Filing GST return

Depending on their specific industry, businesses that have registered for GST are required to file GST returns on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Here, information on the sales or purchases of goods and services is required, as well as information about the tax that was collected and paid. GST, a complete income tax system, has been implemented in India, guaranteeing that taxpayer services including registration, returns, and compliance are within budget and precisely coordinated.

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What is filing a GST return?

An individual taxpayer filing GST returns must submit four forms: returns for supply, returns for purchases, monthly returns, and annual returns.

Regardless of the business activity, sales, or profitability during the time of filing the reports, all organizations with a valid GST registration in India are required to file GST returns. Consequently, even an inactive firm with a current GST registration is required to file GST returns.

A GST return is a form that a taxpayer must submit to the tax administration authorities detailing all of their income and spending.

GST File Returns – Types and Due Dates

GST Filling Returns	Purpose
GSTR1	Using this form, tax returns for outgoing supply are submitted. It includes information about intrastate, interstate, B2B, and B2C sales made during the tax year, including reverse charge purchases and interstate stock transfers. If Form GSTR-1 is submitted after the deadline, the late fee will be collected on Form GSTR-3B for the subsequent open return. If a taxpayer hasn't submitted Form GSTR-3B in the month prior, they will not be able to submit Form GSTR-1 as of January 1, 2022.
GSTR1A	It is an amendment form used to fix any discrepancies between a taxpayer's GSTR-1 and the GSTR-2 of their clients on the GSTR-1 document. Between the 15th and the 17th of the next month, you can file this.
GSTR2	This form is used to submit a monthly GST return for inbound supplies that were received. It includes information on the taxpayer, the return period, and final invoice-level purchase data relevant to the tax period that is presented separately for goods and services.
GSTR2A	Based on the details included in the GSTR-1 of their suppliers, the GSTN automatically creates a tax return for the taxpayer's purchases and inbound supply.
GSTR2B	For taxpayers, the GSTR-2B serves as a declaration of their Input Tax Credits (ITC). According to the GST Council, GSTR-2B would shorten the time required to file returns, reduce mistakes, make reconciliation easier, and streamline compliance.
GSTR3	TConsolidated monthly tax returns are filed using it. It includes the basic information about the taxpayer (name, GSTIN, etc.), the time period to which the return relates, turnover information, final aggregate-level inward and outward supply information, tax liability under CGST, SGST, IGST, and additional tax (+1% tax), information about your ITC, cash, and liability ledgers, and information about other payments like interest, penalties, and fees.
GSTR3A	TIt is a tax warning sent to a defaulter by the tax authority after they failed to submit their monthly GST returns on time.
GSTR3B	The Government of India has issued temporary consolidated summary GST returns of inbound and outbound supply as a relief for companies that have only recently registered to GST.
GSTR4	It is the GST returns for each quarter that compounding sellers file. This includes the total amount of supplies made during the reporting period, details of the tax paid at the compounding rate (not more than 1% of total turnover), and invoice information for inward supplies, whether imports or purchases from regular taxpayers.
GSTR4A	It is the composition dealers' quarterly purchase-related tax return. Based on the data provided in the GSTR-1, GSTR-5, and GSTR-7 of your suppliers, the GSTN site automatically generates it.
GSTR5	Non-resident foreign taxpayers' variable return (It includes information on the taxpayer, the reporting period, and invoice information for any products and services that were sold and bought. It also covers imports made by the assessee during the registered time frame/month on Indian land.
GSTR6	This is the ISDs' monthly GST return. It includes the taxpayer's basic information (name, GSTIN, etc.), the period to which the return relates, invoice-level supply details from the GSTR-1 of counterparties, invoice details, including the taxpayer receiving the credit's GSTIN, and a separate ISD ledger with the period's opening ITC balance, credit for ITC services received, debit for ITC reversed or distributed, and closing balance.
GSTR7	The monthly return is submitted for TDS transactions. It includes the fundamental information about the taxpayer (name, GSTIN, etc.), the time period to which the return relates, the GSTIN of the supplier, and the invoices from which the tax has been subtracted. The three main tax heads—SGST, CGST, and IGST—are used to classify it. The document also includes specifics on any additional payments, such as fines and interest.
GSTR8	The monthly profit for online merchants is it. It includes the basic information about the taxpayer (name, GSTIN, etc.), the time period to which the return relates, information about the supplies made to customers through the e-commerce portal by both registered taxable persons and unregistered persons, information about the customers (including whether or not they are registered taxpayers), and the amount of tax collected at source, tax payable, and tax paid.
GSTR9	This is a combined yearly tax return. It includes a thorough breakdown of the taxpayer's income and expenses. These are then reorganized in accordance with the taxpayer's monthly GST filings.
GSTR9A	Each taxpayer engaged in the composition program is required to submit an annual composition return form.
GSTR9B	It is a yearly report that e-commerce businesses who collect tax at the source are required to provide.
GSTR9C	Every taxpayer who is required to have their annual reports audited when their combined turnover surpasses 2 crores in a financial year must submit this Audit form.
GSTR10	Before canceling a GST registration, filing GST returns If you are permanently ending your business operations or canceling your GST registration, you must complete this last GST return. It will document all purchases, obligations, taxes paid and received, and taxes due.
GSTR11	Taxpayers with UINs and variable returns It includes information on the purchases made by diplomatic missions and foreign embassies for personal use during a specific month.

