Munim GST Return Filing Vs. Zoho Books: Best GST Return Filing Software Comparison

Social media is buzzing with news that Clear’s GST software will no longer cater to SMBs from the 1st December 2025, onwards. After this announcement, many CAs and tax professionals find themselves helpless as they have only two options: either migrate to Zoho Books or request a refund. If you haven’t decided with regards to migration, and are looking for other options, we encourage you to carefully vet your options against the Industry’s one of the best. Thus, in this blog, we will compare features of Zoho Books GST with Munim GST Return Filing so that you can make your decision with much more clarity. 

Munim GST Return Filing Vs. Zoho Books: A Detailed Comparison

There is no doubt that Zoho is an old player in the industry, but Munim GST Return Filing’s popularity among CAs and tax professionals is overpowering. However, when you make the switch, it is important to compare the features of both software to make an informed decision. 

1. Munim GST Return Filing Features

Core GST Compliance Capabilities 

GSTR-1/IFF Filing – Simplified filing with data import from Excel, JSON, or Munim Accounting and Billing integration software. 

GSTR-1A Filing – Amendment return for correcting missed invoices or wrong entries.

GSTR-2B Integration: Streamlined reconciliation process.

GSTR-3B Filing – Monthly summary return with auto-populated data from the GSTN portal.

GSTR-4 Filing – Annual return filing for composition scheme taxpayers.

GSTR-9 Filing – Annual consolidated return with auto-populated data from the GSTN portal.

GSTR-9C Filing – Reconciliation statement with auto-populated data from GSTR-9.

Invoice Management System (IMS)

Purchase Invoice Reconciliation – Match supplier invoices with GSTR-2A/2B data.

Accept/Reject/Hold Options – Review supplier invoices before processing.

Automated Reconciliation – Auto-match invoices to reduce manual work.

Discrepancy Identification – Highlight mismatched or missing invoices.

Data Management & Import Capabilities

Direct GSTN Portal Integration – Seamless data sync and auto-population from the government portal.

Multiple Data Import Options – Support for Excel, CSV, JSON files, and customized Munim templates for easy data imports. 

Tally Integration (Beta) – Direct data import from Tally Prime with single-click filing. 

Munim Connector – Integration with Munim Accounting and Billing software for seamless data transfer with our own product. 

Real-time Data Validation – Smart compliance checks to identify errors and discrepancies.

Tax Calculation & Compliance Capabilities

Input Tax Credit (ITC) Management – Automatic ITC balance utilisation and optimisation.

Tax Clubbing – Combines input tax (purchases) and output tax (sales) for net calculation.

Multi-GSTIN Support

Multiple Company Management – Handle multiple GST registrations from a single dashboard.

Entity-Specific Settings – Customised configurations for each GSTIN.

User Access Control

Role-Based Permissions – Control data access based on user roles.

Multi-User Support – Allow multiple team members to work simultaneously.

Activity Tracking – Monitor user actions and maintain audit trails.

Compliance Monitoring

Real-Time Updates – Instant notifications about GST updates.

Filing Deadline Alerts – Early reminders for upcoming GST filing due dates.

Return Status Tracking – Monitor filing status from the dashboard. 

Data Security

Advanced Encryption – Protect financial data with industry-standard encryption.

Multi-Factor Authentication – Secure login through OTP

Cloud-Based Storage – Secure data storage with a 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Regular Backups – Regular data backup and recovery systems.

2. Zoho Books 

GST Return Filing Capabilities 

GSTR-1 Filing: Monthly/quarterly outward supply returns.

GSTR-3B Filing: Monthly summary returns with tax liability calculation.

GSTR-9 Annual Returns: Complete annual return preparation and filing.

Invoice Management System (IMS)

ITC Claim Accuracy: Ensure accurate Input Tax Credit claims.

Bulk Processing: Handle multiple invoice actions efficiently.

Auto-Population: Automatically populate transaction details from the GST portal.

GST Return Management Features

Approval Workflow: Set up a multi-level approval process for return filing.

Data Push to GSTN: Direct submission to the GST portal via API integration.

Return Status Tracking: Monitor filing status and compliance deadlines.

Error Validation: Pre-filing validation to prevent submission errors.

Recall Functionality: Ability to recall submitted returns for corrections.

Compliance Monitoring

Real-time GST Liability Tracking: Monitor outstanding GST obligations.

Deadline Management: Automatic alerts for filing deadlines.

Compliance Dashboard: Visual overview of GST compliance status.

Banking and Payment Integration

Direct GST Payment: Pay GST liabilities directly through integrated payment gateways.

Challan Generation: Create payment challans for tax payments.

Bank Reconciliation: Match GST payments with bank transactions automatically.

Pricing Comparison of Zoho Books with Munim GST Return Filing 

After comparing the features of both software, the first thing you tend to look at before subscribing is pricing, right? Zoho Books is being offered at a monthly subscription of ₹749, which might be convenient initially but can become costly in the long run, particularly when managing several GSTINs.

On the other hand, Munim GST Return Filing maintains simplicity and low pricing with a flat annual plan of 5,999/year. It is a great option for CAs, tax professionals, and small to medium-sized companies that want to have a long-term and cost-effective GST filing system.

The Verdict

The comparison between Munim GST Return Filing and Zoho Books GST software was no less than a battle of beasts. If you are still confused, here are the final checkpoints to decide which among them is the best GST return filing software for you: 

Choose Munim GST Return Filing if:

• You are a small and medium enterprise focusing on the Indian markets only.

• Your major worry is GST compliance.

• You are or intend to use either Munim Accounting and Billing or Tally Prime.

• Your budget is constrained.

• You prefer software that was designed to suit Indian needs.

Choose Zoho if: 

• You require holistic business management solutions other than GST.

• You are already using other Zoho products.

• You have international business requirements.

• You have more staff members with complicated workflows.

• The budget is not a constraint.

Closing Notes 

If you have been using Clear’s GST software and are looking for alternatives because it is getting discontinued for SMBs, we encourage you to make your decision as soon as possible. If you unnecessarily extend your ‘software research’, you may miss the upcoming GST deadline. If you have any queries regarding Munim GST Return Filing, please contact our sales team. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cleartax shutting down? 

No, they aren’t. However, they won’t be catering to SMBs anymore. 

Is ClearTax a government site?

No, Cleartax is not a government site.

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