Is it compulsory to fill out the GST return every month with no sale done in an e-Commerce business?

Yes, in normal course if you are a registered applicant of GST for e-commerce business then you have to compulsorily file a ‘nill return’ of every respective month in which no sale was made.

GST is a single tax structure which inclines every registered or person liable to register, to pay a certain amount of tax to government for every sale or supply of goods or services made specified in the GST law in a specified period, irrespective of the fact that business is operated in an online or an offline mode. Also, for a registered taxpayer under GST, it is necessary to file a GST return either monthly or quarterly irrespective of the amount of sale/supply made.

 

Who can apply GST for e-commerce?

Every person who directly, indirectly, owns, manages or operates an electronic platform, engaged in facilitating the supply of goods and services can apply for registration of GST for e-commerce business (Section 24). The said person registered will be identified as an e-commerce operator.

If you are an e-commerce operator, then as per GST rules, it is mandatory for you to get registered under GST irrespective of any threshold exemption limit. And, for return filing, GSTR-8 form is to be submitted every month by every registered applicant who’ve applied GST for e-commerce. Also, the operator has to file an annual statement of returns filed by 31st December following the end of the financial year in which tax was collected.

As per law, every e-commerce operator has to pay 1% of TCS on all goods and services sold through their platform.

 

About GSTR-8  

What is GSTR-8?

GSTR-8 is an online GST return form which is filed by every registered taxpayer who’ve applied for GST for e-commerce and is required to deduct TCS (Tax Collected at Source) under GST. GSTR-8 is filed by providing all required details of supplies made through the e-commerce platform.

The return form also supplies details to the department of the sum amount collected as TCS by the e-commerce operator which can later be viewed under Part-C of GSTR-2A.

To file GSTR-8, it is necessary for the taxpayer to hold both GST registration as well as TCS registration.

 

What does GSTR-8 comprise of?

It includes:

1.Table 3 for filing details of Supplies attracting TCS.

2.Table 4 for correction of incorrect details filed in the last filing period.

3.Table 5 including details of interest penalty in case of late filing.

4.Table 6 and 7 for payment of tax.

 

What is the due date for filing GSTR-8?

GSTR-8 is to be filed by the 10th of the month succeeding for which the return is to be filed. For example, GSTR-8 for August is to be filed by 10th September.

Is an option available to revise GSTR-8?

No, GSTR-8 cannot be revised once submitted. But the error can later be rectified in the next return filing period in which the error gets identified.

What will happen if GSTR-8 is not filed?

As per CGST Act 2017, non-filing of GSTR-8 by applicant of GST for e-commerce, a penalty of Rs 200 per day (Rs 100 CGST and Rs 100 SGST) would be levied up to a maximum of Rs 5000/-, after that interest rate of 18% will be charged for the period from the date of filing till the date of return actually filed.

No penalty has been specified for delayed filing in case of IGST.

We are never short of executives for compliance assistance of e-commerce operators. You can mail us your requirement at:-  info@taxreturnwala.com