Gist of GST Notifications Issued on 15th Oct 2020

In the 42^nd GST Council series of measures have been announced on the due date and increasing the existing threshold from Rs 1.5 Crores to Rs 5.00 Crores for GST Returns filing as part of increasing the ease of doing business.

Notification No 74/2020 – Central Dated 15^th Oct 2020

All the registered taxpayers who are filing returns on a quarterly basis for GSTR – 1, the dates for the next two quarters have been notified.

Note: The time for the return period has been reduced from month end to the 13^th of the month in the subsequent quarter for GSTR – 1 on quarterly filing.

Notification No 75/2020 – Central Dated 15^th Oct 2020

All the registered taxpayers who are filing returns on a monthly basis for GSTR – 1, the dates for the next six months are notified

Notification No 76/2020 – Central Dated 15^th Oct 2020

The due dates for filing of GSTR – 3B on a monthly basis for taxpayers having turnover above Rs 5.00 crores for the months from October 2020 to March 2021

Payment of taxes, interest & penalty

Notification No 77/2020 – Central Dated 15^th Oct 2020

Taxpayers who are having a turnover of less than Rs 2.00 crores are given an option of not filing of Annual Return for the Financial Year 2019-20.

Notification No 78/2020 – Central Dated 15^th Oct 2020

The number of digits of the HSN code to be shown on the tax invoice is being changed from 1^st April 2020.

In B2C transactions, it is optional to show it on the Tax Invoice, but the same has to be reported in GSTR – 1 and GSTR – 9. This notification is restricted to the display of HSN Codes on tax invoices only.

Notification No 79/2020 – Central Dated 15^th Oct 2020

Central Goods and Service Tax Rules 2017 has been amended to facilitate some changes to the taxpayers and improve the ease of doing business. The changes made to the provisions will be applicable from the date of notifying the same in the Gazette.

1. Filing of NIL Returns through SMS

Taxpayers can file nil returns or statements through the registered mobile number of the taxpayer. The Nil Returns or Statements can be filed for the following

• Form GSTR – 1
• Form GSTR – 3B
• Form GST CMP – 08

Rule 67A has been inserted to facilitate the filing of returns or statements through SMS.

2. Threshold for GST Audit

The threshold limit for the GST Audit has been increased to Rs 5.00 crores for the taxpayers having turnover for the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20

 3. Relaxation on restrictions for the generation of e-waybill

As per the provisions of Rule 138E, for taxpayers who have not filed returns for two consecutive periods, the generation of e-waybill is blocked.

The restrictions have been relaxed based on the trade and industry representations due to the prevailing pandemic-like situation.

The above restrictions will not be applicable for the returns period from February 2020 to August 2020.

4. Changes to Form GSTR – 2A

As of now, the data are shown in the GSTR – 2A is only related to the filing of supplier’s returns. Now the same is updated to show the data related

• Import of goods from overseas supplies where Bill of Entry is filed
• Inward Supply of Goods from SEZ units / Developers where Bill of Entry if filed
• The return filing date for GSTR – 1 and GSTR – 5
• GSTR – 3B filing status – Yes / No
• The period during which the amendment is carried out

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