ClearTax Guide on Filing GSTR-1 on GST Portal

The GST Council in its meeting on July 2-3 had shared a revised format for returns which are required to be filed under the GST regime. In this article, we will discuss the revised heads and the new format.

In our previous article, we have discussed all the returns that are required to be filed under Goods and Services Tax. We have also discussed the different types of returns applicable to a specific taxable person such as Input Service Distributor, E-Commerce Operator etc.

According to the GST law, every registered taxable person is required to submit the details of outward supplies in the GSTR-1. This return is required to be filed within 10 days from the end of the tax period, or the transaction month (in simple words).

GSTR-1 has a total of 13 headings. However, the taxable person need not worry as most of these will be prefilled. Before we dive deep into the various sections of this return, we need to understand certain terms. These are:

1. GSTIN – Goods and Services Taxpayer Identification Number
2. UID – Unique Identity Number for Embassies
3. HSN – Harmonized System of Nomenclature for goods
4. SAC – Services Accounting Code
5. GDI – Government Department Unique ID where department does not have a GSTIN
6. POS – Place of Supply of Goods or Services – State Code to be mentioned.

Below are the various section headings under GSTR-1:

1. GSTIN: Each taxpayer will be allotted a state-wise PAN-based 15-digit Goods and Services Taxpayer Identification Number (GSTIN). The format of proposed GSTIN has been shown in the image below. The GSTIN of the taxpayer will be auto-populated at the time of return filing.

• Name of the taxpayer: Name of the taxpayer will also be auto-populated at the time of logging into the common GST Portal.

• Gross turnover of the taxpayer in the previous FY: This information is required to be filed only in the first year of GST implementation. Next year onwards it will be auto-populated as carried forward balance of the previous year.

• Taxable outward supplies made to registered persons (including UIN-holders) other than supplies covered by Table 6: This head will hold the information about the details of all taxable supplies made by the registered taxable person. This head will cover complete details of Normal Taxable Supplies,  Supplies under Reverse Charge, and Supplies by way of an E-Commerce operator.

• Taxable outward inter-state supplies to unregistered persons where the invoice value is more than Rs 2.5 lakh: This head will cover the details of all taxable supplies made to an unregistered person in the different state. However, details are needed to be furnished only when the turnover exceeds Rs. 2.5 lakh.

• Zero-rated supplies and deemed exports: All type of zero-rated supplies, exports, deemed exports (supply to SEZ, EOUs) will be captured under this head.

• Taxable supplies (net of debit notes and credit notes) to unregistered persons other than the supplies covered in Table 5: All the taxable supply which are made to an unregistered taxable person and are not covered under table 5 needs to be furnished under this head. This will mainly cover taxable supplies to the unregistered person in the same state and below Rs. 2.5 lakh in other states.

• Nil-rated, exempt and non-GST outward supplies: All the other supplies whether nil rated, exempt or non-GST which has not been reported under any of the above needs to be reported under this head.

• Amendments to taxable outward supply details furnished in returns for earlier tax periods in Table 4, 5 and 6 [including debit notes, credit notes, refund vouchers issued during the current period and amendments thereof: Details of any kind of amendment in outward supply from previous tax period needs to be reported under this head. Any amendment in debit or credit notes also needs to be provided under this head.

• Amendments to taxable outward supplies to unregistered persons: Any amendment in details of taxable outward supplies to unregistered persons from previous tax periods needs to be made under this head.

• Consolidated statement of advances received/advance: This head will include all the details of advances received and adjusted under the current period. This will result in increase/decrease of GST liability. Any kind of amendment in advances from earlier tax period also needs to be reported here.

• HSN-wise summary of outward supplies: Here the taxable person will consolidate all his supplies across HSN codes. This section will also reflect high-level information on supplies made and IGST, CGST and SGST collected against it.

• Documents issued during the tax period: This head will include details of all invoices issues in a tax period, any kind of revised invoice, debit notes, credit notes etc.

Here’s the link to the government of India prescribed format for GSTR-1.