GST Council recommends Law & Procedures changes

12 Jun '20

3 min read

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairing the 40th GST Council meeting via video conferencing in New Delhi on June 12. Pic: PIB

The 40^th GST Council meeting, which met today under the chairmanship of Union finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman through video conferencing, has made some recommendations on Law & Procedures changes. The meeting was attended by Union minister of state for finance Anurag Thakur, finance ministers of states and UTs and other officials.

The recommendations of the GST Council are given below. These would be given effect through relevant Circulars/Notifications, an official release said.

Measures for Trade facilitation:
1. Reduction in Late Fee for past Returns:

As a measure to clean up pendency in return filing, late fee for non-furnishing FORM GSTR-3B for the tax period from July, 2017 to January, 2020 has been reduced / waived as under: -

1. 1. ‘NIL’ late fee if there is no tax liability;
  2. Maximum late fee capped at ₹500 per return if there is any tax liability.

The reduced rate of late fee would apply for all the GSTR-3B returns furnished between 01.07.2020 to 30.09.2020

1. Further relief for small taxpayers for late filing of returns for February, March & April 2020 Tax periods:

For small taxpayers (aggregate turnover upto ₹5 crore), for the supplies effected in the month of February, March and April, 2020, the rate of interest for late furnishing of return for the said months beyond specified dates (staggered upto July 6, 2020) is reduced from 18 per cent per annum to 9 per cent per annum till 30.09.2020. In other words, for these months, small taxpayers will not be charged any interest till the notified dates for relief (staggered upto July 6, 2020) and thereafter 9 per cent interest will be charged till 30.09.2020.

1. Relief for small taxpayers for subsequent tax periods (May, June & July 2020):

In wake of COVID-19 pandemic, for taxpayers having aggregate turnover upto ₹5 crore, further relief provided by waiver of late fees and interest if the returns in FORM GSTR-3B for the supplies effected in the months of May, June and July, 2020 are furnished by September, 2020 (staggered dates to be notified).

1. One-time extension in period for seeking revocation of cancellation of registration:

To facilitate taxpayers who could not get their cancelled GST registrations restored in time, an opportunity is being provided for filing of application for revocation of cancellation of registration up to 30.09.2020, in all cases where registrations have been cancelled till 12.06.2020.