The government has extended the deadline for filing annual goods and service tax (GST) return and reconciliation statements for FY20 till March-end, from existing date of February 28.
“In view of the difficulties expressed by the taxpayers in meeting this time limit, government has decided to further extend the due date for furnishing of GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C for the financial year 2019-20 to 31.03.2021 with the approval of Election Commission of India,” the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said Sunday.
Experts termed the extension as a positive step for industry grappling with continuous compliance requirements even as it stumbles to normalcy amid Covid 19 pandemic.
“This extension on the last day provides the much needed relief to the industry and would allow them to comply with the statutory obligation within the extended timeline,” said Abhishek Jain, tax partner at EY.
The Union Budget FY22 has proposed to do away with requirement of furnishing the GSTR audit report in the form GSTR-9C.
Industry had sought an extension of three months for filing annual GST return or GSTR 9 and reconciliation or audit statements, called GSTR 9C forms, for FY 20, ET had reported last week.
