Vide notification No. 69/2020 – Central Tax, dated 30.09.2020, the due date for furnishing of the Annual Return for the FY 2018-19 has been extended till 31.10.2020.

Certain representations have been received stating that the auto populated GSTR 9 for the year 2018-19 (Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7) also includes the data for FY 2017-18. However, this information for FY 2017-18 has already been furnished by the taxpayers in the annual return (GSTR 9) filed for FY 2017-18 and there is no mechanism to show the split of two years (2017-18 & 2018-19) in FORM GSTR-9 for 2018-19.

In this regard, it is clarified that the taxpayers are required to report only the values pertaining to Financial Year 2018-19 and the values pertaining to Financial Year 2017-18 which may have already been reported or adjustedare to be ignored. No adverse view would be taken in cases where there are variations in returns for taxpayers who have already filed their GSTR-9 of Financial Year 2018-19 by including the details of supplies and ITC pertaining to Financial Year 2017-18 in the Annual return for FY 2018-19.

All the taxpayers are requested to avail the benefit of the extended due date and file their Annual Return (FORM GSTR-9) at the earliest to avoid last minute rush. It may be noted that furnishing of the Annual return in FORM GSTR-9is mandatory only for taxpayers with aggregate annual turnover above ₹ 2 crore while reconciliation statement in FORM GSTR-9Cis to be furnished only by the registered persons having aggregate turnover above ₹ 5 crore.

Annual GST return reporting: report only transactions of the relevant financial year; extension granted and threshold-based filing applies. Taxpayers must report only values pertaining to the financial year 2018-19 in FORM GSTR-9; auto-populated or carried-over figures relating to the prior year should be ignored, and no adverse view will be taken where previously filed returns for 2018-19 include details of supplies or input tax credit pertaining to the prior year. An extended due date has been provided and taxpayers meeting the applicable aggregate turnover thresholds must furnish FORM GSTR-9 and, where required, FORM GSTR-9C.