Due to the ongoing pandemic considering the difficulties for the tax payers, various relaxations for the tax payers were provided by the GST council. This is in order to reduce the burden & to ease the return filing process which was hindered due to the lockdown across the county. Few were waiving off of late fee for filing GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B with extended dates, relaxation from various compliances such as filing of ITC-04 forms etc. The major relaxation was reduction in the interest rate & benefit of paying tax without interest if GST returns were filed on or before 15 days from the actual due date. The late fee for delayed returns also been capped to maximum of Rs.500 (CGST+SGST).
However, the relaxation has brought various confusion in the taxpayer’s mind relating the applicability of the relaxation for various practical scenarios. This article is intended to give insight on the frequently asked questions with regard to such relaxations which are discussed in subsequent paragraphs.
Q 1. Whether the due date for the GST returns of February to July 2020 extended?
Ans: No, the due date for the GST returns (GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B) for February 2020 to July 2020 has not been extended. The due dates remain same as earlier. However, the relaxation has been provided by not charging the interest for first 15 days from the original due date.
Q 2. Liability of FY 18-19 (Ex: March 2019) has been missed out & not paid till September 2019 return. However, tax payer decided to discharge it while filing annual return of FY 18-19 though DRC-03. How is the interest to be computed for such cases? Whether the concessional rate of 9% would be applicable from March 2020 to date of filing annual return, if it is filed before 30th September 2020 (or) interest @ 18% would be applicable from March 2019 to date of filing annual return?
Ans: Notification No. 51/2020 dated 24th June 2020 provides relief by lowering interest rates for prescribed time for tax periods from February 2020 to July 2020 for those who are required to furnish GSTR-3B but fail to furnish the said return within prescribed due date.
However, such relaxation cannot be applied for missed out liability of previous tax periods or annual return filing. Thus, interest @ 18% would be applicable.
Q 3. A tax payer has supplied goods on credit to a customer but not raised an invoice & did not pay any tax on the same assuming all the compliances under GST are extended. Whether all the compliances are extended?
Ans: As per notification No. 35/2020 r/w notification no.55/2020, it is notified that time limit for completion or compliances during the period 20th March 2020 to 29th August 2020 shall be extended to 31st August 2020 except provisions related to Chapter IV & few other sections (which include section 31). Chapter IV covers Time & Value of supply. Section 31 is related to tax invoice, credit notes & debit notes.
Therefore, tax payer has to comply with time of supply provisions & raise invoice accordingly. Further, the tax has to be discharged through returns. For delay in payment of tax, interest & late fee would be applicable.
Q 4. Does concessional interest rate applicable to composition tax payers, TDS return & TCS returns?
Ans: No, it is only applicable to those registered persons who are required to furnish GSTR-3B.
Q 5. Waiver of late fees for delayed filing of GSTR-3B in excess of Rs. 500 was made vide notification 57/2020. What if the late fees say Rs. 4250 was paid on 25/06/2020 i.e before the notification was released? Can it be claimed as refund?
Ans: The late fees paid in excess of Rs. 500 would be recredited to the cash ledger of the tax payer. Kindly note the same has not been provided specifically in the notification. However, a message on recrediting is being displayed on the GST official website gst.gov.in.
Q 6. When the GST returns to be filed in order to avail the benefit of late fees reduction?
Ans: The GST returns for the period February 2020 to July 2020 to be filed on or before the 30/09/2020 in order to avail the benefit of late fees reduction up to maximus of RS. 500. If the returns filed beyond 30/09/2020, the full late fees would be liable. Further, the notification no.52/2020 provides relaxation in late fee for the July 2017-January 2020 GSTR-3B, if the said returns are filed between 01/07/2020 to 30/09/2020.
Q 7. Whether the late fees waiver is applicable for delayed filing annual returns also if filed before 30/09/2020?
Ans: No, the late fees waiver beyond Rs. 500 is not applicable for the delayed filing of annual returns. If the annual returns for the FY 2017-18 is being filed after the specified due date the late fees of Rs. 200 per day would be applicable till the date of filing of annual returns.
Q 8. Whether late fees of Rs. 500 to be paid for fling NIL return/ Nil liability?
Ans: No, the late fees would be fully waived off for those tax taxpayers whose total amount of tax is NIL.
Q 9. Whether the late fees for the delayed filing of GSTR-1 has been capped up to Rs. 500?
Ans: No, if the GSTR-1 is not filed within the due dates mentioned in notification no.53/2020, the full late fees would be payable from the original due date. No change/ waiver provided for GSTR-1.
Q 10. Whether the late fees waiver in excess of Rs.500 would be applicable for August 2020 return also if filed before 30/09/2020?
