GST Return filing Procedure
With the introduction of Goods & Service Tax, taxpayers are now required to fulfill a set of compliances which mandates them to file multiple returns for each Financial Year. Some of these are monthly requirements where details regarding invoices raised as well as received has to be filed with the GSTN. And as an repository of data for the taxpayers GSTN will make sure that all these information could be accessed whenever required in future. Helping you with a better understanding of the procedure of GST return filing, let us start with the basic comprehension of the concepts pertaining to the newly rolled out Indirect tax of Goods & Service Tax.
In every walk of life we have certain rules or methods for doing a certain thing we call it as procedures. Just like the same GSTN works on its own procedures which are so aligned that one completes the other. This could be seen in the GST Returns filed by the taxpayers where GSTR-1 filed by one taxpayer completes the GSTR-2 for other taxpayer and vice versa and so also in case of GSTR 3 which gets completed when GSTR-1 and GSTR 2 and GSTR 3B are parked into it to complete the final return. Any trafficking during collection of these data could spoil the whole process laid for GST returns. That's why in early introduction of GST we saw 3B stepping up the plate to ease the traffic felt on GSTN as GSTR-1 and the other regular returns were facing technical faults the results of which lead to bringing up of sudden GSTR3B as an intermediate return containing consolidated details of taxes paid on inputs and outputs and the one which would link up with GSTR 3 return in the future.
In this backdrop let us try and understand as what are these GST returns and why they hold so much importance in GST. Returns are a set of forms in pre-approved format of reporting. This makes provision of required details easier for the taxpayers for a complete disclosure. Each form has been designed to ensure a complete disclosure of every transaction made between buyers and sellers.
So who has to file these GST Returns? In the purview of Goods & Service Tax law, every taxpayer has to file returns as mandated by the Department. So does this mean every taxpayer has to file all the returns say GSTR-1, GSTR2, GSTR 4, GSTR 9, GSTR 5, GSTR-2A, GSTR 6A, GSTR7, GSTR7A, GSTR 8,GSTR 8A,GSTR 9 and GSTR 9A, the answer is a plain "No". A taxpayer has to file only those returns which are applicable to him or which are applicable based on the type of business he is operating in for Example a composition dealer will only file GSTR 4 and not the other returns and an error commerce operator would only file GSTR 8 return and not the other returns and so on. So the scope of filing the return lies with finding about the type of tax payer involved and the supplies which are involved in a buy sell transaction. Let us have a brief understanding about these returns from the table listed below.
Types of GST Returns :
| GSTR 3B | To ease the process of migration of taxpayers to the new tax regime from the previous ones, Government introduced an interim return form of GSTR 3B for the month of July and August and now extended till March 2018 after amending the law. More in alignment with self-declaration where taxpayers can list out the invoice details for the first two months. |
| GSTR 1 | This form is to provide the details of the outward supplies of goods and services to the Department. It has to be filed by the 10th of every following month originally. After amendments in GST Return filing rules the new dates till March 2018 and further notice.
July to September - 10th Jan 2018 October to December - 15th Feb 2018 January to March - 30th April 2018
July to Nov 2017 - 10th Jan 2018 December 2017 - 10th Feb 2018 January 2017 - 10th March 2018 February 2017 - 10th April 2018 March 2017 - 10th May 2018 This forms the base of the further submission of forms in the month. |
| GSTR 2A | This is an auto-populated form which allows the recipients to see and check the details filed by the supplier in GSTR 1 Form. |
| GSTR 2 | This form provides the details of the inward supplies of good and services as approved and ratified by the recipient of the goods or services. This has to be filed by 15th of the following month originally but since the utility to file GSTR 2 return is in operative the due dates for this form have been kept in abeyance. |
| GSTR 1A | This is an auto-populated form that gets generated after the filing of GSTR 2 on every 15th of the following month. It reflects the changes made by the recipient and goes to the supplier who either accepts or rejects those changes. Since Form GSTR2 itself is unavailable this Form is also inactive on GSTN |
| GSTR 3 | This is the auto-populated form which contains all the details filed under GSTR 1 & GSTR 2. This would allow the department to calculate the tax payable after taking into consideration of Input Tax Credit availability. This Form will become operative once GSTR-1 and GSTR 2 meets at the same time, which again have to wait since GSTR 2 Return utility is not available yet. |
| GSTR 4A | This form is for those taxpayers who have opted for Composition Scheme. It is generated on a quarterly basis and contains the details of the inward supplies as reported in GSTR 1 |
| GSTR 4 | This form contains the details furnished in the auto-populated form of outward details. It has to be filed by the 18th of the following month after each quarter. |
| GSTR 5 | This form has to be filed by the Foreign Non-Resident Taxpayer providing the details of outward supplies, imports, tax paid, input tax availed, if any, and if there is any remaining stock. This is a monthly submission form which needs to be filed by 11th of the following month originally, but presently after amendments for July till December - 31st of Jan 2018 |
| GSTR 6A | This form is generated on 11th of the following month after supplier has filed its GSTR 1. This is an auto-populated form generated for the Input Service Provider. |
| GSTR 6 | Once the details mentioned in GSTR 6A are accepted and ratified, GSTR 6 is generated and filed by the Input Service Provider on 13th of the month originally but after amendments
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| GSTR 7 | It is the form for submission of details of Tax deductions made in the month. It needs to be filed on 10th of the following month. This form is been redundant in part as TDS provisions are yet to be introduced into GSTN. |
| GSTR 7A | It is a TDS certificate generated once GSTR 7 is filed by the Tax Deductor. It is for record keeping purpose by the assessee. Needless to say since GSTR 7 has not yet been introduced this Form has no validity for now. |
| GSTR 8 | This return contains all the supplies made by the e-commerce seller. It also contains details of the Tax deducted at source. This form need to e filed at 10th of the following month. The TCS provisions are said to be applicable from 01st April 2018 |
| GSTR 9 | This is an annual return which needs filing by every taxpayer by 31st of the following financial year. It contains the details of all 12 GSTR 3 filed through the financial year. Yet to be introduced into GSTN |
| GSTR 9A | This is the annual return to be filed the taxpayers who have opted for composition of tax. To be filed by 31st December of the coming financial year and comprises of details filed under the quarterly returns. Yet to be introduced into GSTN. |
Conclusion : GST Return Filing Process might look elaborate, but with the help of the gst software Tally. ERP 9, it can be simplified up to maximum extent. Tally.ERP 9 is an one complete package that helps with GST billing, invoicing and subsequent filing from a single platform. The taxpayer does not have to leave the software for GSTN portal as everything can be performed from the software itself.