The maximum late fee for filing a GST annual return (GSTR-9) is generally capped at 0.5% of the turnover in a State or Union Territory ( 0.25 % 0 . 2 5 % CGST + 0.25 % 0 . 2 5 % SGST). For taxpayers with lower turnover, specific maximum caps of ₹5,000 (combined) to ₹20,000 for certain periods have been implemented, with daily fees of ₹50–₹200.
Here are the key elements of the GST late fee structure:
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.
According to the latest update, a late fee of ₹50 per day is now applicable, capping at a maximum of ₹2,000. If the tax liability is nil, the maximum late fee is reduced to ₹500. Previously, a late fee of ₹200 per day was imposed if GSTR-4 was not filed by the due date, with the maximum late fee not exceeding ₹5,000.
The due date for filing Form GSTR-9 for a particular financial year is 31st December of subsequent financial year or as extended by Government through notification from time to time.
The last date to file a belated return for FY 2024–25 is December 31, 2025, unless extended by the government.
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.
Late filing of Income tax return will attract penalty u/s 234F up to Rs. 5,000, late filing interest at the rate of 1% per month (Section 234A) on the tax payable, delay in refund, not providing interest on refund @ 0.5% per month, inability to carry forward the losses.
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.
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.
An offender not paying tax or making short payments must pay a penalty of 10% of the tax amount due subject to a minimum of Rs. 10,000. Consider — in case tax has not been paid or a short payment is made, a minimum penalty of Rs 10,000 has to be paid. The maximum penalty is 10% of the tax unpaid.
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.
The penalty for late filing of GSTR-9C includes a late fee of Rs. 200 per day (Rs. 100 each for CGST and SGST) up to a maximum of 0.5% of the taxpayer's turnover in the relevant state or union territory.
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.
GST Notification 8/2025-Central Tax dt. 23-January-2025
Notification No. 08/2025 waives the late fee under section 47 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act for the annual return (FORM GSTR-9) for the financial years 2017-18 to 2022-23.
To calculate the interest due on a late payment, the amount of the debt should be multiplied by the number of days for which the payment is late, multiplied by daily late payment interest rate in operation on the date the payment became overdue.
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).
Failing to file GSTR-9 on time results in financial penalties of ₹200 per day, capped at 0.25% of annual turnover, disrupting cash flow for businesses. Non-compliance with GSTR-9 can lead to denial of input tax credits, audits, legal risks, and even suspension or cancellation of GST registration.
Key Points About GST Late Fees
California. There is no maximum late fee applicable to overdue invoices or for businesses located in California. Californian businesses are also not required to provide their clients with a grace period before charging late fees on overdue balances.
Here's a breakdown of the typical expenses for small businesses: GST Return Fees: Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 per month for online filing via the GST portal.
This late fee payment is computed on a daily basis for delayed payment from the payment due date. The Input Tax Credit (ITC) made accessible by an electronic credit ledger cannot be used by the taxpayer to pay the late fee. Instead, the taxpayer must pay the late fee in cash.
GST Notification 17/2025-Central Tax dt. 18-October-2025
Registered taxpayers can now file their GSTR-3B for the month of September 2025 or the quarter of July–September 2025 by October 25, 2025, instead of the earlier due date.
06/2025 dated 17 October 2025, the Ministry extended the filing deadline for financial statements and annual returns pertaining to FY 2024-25 to 31 December 2025, without any additional fees. The original statutory deadlines were: Financial statements (Form AOC-4 series): 30 October 2025 (within 30 days of AGM)
The GST return due date to file these annual returns is 31 December following the end of the financial year. For example, for the financial year 2024-25, the GST filing last date will be 31st Dec 2025.