FAQs on GST Returns
What is a GST return?
- A GST return is a statement filed online with the GST department showing details of sales, purchases, tax collected, and tax paid for a given period.
Who must file GST returns?
- Every GST-registered business, including regular taxpayers, composition dealers, and NIL filers, must file GST returns regularly.
How many GST returns are there?
- Common returns include GSTR-1 (sales), GSTR-3B (summary), and GSTR-9 (annual return). Some businesses may also need to file GSTR-4, GSTR-5, GSTR-6, or GSTR-7 depending on their category.
What is GSTR-1?
- GSTR-1 is a monthly or quarterly return that reports details of outward supplies (sales) made during the period.
What is GSTR-3B?
- GSTR-3B is a monthly self-declaration return that summarizes sales, purchases, tax liability, and ITC claimed.
What is GSTR-9?
- GSTR-9 is the annual GST return, filed once at the end of the financial year, consolidating all monthly or quarterly filings.
Can GST returns be filed online?
- Yes. All GST returns must be filed online through the official GST portal (www.gst.gov.in).
What is the due date for filing GST returns?
- For most businesses, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B are due monthly, usually by the 11th and 20th of the next month. Under the QRMP scheme, small taxpayers can file quarterly.
What is the QRMP scheme?
- QRMP stands for Quarterly Return Monthly Payment. Businesses with turnover up to ₹5 crore can pay GST monthly but file returns quarterly.
What happens if I don’t file GST returns?
- Late filing attracts late fees of ₹50 per day (₹20 for NIL returns) plus interest on unpaid tax. Continuous non-filing may result in suspension or cancellation of GSTIN.
Can I revise a GST return after filing?
- No. Once filed, GST returns cannot be revised. Errors can only be corrected in subsequent returns.
What is Input Tax Credit (ITC) in GST returns?
- ITC allows you to claim credit for the GST paid on your purchases, which can be set off against your GST liability on sales.
How do I claim ITC in GST return filing?
- You can claim ITC by reporting purchase invoices in GSTR-3B and matching them with supplier’s GSTR-1 uploads in your GSTR-2B statement.
Is GST return filing mandatory even with no sales?
- Yes. NIL returns must be filed even if there is no business activity during the return period.
What is a composition scheme return?
- Businesses under the composition scheme must file GSTR-4 annually and pay a fixed percentage of turnover as tax.
What is GSTR-7?
- GSTR-7 is filed by businesses required to deduct TDS under GST. It contains details of tax deducted and deposited.
What is GSTR-8?
- GSTR-8 is filed by e-commerce operators to report TCS (Tax Collected at Source) collected on sales made through their platform.
What are the penalties for late filing of GST returns?
- Late fees are ₹50 per day (₹20 per day for NIL returns) capped at ₹5,000, plus 18% interest on the outstanding tax amount.
Can GST return filing be outsourced?
- Yes. Many businesses hire professionals like NetProfit to manage GST returns, ensuring timely compliance and error-free filing.
How can NetProfit help with GST return filing?
- We provide complete assistance from data collection and computation to online filing of all required GST returns. Our experts ensure accuracy, timely filing, and compliance to help you avoid penalties.
A GST return is a statement filed online with the GST department showing details of sales, purchases, tax collected, and tax paid for a given period.
Every GST-registered business, including regular taxpayers, composition dealers, and NIL filers, must file GST returns regularly.
Common returns include GSTR-1 (sales), GSTR-3B (summary), and GSTR-9 (annual return). Some businesses may also need to file GSTR-4, GSTR-5, GSTR-6, or GSTR-7 depending on their category.
GSTR-1 is a monthly or quarterly return that reports details of outward supplies (sales) made during the period.
GSTR-3B is a monthly self-declaration return that summarizes sales, purchases, tax liability, and ITC claimed.
GSTR-9 is the annual GST return, filed once at the end of the financial year, consolidating all monthly or quarterly filings.
Yes. All GST returns must be filed online through the official GST portal (www.gst.gov.in).
For most businesses, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B are due monthly, usually by the 11th and 20th of the next month. Under the QRMP scheme, small taxpayers can file quarterly.
QRMP stands for Quarterly Return Monthly Payment. Businesses with turnover up to ₹5 crore can pay GST monthly but file returns quarterly.
Late filing attracts late fees of ₹50 per day (₹20 for NIL returns) plus interest on unpaid tax. Continuous non-filing may result in suspension or cancellation of GSTIN.
No. Once filed, GST returns cannot be revised. Errors can only be corrected in subsequent returns.
ITC allows you to claim credit for the GST paid on your purchases, which can be set off against your GST liability on sales.
You can claim ITC by reporting purchase invoices in GSTR-3B and matching them with supplier’s GSTR-1 uploads in your GSTR-2B statement.
Yes. NIL returns must be filed even if there is no business activity during the return period.
Businesses under the composition scheme must file GSTR-4 annually and pay a fixed percentage of turnover as tax.
GSTR-7 is filed by businesses required to deduct TDS under GST. It contains details of tax deducted and deposited.
GSTR-8 is filed by e-commerce operators to report TCS (Tax Collected at Source) collected on sales made through their platform.
Late fees are ₹50 per day (₹20 per day for NIL returns) capped at ₹5,000, plus 18% interest on the outstanding tax amount.
Yes. Many businesses hire professionals like NetProfit to manage GST returns, ensuring timely compliance and error-free filing.
We provide complete assistance from data collection and computation to online filing of all required GST returns. Our experts ensure accuracy, timely filing, and compliance to help you avoid penalties.