GST returns must generally be filed monthly by the 10th, 11th, or 20th, depending on the form (e.g., GSTR-1, GSTR-3B). A critical 3-year time limit now applies, meaning pending returns cannot be filed more than 3 years after their original due date. Annual returns are typically due by December 31st of the following financial year.
Applicability of the Three-Year Rule
As per the advisory, no GST return can be filed after three years from its original due date.
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.
If GSTR are not filed for a continuous period of6 months, GST portal will suspend the GST registration which will initiate a suo-moto for cancellation of GST registration. If the proper reply is not submitted and GSTR are filed within the period of 7 days the GST registration can be cancelled by the concerned officer.
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). Composition dealers file 4 CMP-08 (quarterly) and 1 GSTR-4 (annual).
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.
Late submission penalty. A late submission penalty of $200 is imposed immediately when the GST return is not filed by the due date. A further penalty of $200 is imposed for every completed month that the GST F5/F8 return remains outstanding. The maximum penalty amount for each outstanding F5/F8 return is $10,000.
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.
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.
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.
Once four years have passed, neither party can typically reopen GST matters related to that period, except in the case of fraud or evasion. This creates a level of certainty that benefits everyone involved in the tax system.
If you collect GST/HST, penalties also apply for filing late. The CRA calculates the late filing fee for your GST/HST taxes using the formula A + (B x C). In this formula, A is 1% of the amount you owe, B is 25% of A, and C is the number of months the return is late.
Section 16(2) and Rule 37
If he made payment within 180 days to the supplier within 180 days than no reversal is required. If he made proportionate payment to supplier with GST within 180 days then he has to reverse ITC proportionately . If No payment is made within 180 days, then whole the ITC has to be reversed.
For GST filed and paid annually, the CRA payment deadline is April 30 and the filing deadline is June 15.
– Time limit to issue notice: 3 years from the due date of filing annual return for the relevant year. – Time limit to pass the order: 3 years from the due date of annual return. Example: For FY 2021–22, the time limit to issue notice is 31st December 2025 (assuming annual return due date is 31st December 2022).
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.
The answer to this question is yes. It is not mandatory to hire a CA for paying GST. The government has provided an online platform called the GST portal, where taxpayers can register and file their GST returns themselves.
GSTR 3B contains a detailed summary of the tax liabilities of the GST dealer. After modification in GST Rules, 2022, if GSTR-3B is not filed for 6 months consecutively or for two consecutive tax periods will now lead to cancellation of GST registration.
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. ...
Backdating your GST registration
Backdating a GST registration is limited to 4 years. This means, unless there is fraud or evasion: we can't backdate your GST registration by more than 4 years. you are not required to be registered before that date.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 reform, which came into effect from September 22nd, 2025, brought relief for the common people and boosts for businesses. 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%).
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 return online is compulsory and assists the government for all registered businesses. GST returns help the government track tax liabilities while allowing businesses to claim input tax credits (ITC). Returns must be filed regularly on the GST portal, ensuring compliance and smooth tax management.