GSTR-9A- Annual Return for Composition Scheme Taxpayers

GSTR-9A is an important return to be filed under the GST regime. It is an annual return to be filed by registered taxpayers who have opted for the Composition Scheme.

What is GSTR-9A?

It is a document that taxpayers who have opted for the Composition Scheme have to file for a financial year. The document includes all the information regarding the quarterly returns filed by the composition taxpayers during a financial year.

This return can’t be revised. File after careful scrutinization.

Who Should File GSTR-9A Form?

Taxpayer opted for the composition scheme at any time during a financial year. Also, taxpayer who have opted out of the scheme in the middle of a year have to file GSTR-9A form.

The following are not to file GSTR-9A:

• Non-resident Taxable Persons
• Input Service distributor
• Casual Taxable Person
• Persons paying TDS
• E-commerce Operator paying TCS

Due Dates of Filing GSTR-9A

The taxpayer has to file this return on or before 31st December following the close of the financial year. If a taxpayer has to file GSTR-9A for the year 2019-20, he has to file it on or before 31st December 2020.

How to File GSTR-9A?

GSTR-9A can’t be filed offline. Therefore, it is important to understand and follow the steps before you can file it online.

Here below are the mentioned steps to file GSTR-9A online.

1. Login

• Login to GST portal
• Click on Services
• Click on Returns
• Click on ‘Annual Return’
• Then select Financial Year
• Click on Prepare Online

2. Questionnaire

• Enter whether you want to file a NIL return

• Click YES only if the following criteria is met

1. No outward supply
2. No Receipt of goods/services (i.e. purchases)
3. No other liability to report
4. Not claimed any credit
5. No refund claimed
6. No demand order received
7. No late fees to be paid

If your answer is YES, give the turnover details of last financial year. Select ‘compute liabilities’ and file.

If your answer is NO, ‘GSTR-9A Annual Return for Composition Taxpayers’ will appear where you will have to enter various details.

The taxpayer can download the system computed summary of GSTR-9A and GSTR-4 summary.

3. Details

a. Details of outward supplies

• Click on the Details of Outward supplies made during the financial year
• Enter turnover details.
• Click YES
• Confirmation pop up will appear
• Go back to ‘GSTR-9A dashboard

b. Details of all inward supplies for which tax is paid on reverse charge mechanism c. Details of all the other inward supplies d. Details of tax paid e. Details of all transactions related to the previous year declared in the returns of April to September of the current FY or up to the date of filing the annual return for the previous FY, whichever is earlier f. Differential tax paid due to transactions related to the Point no. E g. Details of demands/refunds h. Details of credit reversed/availed

4. Preview draft GSTR-9A

You can preview the form in PDF/excel format

• PDF format preview: Click ‘Preview GSTR-9A (PDF)’

• Excel format preview Click ‘Preview GSTR-9A (Excel)’

5. Compute liabilities and late fees

• Click on Compute Liabilities
• GST portal will process all the details mentioned in various tables.
• A confirmation message will be displayed saying ‘ready to file as on date’.
• Click on the Late fees payable and paid tile

6. Preview draft GSTR-9A

Preview draft GSTR-9A in PDF/Excel format (Preview carefully as it will reflect the details of late fees payable and paid)

7. Proceed to file

• Select the declaration checkbox
• Select ‘Authorised Signatory’.
• Click ‘File GSTR-9A’.
• Submit Application page will be displayed
• Two options for filing will be displayed
• File with DSC: Browse and select the certificate. Sign and submit.
• File with EVC: OTP will be sent to the registered email ID and mobile number.
• Validate the OTP. Status of the return will change to ‘Filed’.

Penalty for Late Filing

A taxpayer will be liable to pay Rs.100 under Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Rs. 100 under State Goods and Services Tax (SGST). Essentially, the taxpayer will be paying Rs. 200 per day from the next day of the due date till the date of actual filing.

Conclusion

The taxpayer has to pay utmost attention while filing GSTR-9A. It is important to file valid information for the annual return. For the smooth filing of GST Returns and to avoid financial losses, filing GST-R9A on time is essential.