Annual Return is the GST Return that every registered taxpayer should file electronically on the GST Portal for each financial year. However, the following persons are not required to file an annual return:
- ISD i.e. Input Service Distributor
- CTP i.e. Casual Taxable Person
- NRTP i.e. Non-Resident Taxable Person
- TDS Deductors
Types of Annual Return under GST
- GSTR-9 – Annual Return for Regular Taxpayers, SEZ Units and SEZ Developers
- GSTR-9A – Annual Return for taxpayers registered under the Composition Scheme
- GSTR-9B – Annual Return for E-Commerce Operator who is required to collect TCS
- GSTR-9C – It is not an annual return. It is a reconciliation statement that reconciles the data as per the books of accounts and the data reported in annual return. The taxpayers to whom GST Audit is applicable should file GSTR-9C along with GSTR-9
Due Dates for Annual Returns under GST
As per the GST Act, the due date to file Annual Return is 31st December of next financial year.
For FY 17-18, the original due date was 31st December 2018. However, the GST Council extended the date.
FAQs
1. GSTR-9 is the annual return which should be filed by every registered taxpayer under GST irrespective of the turnover.
2. GSTR-9C is the reconciliation statement which should be filed by registered taxpayers to whom GST Audit is applicable. When the turnover of a registered taxpayer exceeds Rs.5 Cr during the financial year, they should file GSTR-9C along with GSTR-9.
A taxpayer who has shifted from Composition Scheme to Regular Scheme or vice-versa must file both GSTR-9 and GSTR-9A. He should file GSTR-9A for the period during which he was registered as Composite Dealer and GSTR-9 for the period during which he was registered as Regular Dealer.
Example
If a taxpayer was registered under Composition Scheme from 1st July 2017 to 30th September 2017 and shifted to Regular Scheme from 1st October 2017 to 31st March 2018, he should file the following returns for FY 2017-18:
1. GSTR-9A from July 2017 to September 2017
2. GSTR-9 from October 2017 to March 2018
When a person becomes liable to register or gets voluntarily registered, then the person applies for the registration within the prescribed time-frame. After obtaining the GSTIN (15 Digit – Goods and Services Identification Number), the person becomes responsible to file GST returns as per the rule. Even the person who obtains the registration voluntarily under GST is also required to file Returns as per the GST Rule.