Section 39 of The Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
1[(1) Every registered person, other than an Input Service Distributor or a non-resident taxable person or a person paying tax under the provisions of section 10 or section 51 or section 52 shall, for every calendar month or part thereof, furnish, a return, electronically, of inward and outward supplies of goods or services or both, input tax credit availed, tax payable, tax paid and such other particulars, in such form and manner, and within such time, as may be prescribed: Provided that the Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, notify certain class of registered persons who shall furnish a return for every quarter or part thereof, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified therein.
- (2)A registered person paying tax under the provisions of section 10, shall, for each financial year or part thereof, furnish a return, electronically, of turnover in the State or Union territory, inward supplies of goods or services or both, tax payable, tax paid and such other particulars in such form and manner, and within such time, as may be prescribed.] 2[(3) Every registered person required to deduct tax at source under section 51 shall electronically furnish a return for every calendar month of the deductions made during the month in such form and manner and within such time as may be prescribed: Provided that the said registered person shall furnish a return for every calendar month whether or not any deductions have been made during the said month.]
- (4)Every taxable person registered as an Input Service Distributor shall, for every calendar month or part thereof, furnish, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, a return, electronically, within thirteen days after the end of such month.
- (5)Every registered non-resident taxable person shall, for every calendar month or part thereof, furnish, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, a return, electronically, within 3[thirteen] days after the end of a calendar month or within seven days after the last day of the period of registration specified under sub-section (1) of section 27, whichever is earlier.
- (6)The Commissioner may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, by notification, extend the time limit for furnishing the returns under this section for such class of registered persons as may be specified therein: Provided that any extension of time limit notified by the Commissioner of State tax or Union territory tax shall be deemed to be notified by the Commissioner. 4[(7) Every registered person who is required to furnish a return under sub-section (1), other than the person referred to in the proviso thereto, or sub-section (3) or sub-section (5), shall pay to the Government the tax due as per such return not later than the last date on which he is required to furnish such return: 5[Provided that every registered person furnishing return under the proviso to sub-section (1) shall pay to the Government, in such form and manner, and within such time, as may be prescribed,
- (a)an amount equal to the tax due taking into account inward and outward supplies of goods or services or both, input tax credit availed, tax payable and such other particulars during a month; or
- (b)in lieu of the amount referred to in clause (a), an amount determined in such manner and subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed.] Provided further that every registered person furnishing return under sub-section (2) shall pay to the Government, the tax due taking into account turnover in the State or Union territory, inward supplies of goods or services or both, tax payable, and such other particulars during a quarter, in such form and manner, and within such time, as may be prescribed.]
- (8)Every registered person who is required to furnish a return under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall furnish a return for every tax period whether or not any supplies of goods or services or both have been made during such tax period.
- (9)6[Where] any registered person after furnishing a return under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) discovers any omission or incorrect particulars therein, other than as a result of scrutiny, audit, inspection or enforcement activity by the tax authorities, he shall rectify such omission or incorrect particulars 7[in such form and manner as may prescribed], subject to payment of interest under this Act: Provided that no such rectification of any omission or incorrect particulars shall be allowed after 8[the thirtieth day of November ] following 9[the end of the financial year to which such details pertain], or the actual date of furnishing of relevant annual return, whichever is earlier.
- (10)A registered person shall not be allowed to furnish a return for a tax period if the return for any of the previous tax periods 10[or the details of outward supplies under sub-section (1) of section 37 for the said tax period has not been furnished by him: Provided that the Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified therein, allow a registered person or a class of registered persons to furnish the return, even if he has not furnished the returns for one or more previous tax periods or has not furnished the details of outward supplies under sub-section (1) of section 37 for the said tax period.] 11[(11) A registered person shall not be allowed to furnish a return for a tax period after the expiry of a period of three years from the due date of furnishing the said return: Provided that the Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified therein, allow a registered person or a class of registered persons to furnish the return for a tax period, even after the expiry of the said period of three years from the due date of furnishing the said return.]
Summary
- This provision requires most registered taxpayers to file periodic electronic returns detailing their sales, purchases, input tax credit, and tax paid.
- While the standard requirement is a monthly return, the government can allow certain classes of taxpayers to file every quarter.
- Special taxpayers, like those who deduct tax at source or distribute input services, have specific monthly deadlines for their returns.
- Taxpayers must pay the tax they owe to the government no later than the deadline for filing their return.
- If a taxpayer finds an error in a past return, they can correct it, but only up to the thirtieth of November of the following financial year or before filing their annual return.
- A taxpayer cannot file a return for the current period if they have failed to file returns for any previous tax periods.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. How often do I have to file returns under Section 39 of The Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017?
Under Section 39 of The Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, regular taxpayers usually file returns every calendar month, though the government may allow certain groups to file quarterly.
2. Do I still need to file a return under Section 39 of the GST Act if I made no sales?
Yes, Section 39 of the GST Act requires you to file a return for every tax period even if you did not make any supplies during that time.
3. What happens if I forgot to file my previous return under Section 39 of the GST law?
Section 39 of the GST law prevents you from filing a return for the current period until you have furnished the missing returns for previous periods.
Test yourself
Q1.What is the maximum time limit to file a return after its original due date under Section 39 of The Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017?
Q2.Under Section 39 of the GST Act, when must an Input Service Distributor file their monthly return?
Q3.According to Section 39 of The Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, what must a taxpayer do if they discover an error in a previously filed return?
Q4.How does Section 39 of the GST law treat a non-resident taxable person's return filing deadline compared to their registration expiry?