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Are you also a GST registered businessmen who is confused between the filing the different GST forms?
India’s GST system includes a wide range of return forms, each applicable based on the taxpayer’s nature of business, turnover, and eligibility. However, many individuals and companies often misunderstand these requirements, leading to incorrect filings and unexpected penalties.
Let’s simplify the process by understanding the different types of GST forms and turning confusion into clarity.
GST forms are official documents that taxpayers must submit to the government to report their business activities under the GST system. These are the official documents that provide prescribed formats for reporting transactions related to
Out of 22 types of GST forms, 11 are currently active. The filing frequencies vary, occurring monthly, quarterly, or annually.
GST forms must be filed by every person who is *registered under GST. In simple terms, anyone who has a GSTIN must file the applicable GST forms based on their business activities, turnover, and compliance category.
*GST registration is required for individuals and businesses that meet certain criteria under the GST law. You must register for GST if you fall into any of the following categories: Businesses with turnover above the threshold limit
-₹40 lakh for goods
-₹20 lakh for services (Limits vary for special category states)
Taxpayers should understand that filing GST returns is not just a legal formality—it reflects the financial health of your business. Filing GST returns on time and correctly is extremely important. Let’s understand why filing GST forms by a taxpayer holds so much significance.
Filing GST forms is an essential tool for maintaining transparency in your business in India’s taxation environment. It supports the long-term growth of the business and avoids unnecessary queries from the GST department.
The GST framework includes multiple forms that taxpayers must file based on their business category, turnover, and compliance requirements. With so many forms and varying rules, it can be confusing to determine which one applies to your business.
To make this easier, we have created a clear and comprehensive guide that explains each GST form—its purpose, applicability, filing frequency, due dates, and all essential details every taxpayer should know. This will help you stay compliant and avoid unnecessary penalties.
Meaning: GSTR-1 is used by the registered taxpayer to furnish details of outward (all sales of goods and/or services) supplies of goods and services made. The recipient can claim ITC based on the furnished data in GSTR-1.
Purpose: The main purpose of GSTR-1 is to enable the buyer to verify the transactions and claim the eligible Input Tax Credit because the details furnished by the supplier in GSTR-1 are automatically made available to the recipient (buyer) in their GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B forms. Due Date: It is either filed monthly or quarterly, depending on the taxpayer’s turnover (or election under certain schemes)
Monthly: Taxpayers need to file this form by the 11th of every month whose aggregate turnover (in the preceding financial year/current) is above ₹ 5 crore, or who have not opted for the quarterly (QRMP) scheme.
Quarterly: The Taxpayer must file this form on the 13th of the month following the end of each quarter. It is filled only by taxpayers who have opted for the QRMP (Quarterly Return, Monthly Payment) scheme and have a turnover up to ₹5 crore.
Note: Form GSTR-1 must be filed even if there is no business activity (Nil Return) during the tax period.
Meaning: GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B are auto-drafted statements under India’s GST regime that provide details of a taxpayer’s inward supplies (purchases) and available Input Tax Credit (ITC).
Purpose: The general purpose of both forms is typically the same as mentioned above, but they differ in nature, availability, and other ways. Let’s understand the key difference between the two:
| GSTR-2A | GSTR-2B
|
|
| Nature | GSTR 2-A is an auto-drafted, dynamic statement of all purchases (inward supplies) made by a taxpayer. | GSTR-2B is a static, auto-generated monthly statement that provides a constant summary of ITC available for a particular month. |
| Availability | GSTR-2A is updated continuously as it is generated automatically based on the details uploaded by your suppliers; therefore, there is no fixed date. | It is generated on the 14th of the succeeding month. |
| Use | It is used to view only auto-generated statements, which help taxpayers monitor supplier compliance. | It is used as a reference document for ITC, which helps taxpayers claim accurate and eligible ITC. |
Meaning: GSTR-3B is a self-declared summary that shows the net tax liability of a taxpayer. It is used to report the details (consolidated summary) of all outward supplies, inward supplies liable to reverse charge, ITC claimed, and the total tax liability for a specific tax period.
Purpose: The return facilitates the timely declaration and discharge of GST liabilities. Data from the detailed GSTR-1 (outward supplies) and GSTR-2B (auto-drafted ITC statement) are used to auto-populate values in GSTR-3B to ensure accuracy.
Due Date: It is typically filed on a monthly basis, which is the 20th of every month by the taxpayer whose aggregate turnover exceeds Rs. 5 crores.
It can be filed on a quarterly basis on the 22nd of the following quarter (some states may also have different dates based on their categories) by the taxpayer whose turnover is below or equal to 5 cr and has opted for the QRMP scheme.
Note: A “Nil” GSTR-3B can be filed if there are no sales, no purchases (inward supplies), and no tax liability during the period. This can be done online or via SMS.
Meaning: GSTR-4 is an annual GST return that is filed by the taxpayers who have opted for the composition scheme. It furnishes the details of sales, purchases, tax liability, and tax paid by the taxpayer.It is mandatory for any taxpayer who was under the composition scheme for any period, even a single day, during the financial year.
Composition scheme: This scheme offers a simpler compliance process and a fixed tax rate for small businesses with an annual turnover typically below ₹1.5 Crore or ₹75 Lakh for special category states and ₹50 lakh for service providers (other than restaurant services) or those with mixed supplies of goods and services.
Purpose: This form simplifies compliance for small businesses by consolidating a summary of their entire financial year transactions into a single annual filing, rather than requiring monthly returns like regular taxpayers.
Due Date: The GSTR-4 return must be filed by June 30th of the following financial year.
Meaning: GSTR-5 is filed by non-resident taxpayers who are running their business in India and are registered under GST. It furnishes details regarding sales, purchases, tax liability, and taxes paid.
