Yes, you can generally file last year’s GST return, as the GST Network (GSTN) allows filing up to three years from the original due date. However, you will likely be liable for late fees, interest, and penalties for the delay.
As per Section 47(2) of CGST Act, 2017, any registered person who fails to furnish Annual Return by the due date shall be liable to pay a late fee of R 100/- per day subject to maximum of 0.25% of his turnover in the State or Union Territory. Similar provision exist in respective SGST Acts, also.
If you never received it, the CRA will accept refund claims up to 3 years later. This means that you could still receive your payment retroactively. A great accounting software program could help you find this information! Be sure to review your information thoroughly when filing tax returns.
Step 1: Log in to the GST portal with your GSTIN & credentials. Step 2: Go to “Return Dashboard” under the Services tab. Step 3: Select the period (month/quarter/year) to file the return. Step 4: Select the applicable return form (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, etc.).
You face a penalty when you file your GST/HST return late if you owe money. The penalty equals 1% of your unpaid amount plus 0.25% of that amount for each full month your return is late. The maximum penalty period is 12 months. After that, no additional monthly charges apply.
Late submission penalty. A late submission penalty of $200 is imposed immediately when the GST return is not filed by the due date. A further penalty of $200 is imposed for every completed month that the GST F5/F8 return remains outstanding. The maximum penalty amount for each outstanding F5/F8 return is $10,000.
The GST law requires that every claim for refund is to be filed within 2 years from the relevant date. Further, Section 34 of the WBGST Act, 2017 provides for issuance of credit notes for post supply discounts or if goods are returned back within a stipulated time.
Backdating a GST registration is limited to 4 years. This means, unless there is fraud or evasion: we can't backdate your GST registration by more than 4 years. you are not required to be registered before that date.
In GST, if any person or business violates any provision prescribed in the GST Act or rules, would also be subject to penalty. Therefore, upon non –filing of GST returns or missing out the GST due dates, the GST law prescribes a general penalty. The maximum penalty that may be imposed is Rs. 5,000.
4-year credit time limit
If you account for GST on a cash basis, the earliest tax period in which you could claim a GST credit for a purchase is the tax period in which you make the payment. If you make the payment over multiple tax periods, the 4-year credit time limit applies separately to each part of the payment.
The GST law requires that every claim for refund is to be filed within 2 years from the relevant date. Treatment for Zero Rated Supplies: One of the categories under which claim for refund may arise would be on account of exports.
Applicability of the Three-Year Rule
As per the advisory, no GST return can be filed after three years from its original due date.
If your GST frequency is annual, your GST returns are due within three months after the end of the fiscal year. For GST collected in the financial year ending December 31, your GST payment is due by April 30. However, you can file your GST returns by June 15 of the following year.
Late filing penalties for goods and services tax (GST)
There is a late filing penalty of $50 if you're on the payments basis. There is a $250 penalty for late filing on the hybrid or invoice basis. These penalties are usually due on the 28th day of the month after the return was due.
Can I file GSTR-1 after the due date? Yes, you can file the GSTR-1 even after the due date. However, you have to pay a late fee based on the delayed number of days.
The GST network issued another advisory on 7th June 2025, implementing the rule of time-barring of GST return filing beyond three years from the due date. By this update, taxpayers will not be able to file GST returns after three years from the due date of such return.
File your GST/HST return
Monthly GST Returns
Businesses with a turnover above the prescribed limit must file returns every month. The GST return turnover limit is ₹5 crore in the preceding financial year. If your turnover crosses this mark, you're required to file both GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B monthly.
When can the GSTIN get suspended? A taxpayer's GST registration or GSTIN can be suspended when they fail to file their GST returns for six consecutive months as monthly filers and for two consecutive quarters as quarterly filers.
The application for a GST refund must be submitted using form RFD 01 within two years from the relevant date. The form also requires approval from a Chartered Accountant. There are also numerous online tools to calculate GST refund.
To file Form GSTR-3B Nil return, after login into the GST Portal, perform the following steps:
If you collect GST/HST, penalties also apply for filing late. The CRA calculates the late filing fee for your GST/HST taxes using the formula A + (B x C). In this formula, A is 1% of the amount you owe, B is 25% of A, and C is the number of months the return is late.
You can back date your GST registration up to 4 years dependent on the start date of your ABN registration. You will need to lodge the BAS or annual GST statements for this backdated period. You will also need to pay GST on taxable supplies made.
You can't get a credit or refund if you don't file the claim within 3 years of filing your original return, or 2 years after paying the tax, whichever is later, unless you meet an exception that allows you more time to file a claim.
Once four years have passed, neither party can typically reopen GST matters related to that period, except in the case of fraud or evasion. This creates a level of certainty that benefits everyone involved in the tax system.