies statement for persons having Unique Identification Number (UIN) |
