• Notification Date: 18-04-2023
• Notification No: N/A

Guidance for Small Businesses to File GST Returns Online

Ease of doing business for MSMEs: 

Filing Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns, to declare the income earned from business transactions, is important for all businesses registered under GST, including those with nil returns. GST return involves details of sales, purchases, tax collected on sales and tax paid on purchases. Based on this, the tax to be paid by the company to the government is calculated.  

GST-registered businesses must file returns monthly, quarterly or annually based on the business type. Businesses with turnover of more than Rs 5 crore must file 25 returns in a year –two monthly returns (GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B) and one annual return (GSTR-9). Those with turnover below Rs 5 crore can opt for quarterly filing. 

Here’s a quick online process for GSTR-1:  

• Ensure you have the 15-digit GSTIN with you to file the return  

• Once you have your GSTIN, go to gst.gov.in and click on ‘Services’ and then click on ‘Returns Dashboard’  

• Select the financial year and return filing period from the drop-down menu  

• Choose the return to be filed and click on ‘Prepare Online’ under ‘Outward Supplies Made by the Taxpayer’ 

• Enter the required details including B2B invoices, B2C (large) invoices, credit and debit notes registered and unregistered types, and export invoices  

• Fill ‘Other Details’ including B2C (Others), nil rated items or those exempted from GST, advances received for supplies to be made in future, details of suppliers made against advances received in the previous tax period, summary of outward supplies and documents issued 

• ‘Submit’ the form. After submitting, the portal validates the information and highlights errors to be corrected  

• File the return either by using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or the E-sign option  

• Lastly, make the payment for your GST return 

To download the GST return file:  

• Go to gst.gov.in and click on ‘Services’ and then click on ‘Returns Dashboard’  

• Select the financial year and return filing period from the drop-down menu  

• Choose the return to be filed and click on ‘Prepare Offline’ under ‘Outward Supplies Made by the Taxpayer’  

• Go to ‘Download’ and click on ‘Generate File’  

• Select the ‘Click Here’ link to download the ZIP file  

• Click on ‘Open’ under the ‘Open Downloaded Return file’ from the portal