The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has launched an offline tool for filing of quarterly returns for taxpayers who opted for the Composition Scheme.
An offline tool for preparing GSTR-4 is available on GST portal and can be downloaded by taxpayers and tax consultants. When taxpayer got consent for filing GSTR-4, Quarterly return of taxpayers who have opted for composition scheme can avail the offline utility introduced by GSTN (Goods and Service Tax Network).
“GSTR-4 return can be prepared only using the offline tool. This has been done to facilitate small businesses who can prepare the same on their own computers as per their convenience. Since they will be working offline, they do not need to be connected to the Internet,” GSTN CEO Prakash Kumar said.
The offline tool will also allow taxpayers check final payable amount and save the return for future use. They require the internet connection only for uploading the file.
This is the first time the first quarter (July-September) of return filing by these businesses after GST was rolled out.
The GST council had imposed composition levy as an alternative method of levy of tax designed for small taxpayers whose turnover is up to Rs. 1 crore (Rs 75 lakh in case of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh).
The objective of composition scheme is to bring simplicity and to reduce the compliance cost for the small taxpayers. The businesses dealing only in goods can opt for composition scheme. Service providers have been kept outside the scope of this scheme, except those providing restaurant services.
The user manual and FAQs for GSTR-4 offline utility are available on GST portal.
