Govt extends the deadline for filing GST returns

In a relief to taxpayers, the government on Thursdayextended the due dates for filing GST annual returns for 2017-18 to December 31and for the financial year 2018-19, to March 31 next year.

The date for filing the reconciliation statement has alsobeen extended accordingly.

In another relief, it has also decided to simplify the twoGST forms by making various fields of these forms as optional, the CentralBoard of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said in a statement.

"The government has decided today (Thursday) to extend the due dates of filing of Form GSTR-9 (Annual Return) and Form GSTR-9C (Reconciliation Statement) for 2017-18 to December 31, 2019, and for 2018-19 to March 2020," it said.

The earlier deadline for filing of GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C for2017-18 was November 30, 2019, while that for 2018-19 was December 31, 2019. Notificationsregarding the extension of the dates have been issued.

The CBIC in the revenue department has also notified theamendments regarding the simplification of the annual return and reconciliationstatement forms.

A reconciliation statement allows taxpayers to not provide a split of input tax credit availed on inputs, input services and capital goods for 2017-18 and 2018-19.

CBIC further said it is expected that with the simplifications in the two forms and the extension of deadlines, "all the GST taxpayers would be able to file their annual returns along with reconciliation statement in time".

Various representations regarding challenges faced by taxpayers in the filing of GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C were received on which by the government has "acted in a very responsive manner", the CBIC statement added.