In India, the late fee for failing to file GST returns (GSTR-3B, GSTR-1) by the due date is ₹50 per day (₹25 CGST + ₹25 SGST), or ₹20 per day for Nil returns. The maximum late fee is capped at ₹5,000 per return. Additionally, interest at 18% per annum is charged on outstanding tax liability.
Penalty on Missing the GST Due Date:
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.
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 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.
Grace periods typically range from 15 to 30 days. While technically a customer could wait until the exemption date to pay, insurers may still treat the premium as GST-inclusive based on the due date, not the payment date. ...
If you don't pay on time, we will automatically add a general interest charge (GIC) to what you owe. Your debt will grow each day your debt remains unpaid. Interest calculates on a daily compounding basis on the amount overdue and is added to your account periodically.
Grace Period & Late Fees ⚠️
Most loans include a short grace period—typically 10–15 days after the due date—before a payment is officially considered late. If you miss this window, you'll likely be hit with a late fee, usually in the $25–$50 range or outlined in your loan agreement.
CGST and SGST late fee is ₹50 per day per return, with a limit of ₹5,000 per type of return. 4. Can you waive or reduce the GST penalty? Yes, you can waive or reduce a GST default penalty in case of actual default on the basis of reasonable causes and for first-time offenders.
For GST, the CRA filing and payment deadline is 3 months after your fiscal year end. For GST filed and paid annually, the CRA payment deadline is April 30 and the filing deadline is June 15. For GST filed and paid monthly and quarterly, the CRA filing and payment deadline is one month after the reporting period.
If your return is over 60 days late, there's also a minimum penalty for late filing; it's the lesser of $525 (for tax returns required to be filed in 2026) or 100 percent of the tax owed. See Topic no. 304 for information about extensions of time to file if you can't file on time.
Key Points About GST Late Fees
Failure to file penalties
If you file your return late, a penalty applies. The penalty is 5% of the unpaid tax that is due on the filing deadline, plus 1% of this unpaid tax for each complete month that the return is late, up to a maximum of 12 months.
Login to GST Portal and select the option - Services - Then select - Payment. Select Create Challan and window will be opened showing tax particulars, interest, penalty and fees details. Select Penalty and pay the same according to category - CGST, SGST or IGST.
A late filing penalty of $50 if you're on the payment basis and $250 if you're on the invoice or hybrid basis. For late payments, a penalty charge of 1% of the GST amount owed. This increases to 4% of the total amount after 7 days and 1% for every month after that.
Where the late payment penalty is consideration for a financial supply (for example, a supply of an interest in a credit arrangement), there is no need for the supplier to account for GST for that supply. A charge for late payment penalty that is consideration for a financial supply is not an adjustment event.
The late fee is capped at 0.25% of the taxpayer's turnover in the state or union territory per Act (i.e., up to 0.5% total for both CGST and SGST). For example, if turnover is ₹1 crore, the maximum late fee can be up to ₹50,000 (₹25,000 under CGST and ₹25,000 under SGST).
Under the GST law, penalty for late filing of GST returns include a late fee of Rs. 50 per day (Rs. 25 each under CGST and SGST) for delayed return filing, capped at Rs. 5,000, and an interest rate of 18% per annum on outstanding tax amounts.
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 Indian Government has amended the GST Rules, 2022, to provide that failure to file monthly or quarterly GST reports in form GSTR 3B for a continuous period of 6 months, or for two consecutive tax periods or simply GST not filed for 6 months continuously, would henceforth result in GST registration cancellation.
According to a report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, about 90 percent of first-time late fees can be waived if you simply ask. Even if you've missed payments more than once, some issuers still offer goodwill adjustments.
An offender not paying tax or making short-payments has to pay a penalty of 10% of the tax amount due, subject to a minimum of Rs. 10,000. Therefore, the penalty will be high at 100% of the tax amount when the offender has evaded i.e., where there is a deliberate fraud.
Where the payment has not been made, the ATO will contact you. Interest, currently 8.96% p.a. calculated on a daily rate, will be added to the overdue amount.
Your balance could increase
Missing a minimum payment or paying late can increase your balance if a late fee is added to the account. Also, you may continue to be charged interest on your unpaid balance until your card issuer receives your payment in full.
There's no automatic right to statutory interest or compensation like with B2B debts. Typical consumer late fees are limited to 2-4% interest, and anything higher will likely be reduced by a court. If claiming interest, be sure to claim under the County Courts Act 1984.