Finance Ministry has extended the due date for filing annual GST return by two months
"Due date for furnishing annual return in FORM GSTR-9 & self-certified reconciliation statement in FORM GSTR-9C for the financial year 2020-21 has been extended from 31.12.2021 to 28.02.2022," a tweet by Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Custom (CBIC) said. In this regard, a notification has been issued.
GST assesses have to file monthly/quarterly and annual returns. Annual returns have two forms – GSTR 9 and GSTR 9C. While GSTT 9 is for all assesses, GSTR 9C is the reconciliation statement submitted by those GST registered taxpayers to whom the GST audit applies. GST Audit applies to those taxpayers whose turnover exceeds ₹2 crore.
Section 44 of the CGST Act prescribes annual returns to be filed. However, the law defines returns to be filed on or before December 31 following the end of such a financial year. This means for FY 2020-21, the last date for filing a return would have been December 31, 2021, under a normal situation. Now it has been extended.