Ans: No, the late fees waiver if not applicable for the August GSTR-3B. As per notification no. 57/2020 r.w notification no.52/2020, the period covered is February 2020 to July 2020.
Q 11. If a tax payer having turnover above 5 crores filed March GSTR-3B (original due date 20/04/2020) on 25/06/2020, whether late fees liable from original due date as per notification no.52/2020?
Ans: No, the notification 52/2020 r.w notification no. 57/2020 provides the relaxation stating that the late fees would be maximum of Rs. 500 in relation to the the GSTR-3B pertaining to February 2020 to July 2020 if filed on or before 30/09/2020 & notification 52/2020 provides for the July 2017-January 2020 if the said returns is filed between 01/07/2020 to 30/09/2020.
Therefore, the late fees would be restricted for Rs. 500 and not applicable from original due date.
Q 12. ITC utilisation rules have been recently amended. IGST ITC has to be completely utilised first before utilising CGST & SGST ITC. Where a tax payer has duly utilised IGST ITC completely and still there is liability, same should be paid in cash. For example – CGST Rs. 50,000 & SGST Rs. 1,50,000. In 39th GST council meeting it was recommended to amend law retrospectively that interest for delay in payment of GST to be charged on net cash tax liability. Now, if the said return is related to April 2020 & filed on 10th October 2020, how much interest to be paid (considering recommendations)?
Ans: Interest would be paid on net cash liability i.e. on CGST Rs. 50,000 & SGST Rs. 1,50,000 at the rates provided below.
If turnover more than 5 crores – (April month original due date was 20th May 2020)
21st May 2020 to 4th June 2020 – 15 days – no interest.
5th June 2020 to 24th June 2020 – 20 days – Interest @ 9%
25th June 2020 to 10th October 2020 – 108 days – Interest @ 18%
If the turnover up to 5 crores – (Southern States)
21st May 2020 to 6th July 2020 – 47 days – no interest.
7th July 2020 to 30th September 2020 – 86 days – Interest @ 9%
1st October 2020 to 10th October 2020 – 10 days – Interest @ 18%
If the turnover up to 5 crores – (Northern States)
21st May 2020 to 9th July 2020 – 50 days – no interest.
10th July 2020 to 30th September 2020 – 83 days – Interest @ 9%
1st October 2020 to 10th October 2020 – 10 days – Interest @ 18%
Q 13. In the above example, what if the said return is related to January 2020?
Ans: Notification clearly specifies that the concessional rate of interest for the period mentioned therein would be applicable to the tax periods February 2020 to July 2020. Therefore, concessional interest rate cannot be applied for January 2020 returns.
Q 14. In the example mentioned in question 12, how to disclose the same in GSTR-3B as GSTN portal would take CGST/SGST automatically when one of those amounts are feed in?
Ans: It would not be possible to pay different CGST & SGST interest through GSTR-3B. Suggested to discharge interest through DRC-03 or discharge at the time of filing annual return as interest amount would be computed till the date of payment of liability.
Q 15. A tax payer has availed ineligible ITC during tax period March 2020 and wishes to reverse such ineligible ITC in the tax period May 2020. Would there be any relaxation of interest on reversal of ITC?
Ans: In general, ineligible ITC reversal would attract interest at 18 % / 24% per annum (subject to interpretation in Section 50).Comment [B1]:Rate to be confirmed by partners,Whether 18% to be considered Notification provides concessional rate of tax for those who are required to file GSTR-3B but failed to furnish the same along with payment of taxes. However, it is not clear if the concessional rate can be opted for ITC reversal aspect. Suggested to discharge interest at concessional rate and wait for clarification. It may be noted that there is no interest on interest.
Q 16. In the above example, what if ineligible ITC claimed in the tax period January 2020?
Ans: Notification applicable to specific tax period returns from February 2020. Therefore, such notification will not applicable to January 2020 return.
Q 17. GST liability of March 2020 has been missed out while filing March 2020 return. However, the same has been paid in April 2020. April & May GST returns were filed on 5th May 2020 & 4th June respectively. Whether interest applicable in such case? If yes, at what rate?
Ans: Interest would be attracted for delay in payment of tax. In the given example, assuming tax payer has turnover more than 5 crores, March month liability was supposed to be paid without any interest on 5th May 2020. However, it has been discharged on 4th June 2020. Therefore, there is a delay of 31 days for which interest to be discharged.
Rate at which interest would be discharged will be staggered manner. For first 15 days it will nil interest & then 9% p.a. (16 days) would be applicable.
