What is a GST Return?
A GST return is a document containing details of all income/sales and/or expenses/purchases that a GST-registered taxpayer (every GSTIN) is required to file with the tax administrative authorities. This is used by tax authorities to calculate net tax liability. Under GST, a registered dealer has to file GST returns that broadly include:
- Purchases
- Sales
- Output GST (On sales)
- Input tax credit (GST paid on purchases)
Who Should File the GST Return?
As per the Goods and Service Tax Act and Rules thereon, all the registered entities are mandated to file the GST Return. However, the registered business entities with an Annual Aggregate Turnover of Rs 5 Crores are compulsory to file 2 monthly returns. Registered business entities with Turnover up to Rs 5 Crores have an option to file the return under the Quarterly Return Filing and Monthly Payment of Taxes Scheme(QRMP) under the GST Act.
How many returns are there under GST?
There are 13 returns under GST. They are the GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-4, GSTR-5, GSTR-5A, GSTR-6, GSTR-7, GSTR-8, GSTR-9, GSTR-10, GSTR-11, CMP-08, and ITC-04. However, all returns do not apply to all taxpayers. Taxpayers file returns based on the type of taxpayer/type of registration obtained.
Due Dates and Types of GST Returns
Name Of the Form/ Return | Details of the Return | Due Date |
GSTR 1 | Return for all outward supply of goods or services | 11th of succeeding month for entities not under/ not opted for QRMP scheme. 13th of succeeding month for entities who have opted QRMP Scheme |
Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) | An optional return which can be filed by business entities opted for the QRMP Scheme. This return contains the details of B2B invoices of Goods or services | 13th of succeeding month |
GSTR 3B | Summary return of outward supplies of goods or services and input tax credit claimed. The return also contains the details of the Net Tax liability under GST. | 20th of the succeeding month. 22nd of the succeeding month for QRMP scheme and entities registered in Union Territories. 24th of the Succeeding Month for business users registered in state of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand or Odisha or the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Chandigarh and New Delhi. |
GSTR 4 | Registered entities under the composition scheme under section 10 of the CGST Act | 30th of the month succeeding a financial year. (filed Annually) |
GSTR 5A | Return to be filed by non-resident Online Information Database Access and Retrieval service( OIDAR) providers. | 20th of the Succeeding Month |
GSTR 6 | An Input Service Distributor files every calendar month. It has all the information of the invoices on which credit has been received and are issued by an ISD.an Input Service Distributor files every calendar month. It has all the information of the invoices on which credit has been received and are issued by an ISD. | 13th of the succeeding month |
GSTR 7 | A monthly return that has to be filed by the deductors who are required to deduct TDS under GST. | 10th of the succeeding month |
GSTR 8 | Returns for the electronic commerce operator who is required to deduct Tax Collected at Source under GST. | 10th of the succeeding month. |
GSTR 9 | Annual return by a regular taxpayer. | 31st December of the succeeding the financial year. (filed Annually) |
GSTR 9C | Self Declaration of Reconciliation Statement | 31st December of the month succeeding the financial year. (filed Annually) |
GSTR 10 | Final return to be filed by a taxpayer whose GST registration is canceled. | Within three months of the date of cancellation or date of cancellation order, whichever is later. |
GSTR 11 | Inward Supplies to be furnished by a person that has a Unique Identification Number (UIN) and claiming a refund | 28th of the month following the month for which statement is filed. |
CMP 08 | A special statement cum Challan to pay taxes by a registered entities under QRMP Scheme | 18th of the month succeeding the quarter. |
ITC 04 | To be furnished by registered manufacturers, showing the details of inputs or capital goods dispatched or received from a job worker in a particular quarter. | Aggregate Annual Turnover More than Rs 5 Crores 25th October and 25th April.(Filed Half Yearly) Aggregate Annual Turnover upto Rs 5 Crores 25th April (Filed Annually) |