Clarification on Filing Annual GST Return (Form GSTR-9)

Filing Annual GST Return Explanation

This article is regarding the filing of Annual GST Return i.e., GSTR-9 Form, by a normal taxpayer for the financial year 2017-18. The taxpayer has to file the GSTR-9 on the GST Portal latest by 30th June 2019. Further, it shall be noted that every regular taxpayer including who has cancelled their GST Registration during the respective financial year has to file GSTR-9. 

Note: Due date to file GSTR-9/GSTR-9A and GSTR-9C for FY 2018-19 is extended to 31 December 2020.

Before filing Annual GST Return the taxpayer must ensure that he has filed GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B for the period of July 2017 to March 2018. Further to simplify the GSTR-9 filing procedure on GST portal, the taxpayer can download the GSTR -9 system computed summary and filed Form GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B summary in PDF format by clicking on the download button. So, that taxpayers can reconcile the difference if any, as the GSTR-9 once file cannot be edited. In case if the taxpayer finds any difference in the tax then they should make sure that they pay such differential amount through DRC -03 Form before filing GSTR-9.

Furthermore, the taxpayer must keep the following CBIC clarification in mind at the time of furnishing GSTR-9 Form (Annual GST Return):

1. FORM GSTR-2A details, as on 01.05.2019, shall be auto-populated in Table 8A of GSTR-9 Form.
2. In Table 8C of FORM GSTR-9, ITC on inward supplies shall be declared from April 2018 to March 2019.
3. Transactions particulars for FY 2017-18 declared in returns of April 2018 to March 2019 shall be declared in Part V of FORM GSTR-9. Such particulars may contain amendment details furnished in Table 10 and Table 11 of GSTR-1 Form.
4. It shall be noted that irrespective of when the supply was declared in GSTR-1 Form, the principle of declaring a supply in Part II or V is based upon the fact when the tax was paid in GSTR-3B Form.
   • In case if the tax on such supply was paid using GSTR-3B in between July 2017 to March 2018 then such supply shall be declared in Part II.
   • If the tax was paid through GSTR- 3B in between April 2018 to March 2019 then such supply shall be declared in Part V of GSTR-9 Form.
5. Any outward supply which was not declared or missed by the taxpayer in GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B shall be declared in Part II of the GSTR-9 Form. Such additional liability shall be furnished in Part IV of GSTR-9. In addition to this if there is any gap between the "tax payable" and "Paid through cash" column of GSTR-9 then in such a case it shall be paid through DRC-03 Form.
6. If a taxpayer finds any mismatch between any auto-populated data and the books of account data then the taxpayer shall report the data as per the books of account in the GSTR-9 Form. One of the commonly reported mismatches by a taxpayer is in Table 4 of FORM GSTR-9 where details may have been missed in GSTR-1 but the tax was already paid in GSTR-3B. Henceforth, the taxpayer sees a mismatch between auto-populated data and data in GSTR-3B.
7. Many taxpayers have reported that there are no rows to fill IGST Credit in Table 8 that was paid at the time of import of goods but availed in the return of April 2018 to March 2019. Due to this, the taxpayer is worried that credit which was claimed in between April 2018 to March 2019 but not reported in the annual return may lapse. So considering this for the period of July 2017 to March 2019, it is advised to furnish the entire credit availed on the import of goods in Table 6(E) of GSTR-9 itself.
8. Any payments made via DRC-03 Form for the period of July 2017 to March 2018 shall not form the part of GSTR-9. Howsoever, it shall be reported at the time of reconciliation in GSTR-9C Form.

So, to avoid the last-minute rush and late fees, every taxpayer is advised to file their Annual GST Return (GSTR-9 Form) on or before 30th June 2019.