GST Return Filing – GSTR-1, GSTR-3B & Annual Returns

Who needs to file GST returns?

Every business registered under GST must file returns for every period while its registration is active – even if there were no sales. GST return filing reports what you sold, the tax you collected and the input tax credit (ITC) you claim on purchases. Late or incorrect returns lead to late fees, interest, blocked input tax credit for your customers and, eventually, cancellation of your GST registration.

Types of GST returns

Businesses with turnover up to ₹5 crore can choose the QRMP scheme – returns every quarter, with tax paid monthly through a challan.

Key due dates

Due dates can be extended by government notification; we track every change for you.

Input tax credit and GSTR-2B

The credit you can claim depends on your suppliers. GSTR-2B is an auto-generated monthly statement of the credit available to you, built from the returns your suppliers file. Since October 2024, the Invoice Management System (IMS) on the GST portal also lets you accept, reject or keep pending each supplier invoice before it reaches GSTR-2B.

Before every filing, we reconcile your purchase register with GSTR-2B, follow up on invoices your suppliers have not reported, and claim only the credit you are entitled to – the most common reason for GST notices is credit claimed beyond GSTR-2B.

Common GST return mistakes

• Claiming input tax credit not shown in GSTR-2B, or on blocked items such as most food and personal-use purchases
• Sales in GSTR-1 not matching GSTR-3B, which triggers mismatch notices
• Wrong place of supply – charging CGST and SGST on an inter-state sale, or IGST on a local one
• Credit notes, advances and amendments not reported in the right period
• Missing HSN or SAC summary in GSTR-1

GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B cannot be revised once filed, so getting them right the first time matters. Errors are corrected in a later return, or through GSTR-1A before the GSTR-3B for that period is filed.

Penalties for late filing

• Late fee of ₹50 per day (₹20 per day for nil returns), subject to caps based on turnover.
• Interest at 18% per year on tax paid late.
• GSTR-1 cannot be filed while the previous period's GSTR-3B is pending, and e-way bills can be blocked after repeated non-filing.
• Persistent non-filing can lead to cancellation of registration, and returns can no longer be filed once three years have passed from their due date.

Behind on your returns? We file the pending periods in order, calculate the late fees and interest, and bring your compliance up to date. If a notice has already arrived, see our GST notice reply service.

Nil returns

If there were no sales or purchases in a period, a nil GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B must still be filed – they can even be filed by SMS. Skipping them attracts the same late fees as regular returns.

What our service includes

• Preparation and filing of GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B for the period, or CMP-08 for composition taxpayers
• Reconciliation of your purchases with GSTR-2B and review of invoices in IMS
• Computation of tax payable and challan preparation
• Reminders before every due date and help with GST notices

You approve filing using the OTP sent to your registered mobile or email – we never need your passwords. At year end, we prepare your GST annual return. Exporting? File a GST LUT to export without paying IGST. Need clean books behind your returns? See bookkeeping and accounting. Not registered yet? Start with GST registration.