Q18. GSTR-3B due dates would be based on the previous FY turnover. How to determine in the following cases:
I. Where a registered person has started business in the FY 2020-21 & registered in April 2020?
II. Where a registered person has started business in the FY 2019-20 & registered in April 2020?
III. Where a registered person has registered in January 2020 with turnover of Rs. 1.25 crore?
Ans: Possible suggestions are as follows in each case:
I. Can consider current FY turnover or can consider ‘zero’ turnover as business started in FY 20-21.
II. Turnover of FY 2019-20 would be considered as aggregate turnover definition include aggregate of all supplies whether he is registered or unregistered or a taxable person.
III. The turnover of FY 2019-20 is to be considered, when the registration is obtained in January 2020, the turnover from January to March 2020 to be considered i.e the turnover of Rs. 1.25 crore.
Considering the clarity provided above, it would be beneficial to the tax payers to avail the relaxations effectively in order to take maximum benefit in the form of reduce the interest or late fees cost in this economic condition.
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I would like to thank CA Mahadev R for vetting the article. For any clarifications or suggestions, kindly reach me out at rashmi@hiregange.com
Author Bio
We are registered under GST and we run our Garment business from home. before lockdown our business was 5-8k a month. Later due to pandemic lockdown we had shutdown our business fearing Covid19 and not allowing our customer to come at our residence till now we are closed as of feb 21.
We havent done anything in GST as there was no clear information from our CA. Now according to our CA our GST number is cancelled and we have to pay penalty. We want to revoke our GST number.
Please reply and help us. As our CA is not supportive and we are not well versed with GST and its law.
I have two Gst registration bhopal and mumbai or bhopal wale registration se koi bhi outward supply nahi kari hai sab Mumbai wale registration se hai to jo inward supply Bhopal k registration pe hai usme input credit le sakta hu ya nahi or nahi to kuch rule no batayiyega
IT IS REQUESTED TO YOU WAIVE OFF LATE FEES IN CASE OF GSTR1 ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS:-
1. AFTER MARCH 22, 2020 THE LOCKDOWN THROUGH WHOLE OF OUR COUNTRY.
2. THE DEALERS WHOSE TURNOVER UPTO 1.5 CRORE, IF THE REGULAR REGISTERED DEALER HAVING TURNOVER 15 LAC, FAILS TO FILE THEIR GSTR1 ON 17 JULY 2020. THE LATE FEES WILL BE CHARGE FROM THE DATE ACTUAL DATE. THIS WILL ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE SMALL BUSINESSMAN.
3. DUE TO COVID 19 MANY OF THE BUSINESSMAN OF OUR COUNTRY CLOSED THE BUSINESS DUE TO EXCESS EXPENSES OVER THE SALES.
4. IF THEY HAVE NOT MONEY TO GIVE FEES TO THE ADVOCATE, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, ACCOUNTANTS. THESE PROFESSIONALS WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT FEES. AT THIS STAGE WHAT IS THE FAULT OF THE SMALL DEALERS.
5. IF OUR GOVT. ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE SMALL DEALERS, THEN WAIVE OFF THE LATE FEES.
6. AS PER OUR HON’BLE PM ADDRESS THIS YEAR FOR THE SAVE OF LIFE OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY.
7. IF LATE CHARGED ON THE GSTR 1, IT WILL BREAK THE BACKBONE OF THE SMALL DEALERS/BUSINESSMAN.
8. OUR GOVT HELPS THE POORS BY WAY OF PROVIDING MONEY, FOODS. BUT WHEN IN THE CASE OF SMALL DEALERS/BUSINESSMAN WE SHALL CHARGE LATE FEES ON GSTR1.
9. IT IS MY PERSONALLY OPINION THAT PLEASE WAIVE OFF LATE FEES ON GSTR1.
10 MANY REGULAR GST ASSESSEE WHOSE IS WORKING IN WERTERN UNION ON COMMISSION BASIS. THEIR TOTAL COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR IS UPTO 50,000. IF GSTR 1 LATE FEES CHARGED FROM THESE ASSESSEE. IT WILL BE ADVERSE IMPACT ON THESE ASSESSES.
Q 17 is not clear but still an answer is given. It says that gst liability of March 2020 was missed with the return of March 2020 but was paid in April. The March Liability is payable only by 20th April and with 15 days free period, where is the question of any interest even if it was paid after 20th April. and what relation do the April & May returns have here?
Very well articulated and informative article
Very good attempt. Neatly and clearly compiled all relaxations under one head.
Keeping this article as a ready reckoner for summary relaxations.
Thank you, All the bests.
GSTR 1 LATE FEES SHALL BE WAIVE OFF. BECAUSE DUE TO COVID 19 MOST OF BUSINESSMAN SHUT DOWN THEIR BUSINESS AND SUFFERING HUGE LOSSES. THEIR SALES IS ALSO IMPACTED. IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THE BURDEN ON THE BUSSINESSMAN SHOULD BE REDUCED.