CAIT urges Due Date Extension for GST Return Filing

GSTR-7 - GST Returns - Taxscan

In a recent communication, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley to extend the last date for filing Annual GST Return from 31st December,2018 to 31st March, 2019.

The CAIT submitted that under the GST laws, it is mandatory to file GST Annual Return for the period ending March,2018 for which the last date is 31st December,2018. The CAIT informed him that  till today the format of filing of Annual Return and even option is not available anywhere including on GST website as well. The Annual Return assumes mush significance as it gives last opportunity to assesses to rectify their previous return filed with the Department for the concerned year.

It was, therefore, said that the filing of Annual return has become difficult within the time prescribed.

CAIT National President Mr. B.C.Bhartia and Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal said that it is to be noted that the concept of Annual GST Return is still not known to large number of traders across the Country being the first year of GST implementation. They further said that in previous VAT or Sales Tax regime there was no concept of filing any Annual Tax Return and 2017-18 being the first year of GST implementation in the Country most of the traders registered with GST are not even aware of the obligation of filing Annual GST Return.

The CAIT also suggested that a wide spread national campaign should be launched by the Government to make assesses aware about the liability of filing Annual Return and its process. Further, it has also urged that format and option of Annual Return should be made available on GST portal immediately and even in regional languages as well.

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