Who is eligible for a State FSSAI License?

Businesses that are based in a single state and have annual sales that is between Rs. 12 lacs and Rs. 20 crores.
Center for handling proprietary foods
Production and processing facilities for vegetable oil utilizing the solvent extraction method that fulfill the aforementioned turnover requirements.
Hotels with a star rating of four or less
Facilities that deal with dairy products include Milk Chilling Units with production capacities between 500 and 50,000 lit
Storages with annual capacity under 50,000 metric tons.
A slaughterhouse that can handle up to 50 huge animals and more than 2 animals. Or the ability to handle up to 150 tiny animals at once. With a daily capacity of more than 50 to as many as 1000 chickens.
Any and all food processing facilities, including repacking units, having a daily capacity of at least 100kg/l and a maximum of 2 metric tons

Basic paperwork needed to obtain a State FSSAI license

The following papers must be obtained in order to apply for a state FSSAI license:

Information about important management personnel, including genuine addresses and contact information for Directors, Partners, Owners, and Executive Members of the Society.

Passport-sized images of the person applying for the license
Identification and proof of address for the person applying for the license
PAN card of the applicant
A copy of the real estate paperwork (if the applicant owns the business location)
A duplicate of the lease and the landlord's NOC (in the event of rental property)
Information about the Raw Material Suppliers
Form B properly completed and signed off by the applicant.
List of equipment installed at the site
The local municipality has granted a NOC
Information provided by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade on the import and export codes
Food category and proposed food items to be manufactured at the facility.
Food safety management system (FSMS)
Form IX
Authorization letter with the name and address of the accountable party

Eligibility requirements

Who needs to submit the GST returns?

To file a GST return in India, the following procedures must be followed:

Anyone with a valid GSTIN is required to file the GST returns.
If a person's annual turnover reaches Rs. 20 lakh, they are also required to register for GST and file GST returns on a regular basis.
In instances involving Special States, the annual turnover ceiling is set at Rs. 10 lakh.

Process for Filing GST Returns

Step 1: Visit www.gst.gov.in, the GST gateway.

Step 2: Get a 15-digit GST Identification Number (GSTIN), which is given depending on your state code and PAN.

Step 3: Upload the pertinent invoices to the GST site. For each invoice, a reference number will be assigned.

Step 4: After uploading all of your invoices, inner returns, outward returns, and cumulative monthly GST filing returns, double-check the information you entered before completing your returns.

The user-friendly online platform that Legalstartup offers allows you to use its GST filing services from the convenience of your home. From the beginning, the devoted Legalstartup representatives will be in close contact with you. They will gather all the necessary paperwork and take the necessary action.

GST Return Types and Application Status Monitoring

The execution of the requirement determines the state of the GST return filing application, and the taxpayer would be informed of their filing by the status. There are basically four states, which are described below.

