GSTR 9B: Applicability, Turnover Limit, Due Date and Penalty

The GST framework mandates filing of certain forms and reporting requirements, each tailored to specific businesses and their activities. For e-commerce operators, GSTR 9B is a notable form that mandates the disclosure of their operations in an annual snapshot. Let’s explore GSTR-9B in detail.

What is GSTR-9B?

The final summary of your total sales, taxes collected, and claims for input tax credit (ITC) throughout the year is called GSTR-9B. It’s required for any platform collecting TCS (Tax Collected at Source) under Section 52 of the CGST Act, and it helps the government verify that all your monthly filings add up correctly

Is GSTR-9B Notified?

Yes, GSTR-9B is not notified by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) despite the form finding a mention in the CGST Rules. 

GSTR-9B Applicability

This form applies to e-commerce operators with an annual turnover exceeding Rs.20 lakh and those required to collect TCS under Section 52 of the CGST Act. This threshold ensures smaller businesses are spared, focusing compliance on entities with more substantial turnovers.

Certain taxpayers need not file this return-

• Input service distributors
• Nonresident taxable persons
• Casual taxable persons
• Taxpayers using composition scheme ( if they need to file GSTR-9A )
• TDS paying persons

Contents of GSTR-9B

GSTR-9B contains the consolidated details filed in the monthly GSTR-8 filed by the e-commerce operators for the entire financial year. 

GSTR-9B Due Date and Penalty

The deadline for filing GSTR-9B is typically 31st December following the financial year’s end. Missing this date attracts penalties. However, since the form is not notified as yet, these penalties do not apply. The fines defined by the GST law are as follows:

• Rs.100 per day under CGST
• Rs.100 per day under SGST

These penalties continue to accumulate until they reach 0.25% of the e-commerce operator’s total turnover.

Step-by-Step GSTR 9B Filing Process

The GSTR-9B is not live on the GST portal. The government portal does not have a detailed guide on the same. However, it is safe to assume that once this form is made live, taxpayers can navigate to ‘Returns dashboard’ and then choose the GSTR-9B return window.