Nil GST for closed business.

[Satyen Rohit]

Hello Sir,

I had no activity in my export business that I registered for GST in June, 2018. I haven't filed any GST returns till then. So how can I file nil GST and cancel my GST registration. Will I get any fines?

[KASTURI SETHI]

You will have to file all the NIL returns with late fee required by the Common Portal System. Thereafter, you can surrender your registration certificate.

[Adarsh Sharma]

You need to file the NIL return and surrender the GST Reg and also need to file GSTR-10 (Final Return) within three months of the date of cancellation or date of order of cancellation, whichever is later.

[KASTURI SETHI]

I agree with sh.Adarsh Sharma Ji. Also go through these carefully.

SECTION 44. Annual return. - (1) 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 for every financial year electronically in such form and manner as may be prescribed on or before the thirty-first day of December following the end of such financial year :

SECTION 45. Final return. - Every registered person who is required to furnish a return under sub-section (1) of section 39 and whose registration has been cancelled shall furnish a final return within three months of the date of cancellation or date of order of cancellation, whichever is later, in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

The following persons are not required:

1. An Input Service Distributor 2. A non-resident taxable person 3. A person paying tax under the provisions of Section 10 (Composition Scheme) 4.Section 51 (TCS) 5. Section 52 (TDS)

[Ganeshan Kalyani]

File all NIL return in www.gst.gov.in portal and then apply for cancellation. Annual return filing is an optional in your case foe FY 2017-18 & 2018-19. Final return is also required to be filed.

AI Summary

Nil GST returns: file nil returns, surrender registration and submit final return within prescribed period.
Registered persons with no business activity must file all outstanding nil returns on the GST portal, pay applicable late fees, and then apply to surrender their GST registration. Cancellation requires furnishing a final return within the prescribed period. Annual return obligations generally apply but certain persons (for example input service distributors, non-resident taxable persons and persons under composition or TCS/TDS provisions) are excluded from annual return filing.