Introduction
Filing of the annual return is not entirely a new phenomenon for taxpayers who were required to file annual return and submit reconciliation certificate by the specified persons including Chartered Accountant under the State VAT laws. Under central excise law also certain annual information such as total consumption of input, input output ratio, electricity consumption details were specified for some larger enterprises which however did not require any certification. Service tax law did not have any of such requirements except half yearly filing of returns.
Annual return is an opportunity to validate the tax positions with an intent to rectify the errors & omissions, if any. Therefore, detailed verification including proper disclosures in the annual return can save a taxpayer from unnecessary demands during departmental scrutiny/ audits etc. Hence, in this article we shall discuss each and every field of the annual returns and what information is required to be disclosed in each such field from the revenue and outward supply standpoint.
Table 4 of GSTR 9 - Reporting of details of advance, inward or outward supplies made during the financial year on which tax is payable
Table 4 provides for reporting of all supplies (i.e., outward supplies and RCM transactions) This table could include the transactions classified under:
- Transactions which are already considered in the GSTR 3B returns and tax on it is duly paid) and
- Transactions which are not at all considered in the GSTR 3B returns of any financial year(s).
The clause-by-clause analysis of each of the table provided below
Ta. Ref |
Description |
Reference to fill information |
Instruction provided in form |
4A |
Supplies made to un-registered persons (B2C) |
|
Aggregate value of supplies made to consumers and unregistered persons on which tax has been paid shall be declared here. These will include details of supplies made through E-Commerce operators and are to be declared as net of credit notes or debit notes issued in this regard. Table 5, Table 7 along with respective amendments in Table 9 and Table 10 of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
4B |
Supplies made to registered persons (B2B) |
|
Aggregate value of supplies made to registered persons (including supplies made to UINs) on which tax has been paid shall be declared here. These will include supplies made through E-Commerce operators but shall not include supplies on which tax is to be paid by the recipient on reverse charge basis. Details of debit and credit notes are to be mentioned separately. Table 4A and Table 4C of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
4C |
Zero rated supply (Export) on payment of tax (except supplies to SEZs) |
|
Aggregate value of exports (except supplies to SEZs) on which tax has been paid shall be declared here. Table 6A of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
4D |
Supply to SEZs on payment of tax |
|
Aggregate value of supplies to SEZs on which tax has been paid shall be declared here. Table 6B of GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
4E |
Deemed Exports |
|
Aggregate value of supplies in the nature of deemed exports on which tax has been paid shall be declared here. Table 6C of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
4F |
Advances on which tax has been paid but invoice has not been issued (not covered under (A) to (E) above) |
|
Details of all unadjusted advances i.e., advance has been received and tax has been paid but invoice has not been issued in the current year shall be declared here. Table 11A of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
4G |
Inward supplies on which tax is to be paid on reverse charge basis |
|
Aggregate value of all inward supplies (including advances and net of credit and debit notes) on which tax is to be paid by the recipient (i.e.by the person filing the annual return) on reverse charge basis. This shall include supplies received from registered persons, unregistered persons on which tax is levied on reverse charge basis. This shall also include aggregate value of all import of services. Table 3.1(d) of FORM GSTR-3B may be used for filling up these details. |
4H |
Sub-total (A to G above) |
Auto-Populated |
|
4I |
Credit Notes issued in respect of transactions specified in (B) to (E) above (-) |
Any undisclosed credit notes issued for the financial year and is not disclosed in GSTR-3B but reported in GSTR-1 of April to October of subsequent financial year then the details of such credit note need to be considered here. For ex: Credit note dated 20.03.2022 not disclosed or given effect in GSTR-3B till October 2022 but shown GSTR-1. Such credit note details can be provided here.
(i) Report it in part V of GSTR 9 and the corresponding impact will be in table 5E of GSTR 9C, (or) (ii) Do not disclose at all in GSTR 9 of the FY 2021-22 and disclose in the annual return of FY 2022-23 only.
|
Aggregate value of credit notes issued in respect of B-to-B supplies (4B), exports (4C), supplies to SEZs (4D) and deemed exports (4E) shall be declared here. Table 9B of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 4B to Table 4E net of credit notes in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this table. |
4J |
Debit Notes issued in respect of transactions specified in (B) to (E) above (+) |
(i) Report it in part V and the impact will be table 5O of GSTR 9C as no specific column is provided in this regard in GSR 9C, or (ii) Do not disclose if GSTR 9 of the FY 20-21 and just show in the GTSR 9 of FY 21-22.
