Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) is a yearly return to be filed once, for each financial year, by taxpayers who have opted for composition scheme during the financial year, for were in Composition scheme for any period during the said financial year, from 1st April, 2019 onwards. Such taxpayers are required to furnish details regarding summary of outward supplies, Inward supplies, import of services and supplies attracting reverse charge in this form.
All registered taxpayers who have opted for composition scheme under GST, for any period during the financial year, need to file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return). This will include a taxpayer -
who have opted for composition scheme since registration and have never opted out subsequently; and
who have opted in for composition scheme before starting of the financial year; and
who have opted in for composition but subsequently opted out any time during the year.
Following persons are not required to file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return):
Regular taxpayer who have not opted in composition scheme for any period during the financial year
Non-resident taxable person
OIDAR
Input service distributor
Casual Taxable Person
Person required to Deduct Tax at Source u/s 51
Person required to Collect Tax at Source u/s 52
UIN holder
Yes, it’s mandatory for all composition taxpayers to file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return).
Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) is to be filed on yearly basis. The due date for filing Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) is 30th of the month succeeding the financial year or as extended by Government from time to time.
Yes, Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) is required to be filed if you were a composition taxpayer during any part of the financial year even if you have got your registration cancelled during the said financial year.
Yes, you need to file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) even if you may have opted out from the composition scheme. Your Form GSTR-4 return should include the details for the period during which you remained under the composition scheme.
Pre-conditions for filing of Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) are:
Taxpayer must have been registered in the relevant financial year and opted for composition scheme for even a day during the financial year.
Taxpayer must have filed all Form CMP-08 quarterly statements for the applicable period during the relevant financial year.
No. You cannot file Annual return in Form GSTR-4 without filing Form CMP-08, for the applicable period/periods, of the relevant financial year.
The button to file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) will get enabled only after you have filed Form GST CMP-08 for the all applicable quarters of the relevant Financial Year.
Nil Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) can be filed for the Financial year, if you have: -
NOT made any outward supply
NOT received any goods/services
Have NO other tax liability to report
Have filed all Form CMP-08 as Nil
Note:
If there are any interest liability to be declared, the same can be declared in “Interest payable” column.
If Nil Form GSTR-4 is not filed by the due date, GST Portal will calculate the late fee as per the prescribed law and show the same in “Late Fee Payable” column.
“Additional Cash Required” column reflects the cash required to be paid through challan for payment of interest and late fee, after adjusting the amount available in Electronic Cash Ledger.
Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) can be accessed on the GST Portal, post login in the Returns Dashboard by the composition taxpayer.
The path is Services > Returns > Annual Return to file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return).
Yes, date of filing of Form GSTR-4 (Annual) can be extended by Government through notification.
Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) comprises of following tables:
4A. Inward supplies from registered supplier (other than reverse charge): To add details of inward supplies received from a registered supplier (other than reverse charge)
4B. Inward supplies from registered supplier (reverse charge): To add details of inward supplies received from a registered supplier (reverse charge)
4C. Inward supplies from unregistered supplier: To add details of inward supplies received from an unregistered supplier
4D. Import of Service: To add details of import of service
5. Summary of CMP-08: To view auto-drafted details provided in filed Form CMP-08 for the financial year. These details are non-editable.
6. Tax rate wise inward and outward supplies: To enter tax rate wise details of outward supplies during the financial year (Row 12 to 16)
7. TDS/TCS credit received: To view details related to TDS/TCS credit received. These details are non-editable.
Note: The entries in table 4 (4A, 4B, 4C & 4D) will be net of credit/debit notes and advances.
The taxpayer need to enter previous year's Aggregate turnover.
Note:
You will not be able to proceed further without entering aggregate turnover of previous financial year.
In case, you were registered during the current FY or had nil aggregate turnover, please enter '0' (Zero) here.
On saving aggregate turnover details, other buttons on this screen will get enabled.
Table 5. Summary of self-assessed liability in Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) has auto-populated data from all filed Form CMP-08 of the relevant Financial Year and is non-editable.
The Amount of Tax fields are auto-calculated, based on the values entered in Taxable Value and tax rate fields, respectively. The CESS field is not auto calculated and has to be entered by the taxpayer.
Amount of TDS and TCS are auto-drafted based on the Returns/ Statements filed by TDS and TCS taxpayers. The values in Table 7, TDS and TCS credit received will be populated based on the amount accepted and credited to Electronic cash ledger during that financial year.
