GSTR-9 Annual Return- Types, due date, Who should file, Late fees

GSTR-9 is an annual return to be filed yearly by taxpayers registered under the GST Act. Form GSTR-9 is required to be filed at the GSTIN level i.e. for each registration. It consists of details regarding the outward and inward supplies made/received during the relevant previous year, ITC availed, tax paid and HSN codes.

It will be optional for taxpayers having annual turnover up to Rs. 1.50 Crore to report the summary of inward/outward supplies received/made against a particular HSN code. However, it is mandatory to report HSN code at two digits level for taxpayers having annual turnover in the preceding year above Rs. 1.50 crore but up to Rs. 5.00 Crore and at four digits level for taxpayers having turnover above Rs. 5.00 Crore.

1. Types of GST Annual Return

There are 4 types of Annual returns under the GST law. They are:

• GSTR 9 must be filed by regular registered taxpayers.
• GSTR 9A must be filed by registered composite dealers (composition scheme).
• GSTR 9B must be filed by e-commerce operators.
• GSTR 9C is an audit form that must be filed by all taxpayers whose aggregate turnover exceeds Rs.2 crores in a financial year and is liable to get their annual reports audited.

2. Who should file GSTR-9 Annual return?

All taxpayers/taxable persons registered under GST must file Form GSTR-9. However, the following persons are NOT required to file GSTR-9:

• Taxpayers opting composition scheme (They must file GSTR 9A)
• Casual Taxable Person
• Input Service Distributors
• Non-Resident Taxable Persons
• Person paying tax under Section 51 or Section 52

3. What are the Pre- conditions for filing Form GSTR-9?

The pre-conditions for filing of GSTR-9 are:

• Taxpayer must have active GSTIN during the relevant financial year as a normal/regular taxpayer even for a single day.
• Taxpayer has filed all applicable returns i.e. Form GSTR-1 and Form GSTR-3B of the relevant financial year before filing the Annual return.

4. What is the due date for filing GSTR-9?

The Annual return is required to be filed electronically on or before the 31st December following the end of relevant financial year. However, the due date for filing GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C has been extended to 31^st January 2020 for FY 2017-18 and 31^st March 2020 for FY 2018-19.

5. Can Form GSTR-9 be revised?

No, GSTR-9 cannot be revised after filing.

6. How much is the Late Fee for late filing of Form GSTR-9 return?

Any registered person who fails to furnish the return required under section 44 by the due date shall be liable to pay a late fee of two hundred rupees (Rs.100 for CGST and Rs.100 for SGST) for every day during which such failure continues subject to a maximum of an amount calculated at a half per cent (0.25% for CGST and 0.25% for SGST) of his turnover in the State or Union territory.