GSTR-9 Filing: Your Go-to Manual for 100% Accuracy!

The 53rd GST council meeting, held on 22nd June 2024, witnessed multiple recommendations for streamlining GST processes. One key recommendation of the meeting was to relax the filing of GSTR-9/9A for taxpayers with an annual aggregate turnover below Rs. 2 Crore for FY 2023-24. 

Let’s scroll down to GSTR-9 in detail:

What is the GSTR-9 Annual Return? 

GSTR-9 is an annual return filed by taxpayers under the Indian GST system. It consolidates the monthly and quarterly returns that a business submits throughout a financial year. 

• It comprises outward and inward supply details made or received under different tax heads for a specific financial year. 
• This GST annual return is a consolidated return of all monthly and quarterly filing for a year. 

What is the GSTR-9 Turnover Limit? 

The Indian GST laws don’t have any specific threshold or turnover limit for Form 9 of GSTR filing. However, to streamline compliance and make this filing optional for businesses nationwide, the GSTR-9 turnover limit was decided to be Rs. 2 Crore annually from 2017-18. 

What is the GSTR-9 Due Date? 

The due date for filing Form 9 of GST returns is 31st December of the year following the tax period. This implies businesses should file their GST annual returns before 31st December 2024 for FY 2023-24. 

What happens if Form 9 of GST is not filed or GSTR-9 due date is missed? 

If the taxpayers fail to file the yearly returns, a GSTR-9 penalty or late fees is applied. Here’s how it goes: 

No	Turnover Limit	Late fee for GSTR-9 Per day	Maximum Late Fee for GSTR-9
1	Turnover <= Rs. 5Cr	Rs. 50 (Rs. 25 for CGST and Rs.25 for SGST)	0.04% of the turnover in state/ Union Territory  (0.02% for CGST and 0.25% for SGST)
2	Rs. 5Cr < Turnover < Rs. 20Cr	Rs. 100 (Rs.50 for CGST and SGST each)	0.04% of the turnover in state/ Union Territory  (0.02% for CGST and 0.25% for SGST)
3	Turnover> Rs. 20Cr	Rs. 200 (Rs.100 for CGST and SGST each)	0.50% of the turnover in state/ Union Territory  (0.25% for CGST and 0.25% for SGST)

GSTR-9 Applicability: Who Should File Form 9 of GST? 

All taxpayers registered under GST laws must file Form 9 of GST. However, here’s a list of taxpayers who should not file Form 9 of GST. 

• Taxpayers who have opted for a composition scheme
• Casual Taxable Persons 
• Input Service Distributors 
• Non-resident Taxpayers 
• A person who is paying TDS under section 51 of the CGST Act
• A person who is collecting TCS under section 52 of the CGST Act 

What are the GSTR-9 Types? 

Every GSTR-9 type caters to different taxpayer categories. Let’s take a quick look at its types. 

GSTR-9 

General annual return for normal taxpayers, covering details of outward/inward supplies, ITC, and taxes for the year.

GSTR-9A 

For taxpayers under the Composition Scheme, summarizing supplies, taxes, and refunds.

GSTR-9B 

For e-commerce operators who have filed GSTR-8, detailing supplies made and tax collected.

GSTR-9C 

Reconciliation statement for taxpayers with annual turnover over ₹2 crore, requiring a certified audit report.

GSTR-9 Filing Process 

Login to the GSTIN Portal:

Visit the www.gst.gov.in site and log-in to the portal with your credentials. 

Navigate to Form GSTR-9:

Click on services> Returns> Annual Returns. The yearly return filing page is displayed. Select the tax period from the drop-down menu and click search. Now, the file returns page is displayed. Read the message with the due date, and click on ‘Prepare Online’ below the GSTR-9 annual return. 

Select from the Questionnaire:

Choose if you want to file NIL annual return for the particular tax period or proceed to the next screen.

