GST or Goods and Services Tax, replaced the numerous different taxes which were levied by Central and State governments on different products or services. While it was enforced in 2017, the GST Act was passed in the year 2019.
This taxation system intends to streamline the numerous taxes levied on products, making it simple for the taxpayers, their collectors, etc
A GST return is a document containing details of all income/sales and/or expenses/purchases that a GST-registered taxpayer (every GSTIN) is required to file with the tax administrative authorities. This is used by tax authorities to calculate net tax liability.
What is GST Return and GST Return Filing
A GST Return is a legal document persisting GST invoices, receipts, payments, etc., of a certain period. It is a collection of all the details of income, sales, expenses, and purchases of a GST-registered taxpayer.
The main parts of a GST return include-
- Purchases
- Sales
- Output GST (on sales)
- Input tax credit (GST paid on purchases)
All businesses registered under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) are liable to file GST returns monthly, quarterly, and annually on the basis of the business. While filing the GST return, it is mandatory to provide the respective details about the sales or purchases of the goods and services together with the amount of tax that is collected and paid.
For filing the GST returns, one has to file 4 forms that may include the returns for the purchases made, returns for the supplies, monthly/annual returns, etc.
The government has made GST return filing in India compulsory for all such entities that carry a legit GST registration.
Types of GST Returns and GST Return Filing Due Dates
There are quite a few types of GST filing which have their specific forms. These forms are listed below in the chart with the due dates for filing the GST returns-
| Form Name | Applicable Entrepreneurs | GST Filing Dates |
| GSTR-1 | Taxable suppliers to file outward supplies. | 10th of next month |
| GSTR-2 | Taxable recipients to file inward supplies to claim tax credit. | 15th of next month |
| GSTR-3 | Taxable individuals file monthly returns based on finalisation of outward and inward supplies along with tax amount payment. | 20th of next month |
| GSTR-4 | Composition suppliers to file quarterly returns. | 18th of next month |
| GSTR-5 | NRIs who are taxable. | 20th of next month |
| GSTR-6 | Input service distributor to file for return. | 13th of next month |
| GSTR-7 | Authorities conducting TDs to file return. | 10th of next month |
| GSTR-8 | Tax collectors and e-commerce operators to file supply details and tax collection detail. | 10th of next month |
| GSTR-9 | Taxable individuals to file return. | 31st December of next year |
| GSTR-10 | Taxable individuals with cancelled registration to file final return. | Within 3 months of cancellation of order |
| GSTR-11 | Individuals with UIN refund claims to file inward supply detail. | 28th of the month following the month for a statement was filed |
Who should file GST Returns?
Under the GST regime, regular businesses having more than Rs.5 crore as annual aggregate turnover (and taxpayers who have not opted for the QRMP scheme) have to file two monthly returns and one annual return. This amounts to 25 returns each year.
Taxpayers with a turnover of up to Rs.5 crore have the option to file returns under the QRMP scheme. The number of GSTR filings for QRMP filers is 9 each year, which include 4 GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B returns each and an annual return. Note that QRMP filers have to pay tax on a monthly basis even though they are filing returns quarterly.
There are also separate statements/returns required to be filed in special cases such as composition dealers where the number of GSTR filings is 5 each year (4 statement-cum-challans in CMP-08 and 1 annual return GSTR-4).
GSTN
GSTN, or Goods and Services Tax Network, is an online portal containing all the details of sellers and buyers registered under GST’s regulation. Businesses and taxpayers can access these details from the GSTN for filing their returns, logging invoice data, etc.
Companies have to file a total of 37 returns, one annual return and 3 monthly returns (once every 3 months) during a financial year. These contain information, including details of inward and outward supplies instigated by an organisation.
FAQs
What is GST Return?
A GST Return is a document that contains details of income, purchases, sales, and the output tax liability that a business must file under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law. It is a periodic declaration that businesses make to the GST department to report their transactions and pay taxes.
What Types of GST Returns Are There?
- GSTR-1: Used to report outward supplies (sales) made by the business.
- GSTR-2A: A system-generated return showing the details of inward supplies (purchases) of the taxpayer.
- GSTR-3B: A summary return filed for the payment of GST, detailing both sales and purchases, and the tax liabilities.
- GSTR-4: Filed by businesses registered under the Composition Scheme to report quarterly returns.
- GSTR-5: For non-resident foreign taxable persons.
- GSTR-6: For Input Service Distributors (ISD).
- GSTR-7: For tax deductors (TDS) under GST.
- GSTR-8: For e-commerce operators who collect TCS (Tax Collected at Source).
- GSTR-9: Annual return for regular taxpayers.
- GSTR-10: Final return to be filed when a business is discontinued or its GST registration is canceled.