GSTR-9 filing is not mandatory for taxpayers with an aggregate annual turnover of up to ₹2 crore for FY 2024-25 and earlier (since FY 17-18). The government has made this filing optional for small businesses to ease compliance, meaning taxpayers with less than ₹2 crore turnover can choose not to file it without penalty.
All regular GST-registered taxpayers with an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 2 crores are required to file GSTR-9C, which includes a reconciliation statement and certification by a Chartered Accountant (CA) or Cost Management Accountant (CMA).
Section 44AD is a presumptive taxation scheme that allows taxpayers to pay tax on a presumed percentage of their annual turnover given that the annual turnover is less than Rs. 2 crores (Rs. 3 crores if 95% of receipts are through online modes).
GSTR-9C turnover limit
5 crore in a financial year. This requirement applies to regular taxpayers registered under GST. If a taxpayer's turnover crosses Rs. 5 crore, filing GSTR-9C along with GSTR-9 becomes mandatory.
Mandatory Tables in GSTR-9
Captures details of taxable supplies, exports, and exempt/nil-rated supplies. This table is critical for summarising all outward supplies during the financial year and is auto-populated from the GSTR-1 filings.
Is it mandatory to file Form GSTR-9? Yes, it's mandatory to file Form GSTR-9 for normal taxpayers. It may, however, be made optional for taxpayers having AATO up to a certain threshold, from time to time.
Applicability: Businesses with AATO (Aggregate Annual Turnover) exceeding ₹5 crore must report 6-digit HSN codes in Table 12 of GSTR-1. Businesses with AATO up to ₹5 crore must report 4-digit HSN codes.
As recently as January 2022, the limit is Rs. 1 crore for businesses and Rs. 50 lakhs for professionals.
GST is leviable only if aggregate turnover is more than 20 lacs. (Rs. 10 lacs in 11 special category States). For computing aggregate supplies turnover of all supplies made by you would be added.
Failing to file the return attracts late fees, which is ₹200 per day or a maximum of 0.5% of the turnover. In January 2025, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) announced relaxation in GSTR–9C via Notification No. 8/2025.
CBIC Notification (17-Sep-2025) – Small taxpayers with an aggregate annual turnover of up to ₹2Cr for a financial year are exempted from filing GSTR-9 for the same year. This is a permanent compliance relief applicable to annual returns filed for the 2024-25 financial year.
Maximum marginal rate is the highest rate of tax at any income level. This means for those with incomes between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, 39% will be the highest applicable tax rate, and for those with incomes above Rs 5 crore, it will be 42.74% — the highest tax rate since 1992.
Businesses with annual sales of Rs. 40 lakhs or more for goods, and Rs. 20 lakhs or more for services, must register for GST. If the turnover exceeds the allowed threshold, there is a penalty for failing to register under GST.
Late Fees and Penalties for GSTR-9
Filing GSTR-9 after the due date attracts penalties of: Rs. 200 per day up to a maximum of 0.25% of the turnover (Rs.
While filing ITR, the GSTIN has to be mentioned in the relevant section of the form. This is important as it helps the government to cross-verify the financial transactions reported in the GST returns and the income tax returns. It also helps to identify any discrepancies or mismatches in the reported figures.
This waiver applies to registered persons who failed to submit the required reconciliation statement (FORM GSTR-9C) along with the annual return but submit it before March 31, 2025.
GSTR-9 is the annual GST return mandatory for taxpayers with turnover exceeding ₹2 crore, consolidating sales, purchases, ITC, and taxes from GSTR-1, GSTR-2B and GSTR-3B for the financial year.
What is the Minimum Turnover Limit for GST Registration? Businesses are required to register for GST and pay tax on their annual turnover if their annual revenue exceeds Rs. 40 lakhs in the case of goods supplied and Rs. 20 lakhs for the supply of services.
The IRS uses a combination of automated and human processes to select which tax returns to audit. Not reporting all of your income is an easy-to-avoid red flag that can lead to an audit. Taking excessive business tax deductions and mixing business and personal expenses can lead to an audit.
With the recent changes in the Indian Income Tax Act, it's now possible to pay zero tax on a salary of up to Rs. 7 lakhs. To pay zero tax on a 7 lakh salary using the old tax regime, maximize deductions: Claim Tax Rebate under Section 87A.
Exception 1: Where a person: • Declares profits and gains for the previous year u/s 44AD; and • His total sales / turnover / gross receipts in business do not exceed ₹ 2 crore in the previous year, - then, the provision of tax audit is not applicable.
The GST limit for composition schemes in India is Rs. 1.5 crore turnover per annum. Composition schemes are voluntary schemes available for small businesses with annual turnovers up to Rs. 1.5 crore who can opt for fixed tax rates instead of regular GST rates.
If you have exceeded the threshold you must register for GST. You reach the GST turnover threshold if either: your current GST turnover – your turnover for the current month and the previous 11 months – totals $75,000 or more ($150,000 or more for non-profit organisations)
Yes, HSN code is mandatory in GSTR 9 under certain conditions. From the financial year 2021-22 onwards, it's mandatory to report the HSN Summary for Outward Supplies (your sales) in Table 17 of GSTR-9. Taxpayers with a turnover above Rs. 5 crores must report HSN codes at a 6-digit level.