Purpose: To capture details of all outward supplies (sales), inward supplies (purchases), credit/debit notes, tax liability, and taxes paid during their temporary business period in India.
Due Date: For monthly returns (if registration is valid for more than one month): The return is due by the 13th of the month succeeding the tax period (applicable for periods from October 2022 onwards).
If the registration is for a period of less than one month or expires sooner: The return must be filed within seven days after the date of expiry of the registration or the 13th of the following month, whichever is earlier.
GSTR-5A: GSTR 5A must be filed by the NRI-OIDAR (Non-residents- Online information and Database Access or Retrieval Service Providers (OIDAR). These are the foreign companies that provide OIDAR services from a location outside India to non-taxable persons(consumers) in India.
Purpose: To report details of taxable outward supplies and the associated tax liability.
Due Date: The 20th day of the month succeeding in the tax period (e.g., the return for October must be filed by November 20th).
Meaning: GSTR-6 is filled only by businesses or persons registered specifically as an Input Service Distributor (ISD).
An ISD is a business unit (usually the head office) that receives invoices for services used by multiple branches and then distributes the Input Tax Credit (ITC) to those branches.
Purpose: The primary purpose of GSTR-6 is to capture and distribute the Input Tax Credit (ITC) received on behalf of other branches or units of the same organization.
Example: Your company has five branches, but the head office pays for services such as advertising, software, and security. Instead of each branch claiming ITC separately, the head office distributes the ITC to the respective branches. This head office is called an Input Service Distributor (ISD).
Due Date: The taxpayer must file GSTR-6 on the 13th of each month.
GSTR-6A: This is a read-only, auto-generated statement based on the details uploaded by suppliers of ISD in their GSTR-1 forms. The ISD uses this to reconcile its data before filing GSTR-6.
Meaning: GSTR-7 is filed by businesses that are supposed to deduct tax deducted at source (TDS). It furnishes the details of TDS deducted, TDS refunds claimed, TDS payable, and paid by the taxpayer.
Purpose: The primary purpose is to declare TDS liability, furnish details of the tax deducted, and ensure the amounts are remitted to the government, allowing the supplier (deductee) to claim the input tax credit.
Due Date: Taxpayers must file GSTR-7 by the 10th of every month.
Meaning: GSTR-8is filed by taxpayers who are e-commerce platform operators and are responsible for collecting tax at source (TCS). Details regarding supplies and tax collected are furnished in GSTR-8.
Purpose: To report the TCS collected by e-commerce operators and provide details of supplies made through their platform so that the respective sellers can claim the TCS credit.
Due Date: It is filed on the 10th of every month.
GSTR-9 :
Meaning: GSTR9 is an annual return that must be filed by registered taxpayers whose turnover exceeds Rs. 2 crore. It summarizes all transactions done in a year, including outward supplies, inward supplies, ITC claimed, and taxes paid.
Purpose: To consolidate and summarise all monthly/quarterly GST returns filed during the financial year and ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance.
Due Date: It needs to be filed by the taxpayer on December 31st of the following year of the relevant financial year.
GSTR-9C
Meaning:: GSTR-9C is a self-certified reconciliation statement that reconciles GSTR-9 and the audited financial statements of a business. It is mandatory for the taxpayers whose turnover exceeds five cr.
Purpose: To verify and certify the accuracy of GST data reported during the year and ensure that the taxable values, ITC, and liabilities match the audited books of accounts.
Due Date: The deadline to file GSTR-9C is December 31st, and it needs to be filed annually.
Meaning: GSTR-10 needs to be filed by the taxpayer whose GST registration has been cancelled. The cancellation can be voluntary by the taxpayer or by the authorities. It is a final return filed to provide evidence that the taxpayer paid all liabilities before exiting the GST system.
Purpose: To provide a final summary of liabilities, stock details, and taxes payable up to the date of cancellation, ensuring no dues or pending compliance remain.
Due Date: It needs to be filed within 3 months from the date of cancellation of the GSTIN of the taxpayer.
Meaning: GSTR-11needs to be filed by persons with a unique identification number (UIN). It must be filed by the taxpayer when a return is required for taxes paid on inward supplies in India.
Purpose: To declare details of inward supplies received and claim a refund of GST paid, as UIN holders are eligible for tax refunds.
Due Date: The law does not specify a date for filing GSTR-11. Taxpayers can file GSTR-11 to claim a refund if inward supplies are received at any time after the end of the relevant quarter.
These are the key GST forms every taxpayer should understand to stay compliant. If you need a clearer breakdown of applicability, step-by-step GST procedures, registration requirements, or a handy due-date checklist, you can explore here: https://masllp.com/gst-services/.
If you need further assistance related to understanding GSTR forms, you can reach out to us.
Below are the key steps that taxpayers need to follow while filing the form:
GST form filing may seem straightforward to the taxpayer, but it requires a clear conceptual understanding of the form’s applicability based on the goods & services in which they deal. A small mistake in choosing the form can cost you a lot.
At Mercurius, our expert team simplifies the choosing and filing of GST returns in a proper manner. Feel free to get in touch here to know more.
Filing GST forms can seem straightforward, but the taxpayer needs to take utmost care, as even a small mistake can cost a lot.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid by taxpayers to stay on top of GST compliance-
Proper planning and regular reconciliation make GST compliance almost effortless.
Taxpayers must ensure they file their GST returns on time and properly to avoid penalties and queries from the GST.
The process of filing GST returns may feel overwhelming, but a systematic approach can make it easier for taxpayers. Our team is dedicated to simplifying GST return filing by guiding you from the first step of choosing the right form to the final submission, with all required details appropriately furnished.
At Mercurius, our team also provides other services, including company formation & registration, bookkeeping/accounting, taxation, auditing, and assurance services.
