CBEC-20/16/04/18-GST
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
GST Policy Wing
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New Delhi, Dated the 18th November, 2019
To,
The Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners/Principal Commissioners/
Commissioners of Central Tax (All) / The Principal Director Generals/ Director Generals (All)
Madam/Sir,
Sub: Clarification regarding optional filing of annual return under notification No. 47/2019-
Central Tax dated 9th October, 2019 - regarding
Attention is invited to notification No. 47/2019-Central Tax dated 9th October, 2019
(hereinafter referred to as “the said notification”) issued under section 148 of the Central Goods
and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as “the said Act”) providing for special
procedure for those registered persons whose aggregate turnover in a financial year does not
exceed two crore rupees and who have not furnished the annual return under sub-section (1) of
section 44 of the said Act read with sub-rule (1) of rule 80 of the Central Goods and Services Tax
Rules, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as “the CGST Rules”).
2. Vide the said notification it is provided that the annual return shall be deemed to be
furnished on the due date if it has not been furnished before the due date for the financial year
2017-18 and 2018-19, in respect of those registered persons. In order to clarify the issue and to
ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of the law across field formations, the
Board, in exercise of its powers conferred by section 168 (1) of the said Act, hereby clarifies the
issues raised as below:–
a. As per proviso to sub-rule (1) of rule 80 of the CGST Rules, a person paying tax under
section 10 is required to furnish the annual return in FORM GSTR-9A. Since the said
notification has made it optional to furnish the annual return for FY 2017-18 and 2018-19
for those registered persons whose aggregate turnover in a financial year does not exceed
two crore rupees, it is clarified that the tax payers under composition scheme, may, at their
own option file FORM GSTR-9A for the said financial years before the due date. After
the due date of furnishing the annual return for the year 2017-18 and 2018-19, the common
portal shall not permit furnishing of FORM GSTR-9A for the said period.
b. As per sub-rule (1) of rule 80 of the CGST Rules, every registered person other than an
Input Service Distributor, a person paying tax under section 51 or section 52, a casual
taxable person and a non-resident taxable person, shall furnish an annual return as specified under sub-section (1) of section 44 electronically in FORM GSTR-9. Further, the said
notification has made it optional to furnish the annual return for FY 2017-18 and 2018-19
for those registered persons whose aggregate turnover in a financial year does not exceed
two crore rupees. Accordingly, it is clarified that the tax payers, may, at their own option
file FORM GSTR-9 for the said financial years before the due date. After the due date of
furnishing the annual return for the year 2017-18 and 2018-19, the common portal shall
not permit furnishing of FORM GSTR-9 for the said period.
3. Section 73 of the said Act provides for voluntary payment of tax dues by the taxpayers at
any point in time. Therefore, irrespective of the time and quantum of tax which has not been paid
or short paid, the taxpayer has the liberty to self-ascertain such tax amount and pay it through
FORM GST DRC-03. Accordingly, it is clarified that if any registered tax payer, during course
of reconciliation of his accounts, notices any short payment of tax or ineligible availment of input
tax credit, he may pay the same through FORM GST DRC-03.
4. Difficulty if any, in the implementation of this circular may be brought to the notice of the
Board. Hindi version would follow.
(Yogendra Garg)
Principal Commissioner
y.garg@nic.in
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