GST constitutes a destination-related consumption tax that commenced in India on 1/7/2017. The law is framed and implemented in India with an aim to automate the processes to prevent loss of revenue, lowering the need for interaction between administration and taxpayer, and greater responsibility of reporting the transaction in a highly detailed manner.
The new GST regime has registered over 1.32 crore businesses in India. With a few exceptions, all entities possessing GST registration need to file GST annual returns, regardless of profitability, business activity, or sales, during the return filing period.
In addition to monthly and quarterly returns, GST-subscribed taxpayers must file annual returns in form GSTR-9. This post provides a detailed guide on GST annual return filing and covers everything you need to know.
Overview of Form GSTR-9
GSTR-9 comprises a form for GST Annual Return Filing that nearly all businesses with GST Registration need to submit each year.
It contains details about the supplies bought, supplies sold, credits received, and taxes owed during a financial year.
The form is required to be deposited by December 31st of the year following the specific financial year.
Who Requires to Submit GSTR-9
Every business with GST Registration is mandated to file GSTR-9 prior to the deadline and with the proper details.
Nonetheless, the sole entities exempt from submitting GSTR-9 are casual taxpayers, non-resident taxpayers, input service distributors, and taxpayers who subtract or gather tax at source under Section 51 or 52.
However, the composition taxpayers need to file GSTR-9A, whereas e-commerce operators are required to file GSTR-9B.
Applicability of GSTR 9
The necessity to file Form GSTR-9 applies to different categories of taxpayers depending on their GST annual return limit, registration status, and activities in the financial year. The following entities incur GSTR 9 applicability and are bound to furnish this yearly return:
- Regular Taxpayers: Entities or individuals registered as everyday taxpayers are subject to GSTR 9 filing. This covers businesses operating under standard tax provisions.
- Transition from Composition Scheme: In the financial year, taxpayers who have shifted from the composition scheme to general taxpayer status are required to file Form GSTR 9. This marks their transition from a simplified tax regime to a normal tax framework.
- SEZ Developers and SEZ Units: Form GSTR-9 has to be filed by Special Economic Zone (SEZ) developers as well as SEZ units with a view to providing a much more elaborate statement on financial transactions of the last financial year.
List of Required Documents for GSTR-9 Filing
When you want to file the Form, You Will Need main documents:
- Documents required to file Monthly GST Returns (GSTR-2A, GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B): These are the documents that show purchases, sales revenue taxable and its calculation on a month-wise basis. These are important to aggregate the required data for filing yearly returns.
- GSTR-9C: The reconciliation statement should match your financials with the GST returns so as to comply and be accurate.
- Annual Financial Statements: Your annual profit and loss statement and balance sheet offer an overview of your financial wellness and are needed to tally your GST returns.
Types of GST Annual Returns
There are four kinds of GST annual returns as specified:
- GSTR 9: to be filed by the general taxpayers filing GSTR 3B and GSTR 1.
- GSTR 9A: to be filed by the persons subscribed within the composition scheme under GST.
- GSTR 9B: to be filed by the e-commerce operators who have submitted GSTR 8 during the financial year.
- GSTR 9C: to be filed by the taxpayers with an annual turnover of over Rs 2 crores during the financial year. All such taxpayers are also mandated to make their accounts audited and submit a copy of audited annual accounts and reconciliation statement of tax previously paid and tax payable according to audited accounts together with GSTR 9C.
Consequences of Non-filing of Annual Return
All taxpayers must submit the GSTR-9 form by the GST yearly return due date. Skipping the deadline leads to a penalty of 200 INR daily, divided as 100 INR for SGST and 100 INR for CGST, without any late fee for IGST. Nevertheless, the total fine will not surpass the taxpayer’s quarterly turnover.
GSTR-4 comprises a return to be filed by the taxpayers choosing the Composition Scheme on a yearly basis. Until FY 2018-19, the return was submitted for each quarter, with CMP-08 as the substitute.
Overview of GSTR-4
GSTR-4 constitutes the annual GST Return that needs to be filed by a composition dealer. In contrast to a regular taxpayer who needs to present two monthly returns and an annual return (with specific exemptions), a dealer picking the composition scheme needs to submit one return each quarter in Form CMP-08 and Form GSTR 4 once in a year by the 30th day of April, after the financial year.
Nonetheless, during the 53rd GST Council meeting, the Council suggested that the deadline to submit GSTR-4 for a financial year will be prolonged from April 30th to June 30th of the following financial year from FY 2025-26 onwards. This alteration was thence notified in the CGST Notification 12/204 dated July 10th, 2025.
GSTR 9C Reconciliation Statement
GSTR 9C comprises a reconciliation statement between the yearly returns in GSTR 9 for the appropriate financial year and the statistics cited in the taxpayer’s audited yearly financial statements. It includes the gross and taxable turnover according to the books of accounts, with the respective stats stated in the consolidation of the entire GST returns for the financial year.
A taxable individual whose aggregate turnover crosses Rs 5 Crore in a financial year must file the audit report in form GSTR 9C.
Applicability of GSTR 9C
It is compulsory for registered taxpayers whose total turnover surpasses Rs 5 Cr for the proper financial year to submit the GSTR 9C reconciliation statement. The GSTR 9C must be formulated and self-verified by the taxpayer on the GST portal. This return applies to taxpayers who shall have their yearly accounts audited as per the GST laws.
The local authority of government does not need to furnish an audit report if their account is audited by C&AG – Second proviso to Section 44 of CGST Act, 2017.
Due Date for Filing GSTR 9C
The due dates for tendering the annual return GSTR 9C and 9 are identical. GSTR 9C must be tendered by the registered taxpayer on or before December 31st of the year after the appropriate financial year unless prolonged otherwise by CBIC.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, GSTR-9 comprises an annual return that is essential to be tendered by taxpayers subscribed under GST. It contains particulars of supplies received and made, input tax credits utilized, and tax paid in the financial year. Composition taxpayers, TDS deductors, and non-resident taxable individuals are mandated to submit other returns in place of GSTR-9. It is crucial to file your GSTR-9 return precisely and in a timely manner to meet your duties under the GST law and avoid any penalties.
Kanakkupillai assists you in filing your GST annual return on time with confidence, knowing that you have a trusted partner guiding you through the process.
