Government Waives Late Fees for Pending GSTR-9C Filings:
Under the authority granted by Section 128 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017), and following the recommendations made by the GST Council, the Central Government has issued a notification to waive the late fees outlined in Section 47 of the CGST Act.
This waiver applies specifically to the return required to be filed u/s 44 of the CGST Act for the financial years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.
The waiver covers late fees that exceed the amount due under Section 47 of the CGST Act up to the date on which FORM GSTR-9 for the relevant financial year is filed. It applies to registered taxpayers who were obligated to submit the reconciliation statement in FORM GSTR-9C along with their annual return in FORM GSTR-9 but failed to do so by the prescribed due date. These taxpayers must now file FORM GSTR-9C by 31st March 2025, to benefit from the waiver.
The notification specifies that the late fee waiver applies only to the excess fees beyond what would be due under Section 47 of the CGST Act, up until the submission date of FORM GSTR-9 for the respective financial year. This means taxpayers will not be required to pay the full late fee amount for delayed filings but will still need to meet the original filing requirements.
However, it is crucial to note that the waiver does not extend to any refund for late fees that have already been paid by taxpayers for the delayed submission of FORM GSTR-9C. This means that if taxpayers have already cleared the late fee amount, they will not be entitled to any reimbursement or reduction of those fees, even after the waiver is granted.
The government’s decision to offer this late fee waiver aims to encourage taxpayers to file the pending FORM GSTR-9C forms, thereby reducing the overall compliance burden and helping taxpayers stay in line with GST regulations.
It is hoped that this measure will incentivize taxpayers to complete the filing process within the extended deadline of 31st March 2025, and avoid further penalties or legal complications. Taxpayers are strongly advised to take advantage of this relief by submitting their pending reconciliation statements within the stipulated timeline to ensure compliance and prevent future issues.
Government Waives Late Fees for Pending GSTR-9C Filings
To download official notification, click here.
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