• In case of Yes for Nil Returns: If you select ‘Yes’ to file Nil Return, click ‘Next’ and, at the end, click on ‘compute Liabilities’. Once the liabilities are calculated, file the form GSTR-9 with DSC/ EVC. 
• In case of No for Nil Returns: If you select No for Nil returns, the GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B data is auto-populated in the GSTR-9 form. Click on ‘Next’ and Form 9 for GST annual return will be displayed. Read the steps to create GSTR form 9 online and follow them. 

Fill in All the Details: 

GSTR-1/ IFF and GSTR-3B details will already be computed. Download the files and start filling the form from table 4. Select and Fill each table one by one. 

Table 4: This table is auto-populated based on GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B return filing. It caters to details of advances, inward/ outward supplies for a financial year on which taxed are charged. 

Table 5: Enter details of outward supplies for a financial year on which tax in not payable. 

Table 6: Enter and review Input Tax Credit/ ITC details. 

Table 7: Enter details of ITC reversed and ineligible ITC for the financial year. 

Table 8: It caters to other ITC details such as match or mismatch of credits. 

Table 9: Enter details of taxes paid as declared in returns filed during the financial year. 

Tables 10, 11,12, and 13: These tables are used to report amendments, adjustments, and other details that were missed or revised after the financial year. 

Table 14: Enter details of differential tax paid referring to the declaration in tables 10 and 11. 

Table 15: Enter details of demands and refunds. 

Table 16: This includes details of supplies received from composition taxpayers, deemed supply from job workers, and goods sent on approval basis. 

Table 17: It consists of HSN wise Summary of Outward supplies. 

Table 18: It includes HSN wise summary of inward supplies. 

Table 19: Enter late fee details if applicable. 

Preview the form: 

Once you click on ‘Proceed to File,’ the late fees page will appear. It will display the cash ledger balance and late fee payable. If you need to pay an additional amount, the Additional Cash Required column will appear. Click on ‘Create Challan’ to pay the GSTR-9 penalty. 

Compute Liabilities: 

Click on compute liabilities to check late fees if applicable. Once the late fees are computed, see the taxes payable. 

Proceed to the File 

Once you click on ‘Proceed to File’, the late fees page will be displayed. It will display cash ledger balance and late fee payable. If you need to pay an additional amount, the Additional Cash Required column will be seen. Click on ‘Create Challan’ to pay the GSTR-9 penalty. 

Read More: How to Pay GST Challan Online?

Make Payment: 

The pending amount will be auto-populated; select the payment mode and make the transactions. 

File Returns

Review the form once again and file returns with DSC/EVC where, DSC is Digital Signature Certificate and EVC is Electronic Verification Code. Select the declaration box, choose the authorized signatory from the drop down and click on file GSTR-9. 

Wrap UP: 

Hopefully, this GSTR-9 guide will help you file returns with zero error. If you have any query, shoot them in the comment section below. We will surely answer them. 

If you want to file GSTR-9 effortlessly, try Munim GST Return Filing Software. Hurry up and start your free trial today. 

FAQS

1. What is GSTR-9 and 9C applicability? 

GSTR-9 is applicable for taxpayers with annual turnover exceeding Rs. 2Cr and GSTR-9C apply to taxpayers with turnover exceeding Rs. 5Cr. 

2. What is GSTR-9 Frequency? 

Form 9 of GST annual returns is filed once in a year. 

3. Is GSTR-9 mandatory for businesses with turnover less than 2Cr? 

GSTR-9 is optional for businesses with a turnover of less than 2Cr.

4. What is GSTR-9 late fees waiver notification? 

According to the CBIC notification, a late fee waiver of Rs. 20K is charged for the delayed filing of GSTR form 9. This applies to 2017-18 up to 2021-22 if filed between 1st  April, 2023 and 31st  June 2023. 

5. Is HSN compulsory in GSTR-9 filing? 

It is mandatory to report the HSN Summary for Outward supplies in Table 17 of the GSTR-9 dashboard for filing returns.