COVID-19 Impact – GST Return Filing Extended

The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted the world’s economy. Several measures are being taken by all countries to control the impact of the pandemic on businesses. 

The Indian government has announced relief in GST compliance to relax regulatory distress among the businesses registered in India under GST amid COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made through various notifications released by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The major announcements included the due date extension of filing GST returns for taxpayers. 

Here’s a list of extensions made to the due dates of filing GST returns amid COVID-19 outbreak: 

Form GSTR-3B

a. For taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of more than Rs 5 crore in the previous financial year, the following extensions has been announced: 

b. For taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of more than Rs 1.5 crore and up to Rs 5 crore in the previous FY, the extended due dates are as follows:

c. For taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore in the previous year, the extended due dates for filing GSTR-3B are as follows:

If such returns for the said months are not filed on or before the date mentioned in the notification then interest @18% p.a. will be charged from the due date of return till the date on which the return is filed. In addition to such return, regular late fees will also be charged to the taxpayers. 

d. For the month of May 2020, taxpayers having an aggregate turnover of up to Rs 5 crore in the previous FY will have to file GSTR-3B on or before the following dates:

GSTR-1 (Monthly or quarterly)

GSTR-1 for the months of March, April and May 2020 have been extended to the 30th of June 2020. For the taxpayers filing quarterly GSTR-1, the due date for the quarter ended on the 31st March 2020 has also been extended to the 30th June of 2020.

Returns under composition scheme

GSTR-4 for the FY 2019-20 has been extended to the 15th of July 2020 from the 30th of April 2020. Also, the due date of CMP-08 for January to March’2020 quarter has also been extended to 15th of July 2020 from the 30th of April 2020. 

Moreover, all composition taxpayers were required to file form CMP-02 for the FY 2020-21 to opt for the scheme by the 31st of March 2020. This date has also been extended to the 30th of June 2020. Similarly, form ITC-03 can now be filed by the 31st of July 2020 for the period FY 2019-20.

Validity of e-way bills

E-Way bills, whose expiry dates were between the 20th of March 2020 to 15th of April 2020, will now be valid till the 30th of April 2020.

Lastly, all other GST compliance due dates falling between the 20th of March 2020 and 29th of June 2020 are now extended till the 30th of June 2020. Kindly note that all the aforementioned dates are subject to further changes based on the spread of COVID-19 pandemic further. We will keep you updated about the changes further!

Be sure you know what tax rate you’re subject to for your goods and service while filling returns. Get GST inclusive and exclusive prices for your goods with a GST calculator.