New Reforms in Online GST Returns Filing Process – Legal Sahayak

New Reforms in Online GST Returns Filing Process

GST Filing was one of the biggest tax reforms in India. Its motto is One Nation One Tax Instead of having different taxes making the tax structure very complicated, GST Returns Filing was introduced to get rid of these various direct and indirect taxes. The GSTIN (goods and service tax network) system where all the information regarding invoices, selling, buying, location and date is furnished is established by GST council and finance ministry. So, GST Returns are the forms every taxpayer need to comply with for easy flow of input tax credit.

To make online GST return filing easy, various categories as a taxpayer are introduced viz

1. Regular Taxpayer: The persons who own a business is a state/UT and involve with the supply of goods and services. There are three mandatory forms which are to be filed by the taxpayer i.e. GSTR -1, GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 in which respectively and GSTR-3 for cumulative tax data (return filing) to be the file on or before 20th of the succeeding month. The taxpayers with turnover less than 1.5 crores have to file Online GST Return quarterly while the taxpayer with turnover more than 1.5 crores have to file monthly returns.
2. Composition Taxpayer: To provide relief to the small and medium enterprises the government has come up with composition scheme where registered business under composition scheme needs to file one return (GSTR-4) in a quarter instead of 3 returns in a month like normal businesses. There is an option to register under the Composition scheme on GST Registration Online Portal i.e. the turnover of registering businesses should not be more then INR 75lakh.
3. Non-resident Taxpayer: The Non-resident taxpayer under GST regime is the person/business not owning the business in India but supplying goods and services to the country for a short period of time. All these non-resident taxpayer will have to file their tax returns through the GSTR-5 form.
4. TDS Taxpayer: TDS taxpayer are authorities eligible to deduct TDS on payment made to registered vendors or businesses towards purchases made from them. Every TDS taxpayer has to file their taxes through the GSTR-7 form.
5. TCS Taxpayer: E-commerce operators are online business operator registered under Model GST law and provide the platform for vendors and customers for the supply of goods and services. For TCS taxes, they should file the GSTR-8 form on Indian government GST portal.

A brief glance on the earlier existing GST Process:

GST returns can be filed online using the software or apps provided by Goods and Service Tax Network.

Steps for filing GST Return

• Visit the GST Online Portal (http://www.gst.gov.in).
• A 15-digit GST identification number will be given which is based on your state code and PAN number.
• Upload invoice on the GST Online Portal or the software. An invoice reference number will be issued against each invoice.
• After uploading invoices, outward return, inward return, and cumulative monthly return have to be filed online. If there are any errors, you have the option to correct it and refile the returns.
• File the outward supply returns in GSTR-1 form through the information section at the GST Common Portal (GSTN) on or before 10th of the following month.
• Details of outward supplies furnished by the supplier will be made available in GSTR-2 A to the recipient.
• Recipient has to verify, validate, and modify the details of outward supplies, and also file details of credit or debit notes.
• Recipient has to furnish the details of inward supplies of taxable goods and services in GSTR-2 form.

GST Filing will be more simpler, GSTN will be completely public entity in due course of time. By acquiring the stakes of the private entities, GST council has given a green signal to convert the GST network (GSTN) to a government company which will be a simpler framework and will also substantially reduce the complexities in it.

A group of ministers was constituted under Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi to suggest new models based on the suggestions of Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani and the officer committee.

The council has come up with the process which has unidirectional flow of invoice. It has come up with more simpler model which only the seller of goods involved in business to business transaction has to upload invoices.

New GST filing Model Approved by GST Council

First stage

To ensure that the change to be gradual, a six month buffer period will be given. The present model of GSTR-1 and GSTR-3 B will continue for six months whereas the GSTR-1 timeline will be shortened.

Second Stage

The seller will upload invoices. But, provisional credit will be allowed to the buyer, based on his/her calculations, even if the seller does not upload related invoices. GST Network will keep sending reminders to buyers about the difference between credit available to them and input tax credit they got. A buyer then can ask the seller to upload remaining invoices as well. Assesses will have to file one return in a month, except for those who have no transactions or those who are under the composition scheme as they will file quarterly returns.

Third stage

There will be no provisional credit. Credit will be based on invoices put up by the seller. The seller will put up the invoices and credit will be given on that. The government will recover the tax from the seller and in extreme cases where the seller is not located or he/she does not have assets, the buyer will have to pay taxes. Other processes will be the same as in stage two.

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