FILED-VALID: When the GST return is being submitted by the registered taxpayer and has met all conditions.
FILED-INVALID: When the tax remains unremitted in whole or in part
TO BE FILED: GST Returns are overdue but not submitted.
SUBMITTED BUT NOT VALID: When a return has been verified but the filing has not yet been made.

How to Track a GST Return?

Online tracking of the progress of GST returns is simple in three ways.

Monitoring Using ARN

Each taxpayer who files a tax return is given an individual identification number (ARN), which they may use to follow the progress of their return each month. Following are the steps to view the status using ARN:

Step 1:Go to the official GST website and sign into your account by providing the necessary information or by providing accurate information.
Step 2:Select the Services > Returns menu option. Monitor the status of your returns.
Step 3: Input the ARN number that was given to the taxpayer's registered email address and press the search button.

When you select the search option, a complete display of the return application status with all the necessary information will appear.

Tracking throughout the period for filing GST returns

Step 1:Go to the official GST website and sign into your account by providing the necessary information or by providing accurate information.
Step 2:Select Services > Returns > Track Return status from the menu.
Step 3: Click on the GST Return Filing Period and use the provided calendar to input the dates.
Step 4:All pertinent information would be shown on the screen after selecting the search option.

When monitoring the status

Step 1:Go to the official GST portal and choose the option for "search taxpayer."
Step 2:Click the GSTIN/UIN option after seeing it, input your GSTIN ID and the precise captcha code, and then click the search button. Captcha Code will only show after entering your GSTIN ID.

Following completion of the form, the website will provide all pertinent data regarding the business, including the legal name, place of registration, date, GSTIN/UIN status, and information from the most recent GST returns filed under different subheadings.

How to Download Online GST Returns

Here is a step-by-step tutorial for downloading GST returns from the internet:

Step 1:Click 'Login' after entering your login information.
Step 2:Select 'File GST Returns'.
Step 3:Click 'Search' after choosing the year and month.
Step 4:Select 'View GSTR 1'.
Step 5:Then select "Preview."
Step 6:Save the file in a folder and then right-click to see the file.

Benefits of Filing a GST Return

GST removes the Cascade Effect

Tax on tax used to be paid for just one transaction very commonly. Due to the GST's elimination of a variety of other taxes, such as the central excise duty, service tax, customs duty, and others, you are no longer needed to pay tax on state-level value-added tax. It helps you save money.

Increased Threshold

The combined turnover threshold for the GST is greater than Rs. 40 lakhs or more for the sale of goods and beyond Rs. 20 lakhs for the sale of services. This implies that small enterprises that fall under this threshold limit are exempt from filing GST.

Easier for new businesses and e-commerce enterprises

Startups and e-commerce enterprises now find it simpler to manage their taxes thanks to the GST system. E-commerce in particular was hurt by the GST's abolition of these inconsistent tax standards.

More efficient system

Prior to the disorganized procedure for reporting GST tax returns. The main drawbacks of reporting taxes have been eliminated since the implementation of GST, and all taxes are now paid online.

Who May File a GST Return?

Regular businesses with annual revenues of more than 5 crore
Under the GST system, taxpayers who did not select the QRMP plan must submit two monthly returns and one annual return.
Annually, QRMP filers are required to submit nine GSTR files, consisting of an annual return, four GSTR-1 forms, and three GSTR-3B forms. However, even if they submit their returns on a quarterly basis, QRMP filers must pay tax on a monthly basis.
In some situations, such as in the case of composition dealers, who must submit five GSTR files yearly (4 statement-cum-challans in CMP-08 and 1 annual return GSTR-4), separate statements and returns, must also, be filed.

Required Documents for GST Return Filling

GST B2B invoices or invoices given to those having GSTIN for return filing
B2C invoices or those sent to customers without a GSTIN
This must only be provided if the total value is greater than 2.5 lakh rupees.
A combination of interstate transactions
Summary of all items offered on HSN
Any additional debit, credit, or advance receipts

Upcoming deadlines for submitting GST returns

It is essential to submit the paperwork by the deadline for GST filing. This will assist in preventing late fees and interest. In accordance with the issuing order or through notifications, the deadlines for submitting GST returns may be extended. The deadlines to file GST for the fiscal years 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 have been compiled by Legalstartup.

