Implementation of 48th GST Council Meeting Decisions

The 48th GST Council Meeting, held on June 14, 2021, has taken several decisions to ease the compliance burden and increase revenue. The Council has announced significant changes in GST rates, late fee waivers, and extension of the GST return filing deadline for several taxpayers. The decisions are taken to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium businesses.

Changes in GST Rates

The Council has announced changes in GST rates for various goods and services, effective from July 1, 2021. The GST rate on COVID-19 related goods like medical-grade oxygen, oxygen concentrators, and ventilators has been reduced from 12% to 5%. Sanitary napkins have also been exempted from GST. The Council has also reduced the GST rate on various items like e-books, computer software, and LED lights to promote the digital economy.

Extension of GST Return Filing Deadline

The Council has extended the due date for filing various GST returns, considering the pandemic's impact on taxpayers' operations. The due date for filing GSTR-1 for the months of April to June 2021 has been extended by 15 days. The due date for filing GSTR-4 for the financial year 2020-21 has been extended by 1 month. The Council has also allowed small taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to Rs. 5 crores to file their GSTR-3B returns quarterly, starting from the second quarter of the financial year 2021-22.

Late Fee Waivers

The Council has announced a waiver of late fees for various taxpayers who have not filed their GST returns on time. The late fee for not filing GSTR-3B for April 2021, due in May 2021, has been waived for taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to Rs. 5 crores. Similarly, the late fee for not filing GSTR-1 for April 2021 has been waived for taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to Rs. 1.5 crores.

e-Invoicing

The Council has decided to implement the e-invoicing system for businesses having a turnover of Rs. 50 crores and above from April 1, 2021. The e-invoicing system is aimed at reducing the compliance burden on taxpayers and increasing transparency in the GST system.

Conclusion

The decisions taken in the 48th GST Council Meeting are expected to provide relief to small and medium businesses, which have been adversely affected by the pandemic. The changes in GST rates and extension of return filing deadlines are likely to increase compliance and reduce the burden on taxpayers. The waiver of late fees is expected to provide a much-needed respite to taxpayers who have been struggling to meet the compliance requirements due to the pandemic. The e-invoicing system's implementation is likely to bring transparency and efficiency to the GST system, benefiting both taxpayers and the government.