The returns that matter most
For a normal taxpayer the cycle is short and repetitive once the underlying books are clean.
- GSTR-1 — outward supplies, invoice by invoice for B2B and summarised for B2C
- GSTR-3B — a summary of outward supplies and input credit, with the tax payment
- GSTR-2B — auto-drafted, static statement of the credit available to you
- GSTR-9 — annual return consolidating the year
- GSTR-9C — reconciliation statement, for larger taxpayers
Monthly or quarterly: the QRMP scheme
Businesses with aggregate turnover up to ₹5 crore can opt into Quarterly Return, Monthly Payment. You file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B quarterly but still pay tax monthly, using either a fixed sum or your actual liability. It cuts filing work without deferring the cash outflow.
Why the annual return trips people up
GSTR-9 is not a fresh computation — it consolidates what you already filed. Discrepancies surface at this point because the monthly returns were filed from memory rather than from the books. The fix is upstream: file each month from your actual invoice records, and the annual return becomes a formality.
Late filing costs
Late fees accrue per day of delay, per return, and interest runs on the unpaid tax. Nil returns still attract a reduced late fee, so a dormant registration is not a free one. Returns are also sequential — you cannot file a later period until earlier ones are filed.
Common questions
Do I have to file if I had no sales?+
Yes. A nil return is still a return. Skipping it blocks the following period's filing and accrues a late fee, so dormant registrations still need the monthly click.
What is the difference between GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B?+
Both show credit from your suppliers' filings. GSTR-2A is dynamic and keeps changing as suppliers file late. GSTR-2B is generated once a month and frozen, which is why it is the reference point for claiming credit in GSTR-3B.
Can I revise a GST return once filed?+
No. GST returns cannot be revised. Corrections are made by amending the relevant entry in a subsequent period's return, which is why getting the invoice right at source matters far more than under the older tax regimes.