While there are no major happenings on GST front except that there is a curious wait for the next GST Council meeting and that GSTN has made some trade friendly procedural updates.
Recently, GST portal has been updated and upgraded by enhancing the features and removing removing defects in relation to composition dealers (Form CMP-04) and registration of tax payers.
GST Collection for July, 2020 stood at ₹ 87422 crore out of which CGST is Rs. 16,147 crore, SGST is Rs. 21,418 crore, IGST is Rs. 42,592 crore (including Rs. 20,324 crore collected on import of goods) and Cess is ₹ 7,265 crore (including Rs. 807 crore collected on import of goods). This is 86% of what was collected a year back in July, 2019; not bad, looking to the ongoing pandemic impact. The trend in GST Collection in recent months also shows encouraging results. The impact of Covid 19 is clearly seen in the GST collections since April, 2020 as the same is 40% down than the corresponding last year period. There are indications of recovery but still there is a long way to go.
GST compensation is going to be a troublesome issue now with states. States will have to rethink and come to a point that assumption of 14 % growth is just not possible in present times. According to reports, GST’s technological platform is being up graded for ease of compliance. The new return system is being put on hold for the present. Instead of completely changing the return forms, the effort is now to introduce, within the existing framework, changes in a staggered manner, so that taxpayers are not put out.
Plugging tax evasion and preventing frauds in claiming input tax credit will come with the territory. A taxpayer with a turnover of less than ₹ 5 crore will be allowed to file summary returns (GSTR 3B) every quarter, likely from November (now it has to be done every month).
The existing GST return filing system is being enhanced to have an inbuilt invoice matching system to determine input tax credit and liability. The returns will be auto-populated to minimize errors ease reconciliation and simplify compliance.
Suspension of all benches due to Covid-19 pandemic
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- The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) vide order has suspended sitting of all Tribunals including the regional benches from the period August 4, 2020 to August 14, 2020 on account of COVID-19 pandemic. However ,urgent stay applications will be heard through video conferencing.
- Further, last date of pronouncement of order reserved cases and release of detailed orders is extended up to August 19, 2020 which will be done after obtaining prior permission from the Hon’ble President.
(Source : CESTAT Office Order dated 03.08.2020)
GST Returns data for the year 2017 restored on GST Portal
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- Few days back, taxpayers were unable to view, file or download returns on the GST Portal for the year 2017. The professionals and taxpayers had lodged complaints for lost data of the year 2017.
- GSTN Portal has restored the GST Returns data for the year 2017.
- Accordingly, the facility to view, file and download returns of the period July, 2017 has been restored on the portal. The functionality to enable taxpayers for filing revocation application again, in view of ROD order No.01/2020 has been implemented w.e.f. 06.08.2020.
(Source :GSTN tweet)
Enhancements & Defects fixed on GST Portal
- GST Portal has updated and upgraded its features relating to Registration of tax payers :
- Submission of non-core amendment application, without a zip code, in case the authorized signatory who is not an Indian, will not be allowed on GST Portal.
- The message – “Please file all the pending returns till before submission of application for revocation of cancelation”, displayed to a taxpayer, while filing revocation of cancellation application against suo moto cancellation, has been changed to – “Please file all the pending returns till before submission of application for revocation of cancelation”.
- If SCN was issued to a person applying for Registration, on the ground of document submitted in support of principle place of business, in such cases taxpayers were not able to submit the reply and when they were trying to upload new document on principle place of business tab and were trying to save and continue, system error was occurring.
- The issue is fixed, they will now be able to proceed and submit the application.
- GSTP core amendment application were getting deemed approved, if due date had passed. Now deemed approval has been disabled for such applications.
- GST Portal has updated and upgraded its features in relation to tax payers who are composition dealers :
- If a taxpayer had Form CMP-04 (withdrawal from Composition) in saved stage and then they change their email/mobile through non-core amendment, they will now in such cases receive OTP on updated mobile no./email.
- Now, taxpayer will be able to file Form CMP 02 (Opting for Composition), again, if previous application is Rejected by Tax official, for the same Financial Year.
- While searching for a Composition Taxpayer from Opt-in/Opt out field, whether at pre login and post login stage, system will now display the output as per selection.
[Source: GSTN]
Using Offline Tool to prepare Form GSTR-4 Annual Return by Composition Taxpayers
An EXCEL based offline tool has been provided on GST portal for composition taxpayers to prepare their GSTR-4 Annual Return.
Steps to use the offline tool
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Whether step is Online or Offline
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Step to be taken
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Offline
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Navigate to Downloads - Offline Tools - GSTR-4 Annual Return Offline Tool to download the tool.
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Online
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Login and download the details of Annual Return as a JSON file by navigating to Services - Returns - Annual Return - GSTR-4 `Upload/Download JSON`
This step is optional.
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Offline
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Prepare Form GSTR-4 in offline tool in following steps:
• Fill up the details in the various tables of the tool
• Add/ edit/ modify details in user input table(s)
Click on `Generate JSON File to Upload` it on GST Portal
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Online
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Login to the GST Portal and upload generated JSON File by navigating to Services - Returns - Annual Return - GSTR-4 `Upload/Download JSON`
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(Source: GSTN]
