GST returns can generally be filed monthly, two-monthly, or six-monthly, depending on your annual taxable turnover and jurisdiction. High-turnover businesses (e.g., over $24M in NZ) must file monthly, while smaller businesses may opt for two-monthly or six-monthly options, with two-monthly often being the default.
The period you choose is known as your taxable period or filing frequency. You can choose to file your GST returns monthly, two-monthly or six-monthly. If you don't choose, two-monthly is the default option.
Your GST reporting and payment cycle will be one of the following: Monthly – if your GST turnover is $20 million or more. Quarterly – if your GST turnover is less than $20 million – and we have not told you that you must report monthly. Annually – if you are voluntarily registered for GST.
You can elect to report and pay GST annually. You can only use this method if you are voluntarily registered for GST. That is, you are registered for GST and your turnover is under $75,000 (or $150,000 for not-for-profit bodies).
However, tax payments still need to be made every month based on estimated liability. In simple terms, the GST quarterly return turnover limit is ₹5 crore. If your turnover is within this limit, you can benefit from reduced compliance under the quarterly return scheme.
The 'five year rule' states that residential premises are not considered to be 'new' if they have been rented out as residential premises for five or more years since they first became residential premises, or were last built or substantially renovated.
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GST Exemption Limit
Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India, businesses whose annual revenue exceeds specific thresholds are required to register and pay GST. Currently, the GST Exemption Limit is set at Rs. 40 lakhs for goods and Rs. 20 lakhs for services.
Step 1: Log in to the GST portal and navigate through Services > Returns > Opt-in for quarterly return. Step 2: The opt-in quarterly return page will be displayed. Select the financial year from the drop-down list for which you want to change the filing frequency.
As per Rule 80 of the CGST Rules, 2017, every registered person liable to file Annual Return for every financial year is required to file the same on or before the 31st December of next financial year. Accordingly, the last date of filing Annual Return for FY 2021-22 is 31st December, 2022.
Here are some of the primary and most common errors made by enterprises, and this is how you can fix them as well.
Filing GST returns
Two-monthly means more paperwork but can be easier to keep track of. Six-monthly filing is only available if your turnover is less than $500,000 (although some exceptions apply), and it might be good if you don't have a lot of expenses or invoices.
GSTR-9 (Annual Return) is optional for businesses with turnover up to Rs.2 crore since FY 17-18 onwards till FY 2023-24. Every year, the GST department notifies the threshold turnover limit above which it is mandatory to file GSTR-9.
Most businesses and corporations in Canada are required to have a GST account, and are required to file GST returns on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.
GSTR-1: Filed quarterly, by the 13th of the month following the quarter. GSTR-3B: Filed quarterly, by the 22nd or 24th (depending on the state). Tax payment: Made monthly using Form PMT-06.
Returns must be filed on the GST portal monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the taxpayer's classification. GST Return is mandatory for all GST-registered businesses. Regular taxpayers file GSTR-1, GSTR-3B monthly or quarterly, plus annual returns (GSTR-9/9C).
That means a total of 25 GST returns per year. Special cases like composition dealers and certain taxpayers may have different filing requirements as per GST rules.
If your GST turnover is below the $75,000 threshold, you may choose to register. But if you do, regardless of your turnover, you must: include GST in the price of most goods and services you sell. claim GST credits for most business purchases you make.
GST Updates & Amendments in 2025: Key Changes to Know
One of the key GST updates under 2.0 reform is that it simplified the GST tax structure from a 4-slab (5%, 12%, 18% and 28%) to a 3-slab (5%, 18% and 40%). GST Council, however, meets every quarter to improve the system.
On July 01, 2024, the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will complete 7 years. Since March 2023, the collections for every month stand in excess of ₹1.5 lakh crore.
Reporting periods
Their 12-month year would be the reporting period. Annual Sole Proprietors: The filing deadline is June 15, but the payment deadline is April 30. Quarterly: If your sales are between $1.5 million and $6 million, you must file quarterly. The filing deadline is one month after the reporting period.
What is the new 3-year filing rule? Starting from December 1, 2025, the GST portal will bar taxpayers from filing any return that is more than three years past its original due date. This means November 2025 is the last chance to file returns for periods like October 2022 or the FY 2020-21 annual return.
File an election to change your reporting period
If you are assigned an annual or quarterly reporting period, you can file an election using Form GST20, Election For GST/Reporting Period, to choose a more frequent reporting period.