GST return filing involves submitting a set of documents that contain: Details of sales and purchases made by your business.
✅ Information about taxes collected on sales and paid on purchases.
✅ Once the GST return is filed, you must pay the prescribed amount due to the government based on the return details.
By ensuring timely GST return filing, businesses maintain compliance, avoid penalties, and streamline their tax processes.
GST (Goods and Services Tax) is recognized as one of India’s most significant taxation reforms. Its introduction has streamlined indirect tax structures by replacing multiple state and central taxes with a unified system. Filing GST returns offers numerous benefits to taxpayers and businesses, including:
✅ Elimination of the Cascading Effect of Taxes: Prevents tax-on-tax situations, reducing overall tax liability.
✅ Simplified Compliance: GST return filing is easy to manage, thanks to a standardized process.
✅ Harmonized Tax Structure: Ensures uniformity in tax rates and policies across states.
✅ Efficient Administration: Simplifies tax management for both the government and taxpayers.
✅ Seamless Input Tax Credit: Facilitates smooth credit transfer for businesses.
✅ Enhanced Revenue Efficiency: Boosts government tax collection with minimal evasion.
✅ Reduced Tax Collection Costs: Lowers administrative expenses associated with tax compliance.
✅ Improved Transparency: Promotes accountability through digital tracking of transactions.
✅ 100% Online Process: Enables end-to-end online filing, ensuring convenience.
✅ Relief in Tax Burden: Reduces the overall tax liability for businesses and consumers.
Filing GST returns on time is crucial for maintaining compliance and avoiding penalties. It helps businesses claim input tax credit and strengthens their credibility in the market.
Ideally, any business owner with an annual turnover of Rs. 40 lakhs or Rs. 20 lakhs (for hilly areas and North-Eastern states) should file a GST return accordingly.
However, there is a classification for which you should file your GST return. Let’s see them.
A GST return is typically filed depending on the type of tax structure you fall under. For example, there are 7 categories of taxpayers as mentioned in the Income Tax Act 1961, such as regular taxpayers, composition taxpayers, E-Commerce operators, TDS deductors, non-resident taxpayers, Input Service Distributor (ISD) and casual taxable persons. Based on the type of taxpayer you are, you need to file the GST return.
GSTR-1
GSTR-2: Suspended
GSTR-3: Suspended
GSTR-3B:
CMP-08 (earlier known as GSTR-4): Composition taxpayer with composition scheme
GSTR-5: Non-resident foreign taxpayers (with business in India)
GSTR-5A: Online information and database access or retrieval service (OIDAR) provider
GSTR-6: Input service distributor (ISD)
GSTR-7: TDS deductors under Section 51 of CGST Act
GSTR-8: Registered E-commerce operator who collects TCS
GSTR-9: Annual return to be filed by the taxpayers registered under GST
GSTR-9A: By Composition taxpayer. Currently suspended
GSTR-10: Taxpayers whose GST registration got surrendered or canceled
GSTR-11: Taxpayers with Unique Identification Number
Filing GST returns has become straightforward, thanks to the Indian government's simplified online procedures.
Filing GST returns correctly is crucial for compliance. Partnering with professionals ensures accuracy, saves time, and avoids penalties for errors.
Follow these steps to file your GST return hassle-free.
Before filing your GST return, you need a 15-digit GST Identification Number (GSTIN). You can either seek assistance from a professional return filing service provider like JustStart or get expert counseling. The service provider will handle form submissions and portal uploads, ensuring the process is completed on time.
Once you receive your GSTIN, the next step is to scan and upload your invoices on the GST portal. Each invoice will be assigned a unique reference number for tracking.
GST return filing involves submitting three types of returns:
✅ Outward Return (GSTR-1): File details of outward supplies, including uploaded invoices. Review and edit information before final submission, as no changes are allowed post-submission.
✅ Inward Return (GSTR-2): Once GSTR-1 is filed, the details automatically populate in the GSTR-2A form. Review and verify these details.
✅ Cumulative Monthly Return: Provide a summary of monthly taxable supplies for accurate reconciliation.
Carefully review all details on the GSTR-2 form, ensuring accuracy in reporting inward supplies of taxable goods and services. Submit the form to complete the filing process.
When it comes to GST return filing, JustStart stands out as your trusted partner, offering expert services with a client-first approach.
Here’s why businesses prefer JustStart:
Our team comprises experienced Company Secretaries (CS), Chartered Accountants (CA), lawyers, and business administrators, ensuring your GST returns are filed accurately and efficiently.
JustStart offers 360° corporate legal services, making it a one-stop solution for GST return filing, business incorporation, and other professional needs.
We understand the importance of deadlines. Our team delivers timely GST return filing to help you stay compliant without stress.
Our customer support team is available via call, email, and chat to assist you with any queries, ensuring a seamless experience.
JustStart provides quality services at a cost that’s lower than most professionals and service providers, offering excellent value for your investment.
Form GSTR-1 is to be furnished by all normal and casual taxpayers, every registered taxable person other than ISD, composition taxpayers, and persons liable to collect tax under Section 52 and A person liable to deduct tax under Section 51.
Yes. The applicants may be penalized for late GST return filing There are different kinds of penalties prescribed for each kind of delayed return filing.
Yes. Since GST return filing is an online process, the portal also gives you the opportunity to know your GST return’s status via three modes:
To do that, you can simply
After successful submission of the application, you may see either of the following 4 status reflected on the screen:
Typically, yes. GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B should be filled in by all registered GST applicants even when there is no business activity. Here, you can mention that there were NIL Sales.
Taxpayers under a composition scheme, NRI taxpayers, input service distributors, and e-commerce operators deducting TCS are exempted from filing GSTR-1.
Copyright © 2024 JustStart All Rights Reserved.