Filing GST monthly is not strictly mandatory for all businesses in India, as it depends on turnover and the chosen scheme. While businesses with over ₹5 crore annual turnover must file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B monthly, those with up to ₹5 crore can opt for the Quarterly Return Monthly Payment (QRMP) scheme.
The calendar quarters are the three-month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. If your reporting period is monthly or quarterly, you have to file your GST return and remit any amount owing no later than one month after the end of the reporting period.
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).
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. The taxpayer will be required to pay interest on late payment of GST at a rate of 18% annually in addition to the late payment penalty.
Filing GST returns
Most small businesses choose to file two-monthly or six-monthly GST returns. Two-monthly means more paperwork but can be easier to keep track of.
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.
You have to start charging GST/HST on the supply that made you exceed $30,000. You exceed the $30,000 threshold 1 over the previous four (or fewer) consecutive calendar quarters (but not in a single calendar quarter).
The penalty for late GST/HST filing is 1% of any amount you owe, plus an extra 0.25% for each full month your payment is overdue, up to 12 months. If the CRA issues a formal demand to file and you ignore it, they add another $250 penalty even if you don't owe any tax.
Consequences of Not Filing ITR
While the due date for filing IT returns has historically been July 31, this date could be subject to change. Failing to meet this deadline could result in a penalty of ₹ 5000 if the return has been submitted after the due date under Section 234F.
Depending on your GST turnover and other eligibility requirements, you report and pay GST monthly, quarterly or annually (your GST reporting cycle). If you report and pay GST quarterly and your GST turnover is less than $10 million, you may be able to elect to pay by the GST instalments method.
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.
Monthly returns are ideal for larger businesses with higher goals and compliance capabilities. Smaller businesses with fewer transactions should use quarterly returns.
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.
Levy of late fee:
Therefore, effectively the late fee for delay in filing Annual Return by the due date is R 200/- per day subject to a maximum of an amount calculated at 0.50% of his turnover in the State or Union Territory.
Every registered taxable person, other than an input service distributor/ composition taxpayer/ persons liable to deduct tax u/s 51 / persons liable to collect tax u/s 52 is required to file Form GSTR-1, the details of outward supplies of goods and/or services during a tax period, electronically on the GST Portal.
If penalties and interest aren't motivating enough and you outright refuse to file taxes, the IRS can enforce tax liens against your property or even pursue civil or criminal litigation against you until you pay. The severity of your refusal will determine the path the IRS will take.
Penalty - 20% of tax involved is charged. Offence - Failure to file annual returns by the due date. Penalty - Additional tax equal to 5% of the normal tax, or Ksh. 10,000 in for Non-Individual Taxpayers.
No, you generally cannot skip a year of filing taxes if you meet the IRS filing requirements (income thresholds, self-employment earnings, etc.), as it's a legal obligation that can lead to significant penalties and interest if you owe taxes, though you might not need to file if your income is below the standard deduction and you have no other filing triggers. It's always better to file a late tax return (even if you can't pay immediately) to avoid penalties, especially if you're owed a refund, which you can lose if you file more than three years late.
Yes, every GST-registered taxpayer whose annual turnover is more than Rs.2 crore must file GSTR-9 annually. It is optional for the rest of the taxpayers. Is GSTR 9 mandatory for less than Rs.2 crore? No, the department made GSTR-9 optional for businesses with less than Rs.2 crore to ease the compliance burden.
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.
To qualify for the GST/HST credit, your adjusted net family income must be below a certain threshold, which for the 2024 tax year ranges from $56,181 to $74,201, depending on your marital status and how many children you have.
If you don't register for GST and are required to, you may have to pay GST on sales made since the date you were required to register. This could happen even if you didn't include GST in the price of those sales. You may also have to pay penalties and interest.
For a $70,000 income in Canada (using 2025 rates), you'll pay roughly $13,000 to $20,000 in total taxes (federal, provincial, CPP, EI), depending on your province, resulting in a take-home pay around $50,000-$59,000, with federal tax around 14.5% or 20.5% depending on the portion, plus provincial tax and deductions like CPP and EI.