GST return is a form that a taxpayer registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law must file for every GSTIN that he is registered.

Did you know that 22 types of GST returns are prescribed under the GST Rules? Out of them, only 11 GST returns are active, three suspended, and eight view-only in nature. This article will provide more details for you.

In short, the number and types of GST return that a business/professional must file is based on the type of taxpayer registered. These types include regular taxpayers, composition taxable persons, e-commerce operators, TDS deductor, non-resident taxpayer, Input Service Distributor(ISD), casual taxable persons, etc.

Further, the frequency of filing some GST returns may differ among the GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filers if they opt into the Quarterly Return filing and Monthly Payment of taxes (QRMP) scheme.

Different Types of GST Returns

Here is a look at the different types of GST returns.

1. GSTR-1

GSTR-1 has to be filed against all goods and services rendered by a company. This includes all the invoices raised and credit-debit notes against sales for a tax period.

2. GSTR-2A

GSTR 2A is a view-only GST return for buying goods and services. It contains the details of all purchases made by the recipient in any month. All kinds of inward supplies to the recipient can be viewed as purchases made from other GST registered suppliers.

3. GSTR- 2B

This is also a static, view-only GST return. It is important for buyers of goods and services. GSTR-2B is available every month from August 2020 and contains ITC data of any period when it is checked back.

4. GSTR- 3B

GSTR 3B is a monthly self-declaration. It furnishes the summarized details of:

1. All outward supplies made

1. Input tax credit claimed

1. Tax liability 

1. Taxes paid
   

5. GSTR-4

GSTR-4 is an annual return to be filed by composition taxable persons. It is to be filed by April 30th following the relevant financial year. This return replaced GSTR-9A.

6. GSTR-5

GSTR-5 is for those non-resident foreign taxpayers who carry out transactions in India. What do these returns entail? They contain details of the following:

1. Outward supplies made

1. Inward supplies received

1. Credit-debit notes

1. Tax liability 

1. Taxes paid
   

7. GSTR-5A

GSTR-5A summarizes all the outward taxable supplies and tax payable by OIDAR, which stands for the Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval Services provider. 

You have to file this return by the 20th of every month.

8. GSTR-6

GSTR-6 must be filed by an Input Service Distributor (ISD) every month. Its composition details are:

1. Input tax credit distributed and received by ISD

1. All the details of all documents related to the input tax credit
   

The due date of the GSTR-6 is the 13th of every month.

9. GSTR-7

GSTR-7 is to be filed by the persons who are required to deduct the TDS under GST. TDS stands for “Tax deducted at source.” Here’s what the GSTR-7 entails:

1. Details of TDS deducted

1. TDS liability payable and paid

1. TDS refund if any
   

The due date of the GSTR-7 is the 10th of every month.

10. GSTR-8

This form is required to be filed by the e-commerce operators registered under GST. They are usually required to collect tax at the source. All the details of supplies made through the e-commerce platform and the TCS on the same are recorded. 

It is to be filed by the 10th of every month.

11. GSTR-9

This is an annual return to be filed by taxpayers who are registered under GST. It is due by December 31st for the year following the specific financial year. What does the GSTR-9 contain? It consists of the following:

1. Details of outward supplies made

1. Inward supplies received

1. Summary of supplies received under HSN code

1. Details of tax payable and paid
   

12. GSTR-9C

It is a statement filed by all the taxpayers registered under GST whose turnover exceeds Rs. 2 crores in a financial year. This is a unique form in that it has to be certified by a Chartered Accountant or a Cost Management Accountant after a GST audit and looking over the GST-9. 

It is to be filed by December 31st of the year that follows the relevant financial year. 

However, as per the Union Budget 2021, the mandate for the GST audit by CAs and CMAs has been removed.

13. GSTR-10

The GSTR-10 form is to be filled out by a person whose registration was surrendered or cancelled. It is also called a final return which needs to be filed within three months of the cancellation order or the date of cancellation, whichever comes first.

14. GSTR-11

GSTR-11 is for foreign diplomatic missions and embassies that do not pay tax in India but require a refund of taxes. It is filed by those persons who have been issued a Unique Identity Number (UIN) to get a refund for the goods and services incurred by them in India. These returns have details of the inward supplies received, and refunds claimed. 

These were the different types of GST returns and who should file them.

Created & Posted by Pooja

Income Tax Expert at TAXAJ

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