How to file GST return online

Returns under GST have undergone a lot of turmoil. GST era started with a big bang of compliance based law and complete transparency system. However one of the biggest challenges of GST implementation was filing of returns online. Earlier there were a lot of apprehensions from the industry too in complying with the various return formats, especially marking the invoices as accepted, selecting the amount of credit to be claimed and reporting of HSN, classification of purchases between input service, capital goods etc

The submission and processing of return is an important link between the taxpayer and tax administration as it is an important tool for

• Compliance verification program of tax administration
• Providing necessary inputs for taking policy decision
• Management of audit and anti-evasion programs of tax administration
• Finalization of the tax liabilities of the taxpayer within stipulated period of limitation

This article attempts to explain the process of filing the GST return online

Step by step process to file the return online is as follows:

• Step 1: Go to GST portal – www.gst.gov.in
• Step 2: Obtain a 15-digit GSTIN (GST identification number) which will be issued based on your state code and PAN. For new business apply for GST registration by contatacting us from https://www.legalwindow.in
• Step 3: Upload the relevant invoices on the software or the GST portal. An invoice reference no. against each invoice will be allotted to you
• Step 4: Once all the invoices, inward, outward return and cumulative monthly return are uploaded, check all the errors and file the returns

How to file different GST Returns?

GST Return Form 1

• This is the first GST return form every taxpayer is required to furnish 11th of the succeeding month
• The taxpayers with turnover less than 1.5 crores have to file GSTR-1 quarterly while the taxpayers with turnover more than 1.5 crores have to file monthly returns.
• There are 13 different parts in GST form 1
• The details in 13 different parts will be filled as follows:
  • Part1-3: details like GSTIN, name, and gross turnover have to be filled
  • Part 4: details about all the taxable supplies done by the organization in three different sections 4(A), 4(B), and 4(C)
  • Part 5: Details regarding the outward inter-state supplies 
  • Part 6: Details related to zero-rated supplies and all deemed exports
  • Part 7: details of taxable supplies to the unregistered person 
  • Part 8: details about nil rated, exempted and non-GST outward supplies
  • Part 9 & 10:  information regarding any amendments made to the taxable outward supplies to an unregistered individual for the current and previous tax period respectively.
  • Part 11: All the details of advance received and adjusted for the current/given tax period 
  • Part 12 & 13: HSN wise summary of all the taxable supplies and documents released during the given tax period 

GST Return Form 2

• The GSTR-2 is filed by every taxpayer before 15th of the succeeding month for a given tax period. 
• All the information of inward supplies to the buyer and recipient of goods and services furnishes this information. 
• Currently, Filing facility of GSTR-2 is not available on the portal

GST Return Form 3B

• The return should be filed on or before 20th of the succeeding month.
• It is a consolidated monthly return form.
• Steps are as follows:
  • Enter the GSTIN ID and legal name
  • Fill details of all outward and inward supplies liable to reverse the change. 
  • fill details of inter-State supplies made to composition taxable persons, unregistered persons, and UIN holders 
  • the ITC eligible box containing all the input tax credit demand from the taxes paid is available to taxpayers
  • Fill the details regarding the nature of supplies, inter-state supplies, intra-state supplies, and its calculations 
  • Fill details of integrated tax, central Tax, State/UT tax Cess 
  • provide information about TDS/TCS credit in a proper format

GST Return Form 9

• It contains the information of GSTR-3 filed for all 12 months.
• Tt is filed before 31st December of the next financial year related to a given tax period.
• Steps to file the return are as follows:
  • Submit the basic details of GST IN, legal name, the trade name
  • Provide details of inward supplies under 4A to 4N subsection whereas details of outward suppliers need to be filled under 5A to 5N subsection.
  • fill details of ITC under 6A to 6O subsection
  • Provide the  details of tax paid as declared in returns for the preceding financial year
  • show particulars of transaction that were made in a previous fiscal year
  • fill other important information, e.g., an aggregate value of refunds claimed, sanctioned, rejected, etc. in 15A to 15G subsection

GST Return Form 9C

• It is for all the taxpayers having a turnover of more than 2 crores in a given financial year.
• The form is filed by on or before 31st December on a given FY
• Steps to file the return are as follows:
  • Fill basic details like GSTIN number etc. in the form.
  • Provide reconciliation details of turnover declared in the audited annual financial statement (5A to 5R subsection) and taxes paid (9A to 9R subsection).
  • The reconciliation details of ITC must be filled by taxpayers under 12A to 12F subsections.
  • Fill the auditor’s recommendations on the additional liability on taxpayer due to non-reconciliation

GST Return Form 4

• It is for the registered composition vendors
•  The form is furnished annually of a particular financial year
• Steps to file the return are as follows:
  • Part1-3: provide basic details like legal name, GSTIN etc.
  • Part 4-5: provide information for taxable inward supplies 
  • Part 6-7: details for taxable outward supplies 
  • Part 8: The consolidated statement of advances paid/advance adjusted
  • Part 9-12 : Fill the Details related to the tax credit received, paid, TDS interest, and refund claimed from electronic cash ledger

GST Return Form 9A

• It is an annual GST return form for all the composition scheme dealers who have the annual turnover of less than 1.5 crore under the goods and service tax scheme.
• It is mandatory for all the registered composition taxpayers to file GSTR 9A form on or before 31st December 
• Steps to file the return are as follows:
  • Part1- Fill the basic details like GSTIN, trade name etc
  • Part2- Fill the details of taxable outward and inward supplies. 
  • Part3- Fill details of tax paid as declared in returns 
  • Part4- provide particulars of the transactions, e.g. differential tax paid etc. for the previous fiscal year as declared in returns of April to September of the current fiscal year or up to the date of filing an annual return for the previous fiscal year, whichever is earlier. 
  • Part5- other vital details like total return claimed, rejected, pending, late fee payable, etc., must be provided. 

GST Return Form 6

• The GSTR-6 is filed by ISD (Input Service distributor) on every 13th of the next month for a given tax period.
• It includes all the information regarding inward supplies made to the registered taxpayer
• Steps to file the return are as follows:
  • Table1-2: enter basic details like GSTIN, name of taxpayer, etc.
  • Table3-5: Enter details for the input credit received, eligible/ineligible ITC for the given tax period, and available credit under CGST, SGST, and IGST
  • Table 6: any changes made in table 3 must be mentioned in table 6.
  • Table 7-11: Details for ITC reclaim/mismatch, ITC distribution, ITC redistribution (if the distribution is wrong), late fee payable, and refunds must be mentioned 

Takeaway

By now we can draw a reasonable conclusion that return filing forms an important part under GST laws. There are various returns to be filed and the non compliance of which can also attract penalty. In making sure that all the provisions are complied with, help can be taken from professionals at the Legal Window.