The details of Outward supplies need to be entered manually by the taxpayer in row 12 to 16. The system will not auto-draft these details.
However, the details of inward supplies attracting reverse charge (from table 4B, 4C and 4D for each tax rate wise) will be auto-drafted in row 1 to 11 only after the taxpayer has clicked on ‘Proceed to file’ button. Before that, the balance will be displayed as ‘zero’.
Yes, you can download summary of Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) in PDF format and Excel format.
Navigate to Services > Returns > Annual Return > Form GSTR-4 (PREPARE ONLINE) > DOWNLOAD GSTR-4 SUMMARY (PDF)/ DOWNLOAD GSTR-4 (EXCEL) button option.
Yes, there is a late fee for filing of Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) beyond the due date.
No. You can’t file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) without payment of late fee for Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return), if same is filed after the specified date.
Note: You can’t file Nil Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) without payment of late fee, if same is filed after the specified date.
Tax and late fee are auto drafted in Table 8 and Interest is user input. Both will display in Table 8 and liabilities can be discharged through Electronic Cash Ledger only.
Note:
“Additional Cash Required” column reflects the cash required to be paid through challan for payment of tax, interest and late fee, after adjusting the amount available in Electronic Cash Ledger.
If there are any interest liability to be declared, the same can be declared in “Interest payable” column.
If Form GSTR-4 is not filed by the due date, GST Portal will calculate the late fee as per the prescribed law and show the same in “Late Fee Payable” column.
The net tax and late fee liabilities are auto-populated and the liability towards interest is to be calculated and entered manually in Table-8. The net tax liability is arrived at by the system by deducting the amount paid in CMP-08 from the details in table 6.
You can offset the liabilities by choosing the appropriate option in Table 8. Tax, Interest, Late fee payable and paid.
If available balance in Electronic Cash Ledger is less than the amount required to offset the liabilities, then a part payment of liability can be made from available balance of the Electronic Cash Ledger. You may directly create challan for payment of remaining part of liability, by clicking on the CREATE CHALLAN button.
If available cash balance in Electronic Cash Ledger is more than/equal to the amount required to offset the liabilities, no additional cash payment is required for offsetting liability.
Note: You can also offset, if any excess amount is paid towards liability through CMP-08 and is available in Negative liability statement.
In case, records (or data as submitted while filing Form GSTR-4 Annual Return) are processed with error or are under process at the back end, a warning message is displayed. If records are still under process, wait for processing to be completed at the back end. For records which are processed with error, go back to Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) and take action on those records.
Available cash balance as on date in Electronic Cash Ledger is shown to the taxpayer in "Cash Ledger Balance" table. If available cash balance in Electronic Cash Ledger is less than the amount required to offset the liabilities, then additional cash required to be paid by taxpayer is shown in the "Additional Cash Required" column. You may create challan for the additional cash directly by clicking on the CREATE CHALLAN button.
File button gets enabled only if you have-
No ‘Additional cash which is required’ to be paid for liabilities, if any.
Clicked on declaration check box and have selected authorized signatory details from the drop-down list.
You can file Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) using DSC or EVC.
(a) Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) are the digital equivalent (that is electronic format) of physical or paper certificates. A digital certificate can be presented electronically to prove one’s identity, to access information or services on the Internet or to sign certain documents digitally. In India, DSC are issued by authorized Certifying Authorities. The GST Portal accepts PAN based DSC’s only.
(b) Electronic Verification Code (EVC)
The Electronic Verification Code (EVC) authenticates the identity of the user at the GST Portal by generating an OTP. The OTP is sent to the mobile phone number of the registered mobile phone of Authorized Signatory filled in part A of the Registration Application.
Yes, you can preview Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) in PDF and Excel format by clicking on ‘DOWNLOAD GSTR-4 (PDF)' and ‘DOWNLOAD GSTR-4 (EXCEL)' button before filing Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) on the GST Portal.
No, you cannot revise Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) after filing.
After Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) is filed:
1. ARN will be generated on successful filing of the Form.
2. An SMS and email will be sent to the mobile number of the authorized signatory on the successful filing of Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return).
3. Electronic Cash Ledger and Electronic Liability Register Part-I will get updated.
To view and download filed Form GSTR-4 (Annual Return) login to the GST Portal and navigate to Services > Returns > View/Download Filed Returns.