GSTR-3B: Due Date, Late Fee, Return Filing, Eligibility, and much more

What is GSTR 3B?

GSTR-3B is a summary return.

It is to be filed every month. Quarterly In case of QRMP scheme.

Taxpayers need to report the summary figures of sales, ITC claimed, and net tax payable in GSTR-3B. However, Data in the GSTR 3B auto-populates from GSTR1 and GSTR 2B.

It is self-declared. Auto-populated data can be altered.

Once filed, GSTR 3B cannot be revised.

In case of No transactions, NIL GSTR 3B must be filed compulsorily.

Even if GST Liability is zero or There is ITC balance, GSTR-3B must be compulsorily filed.

GST liability must be paid before due date, before filing GSTR 3B.

In case of QRMP scheme, although GSTR 3B can be filed quarterly, payment of GST liability if any must me made monthly before the due date of payment for QRMP.

GSTR 3B must be filed on or before the due date.

Before filing GSTR 3B, GSTR 1 should be filed.

What if GSTR 3B filed after the due date?

Late Fees:

A late fee is charged for filing GSTR-3B of a tax period after the due date. It is levied as follows:

• ₹ 50 per day of delay

• ₹ 20 per day of delay for taxpayers having nil return (zero transaction) for the month.

Interest:

In case the GST liabilities are not paid within the due date, interest @ 18% per annum is payable on the amount of outstanding tax to be paid.

Late fees and Interest would be auto drafted.

What is the Due date to file GSTR 3B?

Discussed in the Image

State wise due dates under QRMP are applicable from January 2021.

Earlier due date for all the 3B returns was 20th of the Next month

Comparison GSTR3B vs GSTR2A/2B

Reconciliation of GSTR2A/2B and GSTR 3B is required to:

1. Check if any excess ITC is claimed

2. Check if any ITC claim is missed

3. Follow up the supplier to upload the invoice in GSTR 1, if not uploaded

4. Avoid Notices due to difference of ITC claimed in GSTR 3B and ITC updated in GSTR 2A/2B.

5. Stay GST Compliant and improve GST Compliance rating.

Difference between GSTR2A and GSTR 2B

GSTR 2A: It keeps on updated depending upon the suppliers GSTR1

GSTR 2B: It remains constant once updated for the month.

Difference between GSTR- 2A and GSTR- 2B

How to reconcile GSTR 2B and GSTR 3B?

Video

Read more on how to compare GSTR-3B vs GSTR-2A 

GSTR- 2A vs GSTR- 3B

Comparison GSTR3B vs GSTR 1

GSTR 1 must be filed before filing GSTR 3B. GSTR 3B wont be allowed to filed unless the GSTR 1 is filed.

Reconciliation of GSTR 1 and GSTR 3B is required to

1. Check if any Invoice is missed out or duplicated

2. Allow recipient to claim ITC based on his GSTR 2A/2B

3. Avoid payment of Interest or Penalty for short payment of GST.

4. Stay GST Compliant and improve GST compliance rating.

How to File GSTR-3B

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who should file GSTR 3B?

Every GST registered person must file GSTR-3B.

However, the following registered persons do not have to file GSTR-3B

• Taxpayers registered under the Composition Scheme

• Input service distributors

• Non-resident suppliers of OIDAR service

• Non-resident taxable persons
  

2. I have no sales or purchase in a month. Should I still file GSTR-3B?

Yes, Filing of Form GSTR-3B is mandatory for all Registered taxpayers, even if there is no business in that particular tax period.

3. Should I provide invoice-wise details on the return?

Only consolidated numbers are required in GSTR-3B. Invoice-wise breakup is not required.

4. Can I edit the values auto-populated from Forms GSTR-1 & GSTR-2B in Form GSTR-3B?

Yes, as of now, the auto-populated values in GSTR-3B are kept editable. However, the tile with the edited field will be highlighted in RED, and a warning message will be displayed in case the values are edited in the following manner:

-Table 3.1 (a, b, c, d, e), 4B & 3.2 – if edited downwards

-Table 4A – if edited upwards

The System will provide both auto-populated values and edited values on hovering the mouse over the box.

5. What is the difference between GSTR-3 & GSTR-3B?

Initially, the government planned to implement the GSTR-3 return as an auto-populated return based on GSTR-1 & GSTR-2 data. However, the government kept GSTR-3 on hold due to implementation issues and replaced it with GSTR-3B, a self-declared summary return.

6. I have 2 GST Identification numbers. One in Delhi and the other in Assam. Can I file 1 GSTR-3B for both registrations?

No. GSTR-3B has to be filed for every GSTIN separately. The returns cannot be clubbed.

Disclaimer:- The opinions presented are exclusively those of the author CA Pratibha Varia. The material in this piece is intended purely for informational purposes and for individual, non-commercial consumption. It does not constitute expert guidance or an endorsement by any organization. The author, the organization, and its associates are not liable for any form of loss or harm resulting from the information in this article, nor for any decisions made based on it. Furthermore, no segment of this article or newsletter should be employed for any intention unless granted in written form, and we maintain the legal right to address any unauthorized utilization of our article or newsletter.