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Published on:

April 22, 2025

Alankar Mishra

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Basics of GST

GSTR-9 Annual Return: Due Date, Applicability, Eligibility & Rules

GSTR-9 is the annual return form that every regular taxpayer needs to file in the GST regime. It is a cumulative recap of all monthly and quarterly returns (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B) submitted during the financial year. The form is compulsory and comprises amalgamated information regarding outward and inward supplies, credit of tax paid (ITC), tax payable, and payments made under GST.

For businesses, very compliant GOST regulations can lead to heavy penalties so understanding GSTR-9 is core. Now, let us look into the complete guide to GSTR-9 including its due date, eligibility, rules, penalties, and steps involved in the filing.

Overview Table

Feature	Details
Form Name	GSTR-9
Applicable For	Regular taxpayers under GST
Exempted Entities	Composition dealers, casual/non-resident taxpayers, and ISDs
Filing Frequency	Annually
Due Date	31st December, following the relevant FY
Penalty for Late Filing	₹200 per day (₹100 CGST + ₹100 SGST), max 0.25% of turnover
Mode of Filing	Online via GST Portal
Who Can File Nil GSTR-9	Taxpayers with no outward/inward supply or tax liability

What Is the GSTR-9 Annual Return?

GSTR-9 serves as an annual summary return for the business that encompasses all GST-related data for the financial year. It enables the government to cross-check the information from various returns to monitor compliance with taxation laws.

It comprises the following parts:

Information about supplies outward and inward for the year.

Claimed and reversed ITCs.

Taxes collected and to be collected.

Taxes are subsequently paid and adjusted.

If required, demands and refunds.

GSTR-9 enables a business to clean up small inaccuracies and maintain consistency throughout the returns, thus ensuring precision in data.

Who Should File GSTR-9? (Applicability)

Applicable To:

Every registered normal taxpayer under GST.

Taxpayers who have submitted GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B during the financial year.

Entities with aggregate turnover greater than ₹2 crore (compulsory audit under GSTR-9C).

Not Applicable To:

Taxpayers under the Composition scheme (They need to submit GSTR-9A).

Occasional taxable individuals.

Taxable individuals not residing in the country.

Input service distributors.

Taxpayers who voluntarily cancel their GST registration mid-year become dormant.

Eligibility for Filing GSTR-9

A business qualifies to file GSTR-9 if it:

Holds a GST registration either for the full year or part of it.

Has submitted all periodic returns (GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B) in the previous year.

Keeps proper logs of invoices, ITC, credit or debit notes, tax payments, and their offsets.

If the registration was active during the period, a nil GSTR-9 return must be filed even in the absence of business activity.

Due Date of GSTR-9 Filing

The deadline for submitting GSTR-9 is December 31 of the year succeeding the relevant financial year.

For instance, take the following example:

For FY 2023-24, the deadline for submitting GSTR-9 is December 31, 2024.

Nonetheless, authoritative bodies may change the deadline via formal announcements, particularly during years of compliance slowdowns or updates to the system.

Penalty & Late Fees for GSTR-9

Not submitting the GSTR-9 on time incurs the following penalties:

₹100 per day under CGST + ₹100 per day under SGST = ₹200 per day

The maximum late fee is capped at **0.25%** of the taxpayer's turnover in the relevant state or union territory.

GSTR-9 vs GSTR-9C: What's the Difference?

Criteria	GSTR-9	GSTR-9C
Purpose	Annual return summarising GST transactions	Reconciliation statement between books & GSTR-9
Applicability	All regular taxpayers	Turnover above ₹5 crore
Certification	Not required	Certified by CA/CMA
Contents	Tax summary	Auditor’s remarks, mismatches, certification

Businesses with a turnover above ₹5 crore must file both GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C.

What Are the Types of GSTR-9 Forms?

Based on taxpayer category, GSTR-9 returns are classified as the following:

GSTR-9: ‘Regular taxpayers' return (standard form).

GSTR-9A: For taxpayers under the composition scheme (Discontinued since FY 2019-20).

GSTR-9C: Audit and reconciliation return for other businesses with turnover > ₹5 crore.

Key Sections in GSTR-9 Form

GSTR-9 has six main parts:

Back Office Information: includes GSTIN, name(s) of registrant(s).

Supplies Out: sales volume taxation, and tax paid.

ITC: Claimed, reversed, and eligible ITCs.

Summary of Taxes Paid: liability and paid amounts.

Differential Adjustments: other tax paid, tax demand/refund.

Other Information: late payment, late payment demand, early payment demand, ITC discrepancy.

Step-by-Step Process to File GSTR-9

1. Log in to the GST Portal: Go to www.gst.gov.in and log in using your credentials.

2. Navigate to GSTR-9: Go to Returns Dashboard → Select Financial Year → GSTR-9 (Annual Return)

3. Download Auto-Filled Summary: The system auto-populates data from GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B.

4. Fill in Remaining Fields: Verify and manually fill data in various tables, especially ITC reversals, demands, or refunds.

5. Preview and Submit: Check the draft, verify amounts, and click Submit.

6. File with DSC/EVC: File your return using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or Electronic Verification Code (EVC).

7. Download Filed Return: Once filed, download and save the acknowledgement for your records.

Common Errors to Avoid While Filing GSTR-9

There is a discrepancy between the ITC in the ledger and the ITC in the portal.

Reporting no value for exempt supplies, i.e., for supplies made outside the scope of GST or chargeable at zero rate.

Not accounting for credit notes and debit notes in the aggregate turnover of the company.

Failure to report additional tax liability, if any.

Filing without cross-checking with GSTR-3B and ledgers.

Conclusion

Filing GSTR-9 might be considered an annual compliance requirement for every regular taxpayer under GST, but it does seem to get neglected quite often. The Government may track tax payments and filings through this platform, and at the same time, companies can analyse their transactions comprehensively. Let's ensure we file it on or before the due date and accurately reconcile all information so as not to incur penalties.

FAQs

What is the due date for GSTR-9 for FY 2023-24?

Unless extended by CBIC through formal notification, the due date is December 31, 2024.

Who is exempt from GSTR-9 filing?

Paying and registering for GST on the composition scheme is optional for casual/non-resident individuals, ISDs, and businesses that had their GSTINs cancelled.

Can I revise GSTR-9 after filing?

No, GSTR-9 cannot be revised after submission and filing. Please double-check and ensure all the figures are correct before final submission.

Is GSTR-9 mandatory for turnover below ₹2 crore?

For businesses earning less than ₹2 crore, it is optional but advised in terms of audits and transparency.

What happens if I don’t file a GSTR-9?

Missing the renewal deadline attracts a ₹200 daily fine, which can also lead to the blockage of the GST return, along with a potential demand notice and interest cost.