Deadline For Late Fee Amnesty Under GST Extended Till November 30

The late fee amnesty scheme refers to reduction or waiver of late fee for not filing Form GSTR-3B for the tax periods from July 2017 to April 2021. Taxpayers originally had to file their GST between June 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021 to benefit from this amnesty scheme Finance Ministry has also extended timelines related to application for revocation of cancellation of registration and use of electronic verification code for filing GSTR-1 and GSTR-3BMinistry of Finance has extended the last date to avail of the late fee amnesty scheme under Goods and Services Act (GST), has now been extended to November 30, 2021. The scheme was scheduled to expire on August 31, 2021.

Latest updates on GSTR-3B

29th August 2021
1) Time limit to avail GST Amnesty Scheme extended up to 30th November 2021. It continues to apply for GSTR-3B from July 2017 up to April 2021 via CGST notification number 33/2021 dated 29th August 2021.
2) Taxpayers can get extended time up to 30th September 2021 to revoke cancelled GST registration if the last date for the same falls between 1st March 2020 and 31st August 2021. It applies if the GST registration is cancelled under Section 29(2) clause (b) or (c) of the CGST Act via CGST notification number 34/2021 dated 29th August 2021.
3) Company taxpayers can continue filing GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B using EVC or DSC up to 31st October 2021 via the CGST notification number 32/2021 dated 29th August 2021.

26th August 2021
From 1st September 2021, taxpayers will not be able to file GSTR-1 or use the IFF for August 2021 on the GST portal if they have pending GSTR-3B filings. It applies if GSTR-3B is pending for the past two months till July 2021 (monthly filer) or for the last quarter ending 30th June 2021 (quarterly filer), as per CGST Rule 59(6).

28th May 2021
The GST Council recommended in its 43rd meeting the following:
1) The much-awaited GST amnesty scheme was given a go-ahead. As per the announcement, those taxpayers who haven’t filed GSTR-3B for any earlier tax periods between July 2017 to April 2021 can file now between 1st June 2021 up to 31st August 2021 with a reduced maximum late fee as follows:
(a) Maximum late fee has been capped at a maximum of Rs 500 per return (i.e Rs. 250/- each for CGST & SGST) in case of nil GSTR-3B filing
(b) Maximum late fee is Rs 1000 per return ( i.e Rs. 500/- each for CGST & SGST) for other taxpayers
2) Late fee has been rationalised for future tax periods in case of GSTR-3B, as follows:
(a) In case of nil GSTR-3B filing, the maximum late fee charged shall be capped at Rs.500 per return (i.e Rs. 250/- each for CGST & SGST).
(b) In GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B other than nil filing, maximum late fee is fixed based on annual turnover slab, as follows:
(i) If the annual turnover in the previous financial year is upto Rs.1.5 crore then the late fee of maximum Rs 2,000 per return can only be charged (i.e Rs.1000 each for CGST and SGST).
(ii) If the turnover ranges between Rs.1.5 crore and Rs.5 crore then the maximum late fee of Rs.5,000 per return can only be charged (i.e Rs. 2500 each for CGST and SGST).
(iii) If the turnover is more than Rs.5 crore then late fee of maximum Rs.10,000 (i.e Rs. 5000 per CGST and SGST) can be charged.
3) Rule 36(4) of the CGST Rules will apply cumulatively from April to June 2021 while filing GSTR-3B for the tax period of June 2021. It means that one can provisionally claim ITC even if it does not appear in GSTR-2B in their GSTR-3B for April 2021 and May 2021.
4) Companies that are GST taxpayers have been given permission to authenticate returns using EVC instead of digital signature up to 31st August 2021.