GST Return - What is GST Return? Who Should File, Due Dates & Types of GST Returns

All gst registered businesses have to file monthly or quarterly GST returns and an annual GST return based on the type of business. These GSTR filings are done online on the GST portal.

Latest Updates

29th September 2024
As per the latest advisory from the GSTN, due to persistent demand from trade, the return data for July 2017 and August 2017 tha was earlier archived on 1st August and on 1st September respectively has been restored until further notice. 

24th September 2024
As per the advisory from GST Network, on 01st October 2024, data of September 2017 shall be taken down from the GST portal in line with its data archival policy of saving data up to 7 years.

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)

To file GST returns or for GST filings, check out the Clear GST software that allows the import of data from various ERP systems such as Tally, Busy, custom Excel, to name a few. There is also the option to use the desktop app for Tally users to directly upload data and file.

Who should file GST Returns?

Under the GST regime, regular businesses having more than Rs.5 crore as annual aggregate turnover (and taxpayers who have not opted for the QRMP scheme) have to file two monthly returns and one annual return. This amounts to 25 returns each year. 

Taxpayers with a turnover of up to Rs.5 crore have the option to file returns under the QRMP scheme. The number of GSTR filings for QRMP filers is 9 each year, which include 4 GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B returns each and an annual return. Note that QRMP filers have to pay tax on a monthly basis even though they are filing returns quarterly.

There are also separate statements/returns required to be filed in special cases such as composition dealers where the number of GSTR filings is 5 each year (4 statement-cum-challans in CMP-08 and 1 annual return GSTR-4).

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. 

Eligible taxpayers, i.e. with a turnover exceeding Rs.5 crore are also required to also file a self-certified reconciliation statement in Form GSTR-9C.

Besides the GST returns that are required to be filed, there are statements of input tax credit  available to taxpayers, namely GSTR-2A (dynamic) and GSTR-2B (static). There is also an Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) available to small taxpayers who are registered under the QRMP scheme to furnish their Business to Business (B2B) sales for the first two months of the quarter. These small taxpayers will still need to pay taxes on a monthly basis using Form PMT-06.

We have explained the various GST returns, along with applicability and due dates in the section below.

What are the different types of GST returns and the due dates to file them?

Here is a video to understand who should file GST Return and by when should it be filed –

Here is a list of all the returns to be filed as prescribed under the GST Law along with the due dates.

***For the taxpayers with aggregate turnover equal to or below Rs 5 crore, eligible and remain opted into the QRMP scheme, 22nd of month next to the quarter for taxpayers in category X states/UTs and 24th of month next to the quarter for taxpayers in category Y states/UTs 

• Category X: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana or Andhra Pradesh or the Union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
• Category Y: 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.

Please note: GST filings as per the CGST Act are subject to changes by CBIC notifications/orders.

Upcoming Due Dates to file GST Returns

The due dates for filing GST returns can be extended by issuing orders or notifications. Here, we have the list of GST return due dates for the FY 2024-25. 

Download FY 2024-25 calendar here: GST return filing calendar April 2024 – March 2025

Upcoming due dates for all returns up to September 2024:

For easy access to upcoming GST due dates, here is the GST calendar for all returns up to September 2024:

GSTR-1

Quarterly filing of GSTR-1: 

(Annual turnover up to Rs.5 crore can opt for quarterly filing)

Note: Taxpayers with a turnover of up to Rs.5 crore can opt to furnish their Business to Business (B2B) sales for the first two months of the quarter using an Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF). The deadline will be the 13th of the following month. However, GSTR-1 will still need to be filed quarterly, but the invoices already declared in the IFF need not be declared again. 

Monthly filing of GSTR-1:

(Annual turnover of more than Rs.5 crore must file monthly only)

GSTR-2 and GSTR-3

The filing of these forms is currently suspended.

GSTR-3B

GSTR-3B is a monthly summary return to be filed by all taxpayers except those registered under the composition scheme.

Quarterly filing of GSTR-3B:

(Annual turnover up to Rs.5 crore can opt for quarterly filing)

Monthly filing of GSTR-3B:

(Annual turnover of more than Rs.5 crore must file monthly only)

***Category X: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana or Andhra Pradesh or the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

Category Y: 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.

PMT-06

Taxpayers with a turnover of up to Rs.5 crore can opt to file a quarterly GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B under the QRMP scheme (with an optional use of the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) to furnish their B2B sales for the first two months of the quarter).

These taxpayers will still need to pay taxes monthly using PMT-06 for the first two months of the quarter. The due dates are as follows:

CMP-08

GSTR-4

The due date to file GSTR-4 for the FY 2023-24, the annual return by composition taxpayers, is 30th April 2024. However, for the financial year 2024-25, the due date is 30th June 2025. The due date will be revised for the future financial years accordingly. 

GSTR-5

Summary of outward taxable supplies and tax payable by the non-resident taxable persons:

GSTR-5A

Summary of outward taxable supplies and tax payable by an Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval Services (OIDAR) provider:

GSTR-6

Details of Input Tax Credit (ITC) received and distributed by an Input Service Distributor (ISD):

GSTR-7

Summary of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and deposited under GST laws:

GSTR-8

Summary of Tax Collected at Source (TCS) by e-commerce operators under GST laws:

GSTR-9

GSTR-9 is the annual return to be filed by taxpayers. The due date for filing GSTR-9 for FY 2023-24 is 31st December 2024.

GSTR-9C

GSTR-9C is the annual self-certified reconciliation statement to be filed by taxpayers with a turnover exceeding Rs.5 crore. The due date for filing GSTR-9C for FY 2023-24 is 31st December 2024.

ITC-04

(1) Those with an annual aggregate turnover of more than Rs.5 crore – Half-yearly from April-September 2024- due on 25th October 2024 and October-March 2025 due on 25th April 2025.

(2) Those with an annual aggregate turnover of up to Rs.5 crore – Yearly due on 25th April 2025.

Statement to be filed by a principal/job-worker about details of goods sent to/received from a job-worker:

*The due dates are subject to changes by CBIC notifications/orders.

Late Fees for not Filing Return on Time

If GST returns are not filed within the specified time limits, you will be liable to pay interest and a late fee.

Interest is charged at 18% per annum. It has to be calculated by the taxpayer on the amount of outstanding tax to be paid. The time period will be from the next day of filing to the date of payment.

Late fees are charged at Rs.100 per day per Act. Hence, it will be Rs.100 under CGST and Rs.100 under SGST. The total will be Rs.200 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs.5,000. Please note that from the month of/quarter ended June 2021, the maximum amount of late fees has been revised as below.

^{^}Taxpayers should note that an equal penalty will apply under SGST. There are no late fees under IGST. 

How are GST returns filed or submitted?

There are prescribed formats for each of the above GST returns. These forms need to be filed on the GST portal. However, they may seem complex and difficult to understand by many taxpayers. Do not worry, you can also file your returns very easily using the Clear GST software.

Sign-up now and try it yourself.

Does GST have to be paid monthly?

GST is to be paid monthly by regular taxpayers, even those who have opted for quarterly filing of returns, i.e. the QRMP scheme. 

However, for small taxpayers, there is an option to choose the composition scheme under GST, if their annual aggregate turnover is up to Rs.1.5 crore for manufacturers/dealers and Rs.50 lakh for pure service providers. They can file a quarterly statement-cum-challan and pay taxes quarterly.