The GST Return: What Is It?

The GST return is a thorough accounting of all of your sales, purchases, output tax (tax on sales) and input tax (tax on purchases) payments. You must pay the resultant tax burden, which is the sum you owe the government, after submitting the GST returns.

Filing a GST Return Using the Composition Scheme

Composition Scheme taxpayers are required to submit GSTR-4 yearly through the GST Common Portal or a GST Facilitation Center and make quarterly CMP-08 tax payments. For Composition Scheme registrants, the GST return is due on the 18th of the month that follows each quarter, or on 18 April, 18 July, 18 October, and 18 January. The GST return has to include information on:

On an invoice-by-invoice basis, information on the supplies acquired from registered and unregistered parties, both intra-state and inter-state, should be supplied.
A list of the supplies provided to consumers must also be included in the GST return submitted by Composition Scheme suppliers.

The 10th, 15th, and 20th of each month are the deadlines for filing monthly GST returns if a person registered for GST has chosen to pay taxes under the Composition Scheme from the beginning of a financial year. They must continue filing monthly returns until the due date for furnishing the return for September of the following financial year or the annual return of the financial year prior, whichever comes first. As a result, even if a taxpayer chooses the Composition Scheme beginning in April, they must continue submitting monthly GST returns until September.

Why Legalstarup?

Legalstarup can assist you in all areas with the help of its fleet of GST specialists. Every month, we provide GST-related compliance assistance to more than 1000 businesses.

We will remind you, so you don't have to worry about forgetting deadlines. Simplified way to store your bills and other paperwork in one place and organized
With the help of professionals, you may save money, acquire the right input tax credit, and submit your taxes.
Our specialists file returns for many other businesses like yours and are always up to speed with changes in GST regulations and procedures, so you won't have to struggle to understand them.
You will save a ton of time and labor since your file is error-free, and we will pay any penalty related to any erroneous delay on our side.

Frequently Asked Questions

A GST return is what?

A GST return is a summary of the financial transactions made by a taxable person within a certain time period. A taxable person can use this to determine.

What does submitting a return serve?

Completion of the taxpayer's tax obligations within the allotted deadline; the declaration of tax responsibility for a specific time frame. Provide the information required to make decisions on policy. Program for tax administration compliance checking.

Is it possible to register for GST online?

Yes. Online GST registration applications are available to taxpayers. Simply register your business with the official GST Portal and provide scanned copies of all required documentation.

Does every Indian state have the same GST threshold cap?

No. The GST threshold limit for all sorts of enterprises in India's North East states is Rs. 20 lakh. While the threshold limit is Rs. 10 lakhs in states like Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.

What is the GST ARN Number?

The application reference number, or ARN Number, is produced automatically on the official GST Portal upon the submission of the GST Registration Application. Once a GST registration application has been submitted, the GST ARN number may be used to monitor its status until the government issues a GST Certificate and GSTIN.

What will the GST rate be for my business?

The GST rate might range from 0% to 28% depending on the type of products or services you are selling. Download our GST guide from the link above to determine the GST rate for your company.

Can I use one GSTIN to sell both goods and services?

Yes, as long as you mentioned those goods and services when you registered for GST, you may sell both goods and services with a single GST number.

Is it necessary for me to file for GST Registration in every state if I sell my goods throughout all of India?

No, if you are supplying goods from one state to all of India, you just need one GST registration. If you are supplying items from two or more states, you must register for the items and Services Tax (GST).

Does failing to register for GST carries any penalties?

If a business entity that is legally obligated to register for GST does not do so or willfully ignores it, they will be subject to a penalty of either 100% of the unpaid tax or INR 10,000, whichever is higher.

What information and paperwork are needed for GST registration?

Depending on the sort of business you are doing, different paperwork is needed. The following documents must be submitted in order to register for GST:

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