|
Aggregate value of debit notes issued in respect of B-to-B supplies (4B), exports (4C), supplies to SEZs (4D) and deemed exports (4E) shall be declared here. Table 9B of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 4B to Table 4E net of debit notes in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this Table. |
4K |
Supplies/tax declared through Amendments (+) |
|
Details of amendments made to B-to-B supplies (4B), exports (4C), supplies to SEZs (4D) and deemed exports (4E), credit notes (4I), debit notes (4J) and refund vouchers shall be declared here. Table 9A and Table 9C of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 4B to Table 4E net of amendments in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this table. |
4L |
Supplies/tax reduced through Amendments (-) |
|
Details of amendments made to B-to-B supplies (4B), exports (4C), supplies to SEZs (4D) and deemed exports (4E), credit notes (4I), debit notes (4J) and refund vouchers shall be declared here. Table 9A and Table 9C of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 4B to Table 4E net of amendments in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this table. |
4M |
Sub-total (I to L above) |
Auto-Populated |
|
4N |
Supplies and advances on which tax is to be paid (H + M) above |
Auto-Populated |
Table 5 of GSTR 9 - Reporting of all other supplies (i.e., supplies without payment of tax and exempt) made by the registered person during the financial year
Ta. Ref |
Description |
Reference to fill information |
Instruction provided in form |
5A |
Zero rated supply (Export) without payment of tax |
|
Aggregate value of exports (except supplies to SEZs) on which tax has not been paid shall be declared here. Table 6A of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
5B |
Supply to SEZs without payment of tax |
|
Aggregate value of supplies to SEZs on which tax has not been paid shall be declared here. Table 6B of GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
5C |
Supplies on which tax is to be paid by the recipient on reverse charge basis |
|
Aggregate value of supplies made to registered persons on which tax is payable by the recipient on reverse charge basis. Details of debit and credit notes are to be mentioned separately. Table 4B of Form GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. |
5D |
Exempted |
|
Aggregate value of exempted, Nil Rated and Non-GST supplies shall be declared here. Table 8 of Form GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. The value of "no supply" shall also be declared here. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall have an option to either separately report his supplies as exempted, nil rated, and non-GST supply or report consolidated information for all these three heads in the 'exempted' row only. For FY 2021-22, the registered person shall report non-GST supply (5F) separately and shall have an option to either separately report his supplies as exempted and nil rated supply or report consolidated information for these two heads in the "exempted" row only. |
5E |
Nil Rated |
|
Aggregate value of exempted, Nil Rated and Non-GST supplies shall be declared here. Table 8 of FORM GSTR‑1 may be used for filling up these details. The value of "no supply" shall also be declared here. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall have an option to either separately report his supplies as exempted, nil rated, and non-GST supply or report consolidated information for all these three heads in the 'exempted' row only. For FY 2021-22, the registered person shall report non-GST supply (5F) separately and shall have an option to either separately report his supplies as exempted and nil rated supply or report consolidated information for these two heads in the "exempted" row only. |
5F |
Non-GST Supply |
|
Aggregate value of exempted, Nil Rated and Non-GST supplies shall be declared here. Table 8 of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. The value of "no supply" shall also be declared here. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall have an option to either separately report his supplies as exempted, nil rated, and non-GST supply or report consolidated information for all these three heads in the 'exempted' row only. For FY 2021-22, the registered person shall report non-GST supply (5F) separately and shall have an option to either separately report his supplies as exempted and nil rated supply or report consolidated information for these two heads in the "exempted" row only. Press release clarification: Vide press release dated 03.07.2019, it has been clarified that since there is some overlap between supplies that are classifiable as exempted and nil rated and since there is no tax payable on such supplies, if there is a reasonable/explainable overlap of information reported across these tables, such overlap will not be viewed adversely. The other concern raised by taxpayers is the inclusion of no supply in the category of non-GST supplies in Table 5F. For the purposes of reporting, non-GST supplies includes supply of alcoholic liquor for human consumption, motor spirit (commonly known as petrol), high speed diesel, aviation turbine fuel, petroleum crude and natural gas and transactions specified in Schedule III of the CGST Act. |
5G |
Sub-total (A to F above) |
Auto-Populated |
|
5H |
Credit Notes issued in respect of transactions specified in A to F above (-) |
|
Aggregate value of credit notes issued in respect of supplies declared in 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E and 5F shall be declared here. Table 9B of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 & 2021-22, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 5A to Table 5F net of credit notes in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this Table. |
5I |
Debit Notes issued in respect of transactions specified in A to F above (+) |
|
Aggregate value of debit notes issued in respect of supplies declared in 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E and 5F shall be declared here. Table 9B of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 5A to Table 5F net of credit notes in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this Table. |
5J |
Supplies declared through Amendments (+) |
|
Details of amendments made to exports (except supplies to SEZs) and supplies to SEZs on which tax has not been paid shall be declared here. Table 9A and Table 9C of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 5A to Table 5F net of amendments in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this Table. |
5K |
Supplies reduced through Amendments (-) |
|
Details of amendments made to exports (except supplies to SEZs) and supplies to SEZs on which tax has not been paid shall be declared here. Table 9A and Table 9C of FORM GSTR-1 may be used for filling up these details. For FY 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, the registered person shall have an option to fill Table 5A to Table 5F net of amendments in case there is any difficulty in reporting such details separately in this Table. |
5L |
Sub-Total (H to K above) |
Auto-Populated |
|
5M |
Turnover on which tax is not to be paid (G + L above) |
Auto-Populated |
|
5N |
Total Turnover (including advances) (4N + 5M - 4G above |
Auto-Populated |
Total turnover including the sum of all the supplies (with additional supplies and amendments) on which tax is payable and tax is not payable shall be declared here. This shall also include amount of advances on which tax is paid but invoices have not been issued in the current year. However, this shall not include the aggregate value of inward supplies on which tax is paid by the recipient (i.e., by the person filing the annual return) on reverse charge basis. |
Additional checks to be performed for Table 5 of GSTR 9
- Supply of goods to merchant exports is not exempted supply. Therefore, it should not be disclosed here. It would be disclosed in Table 4B. Supply of exempted goods in course of export would be eligible for ITC on inputs and input services. If well within the time limit, then ITC can be taken.
- Amendments have been made to schedule III to include supplies such as high sea sales, merchanting trades, supply of warehouse goods before clearance from customs warehouse. These transactions could be reported in column 5F.
- Column 5F can also include the 'pure agent' reimbursements. There is no provision in GSTR-3B to disclose these reimbursements. There is a practice to disclose such amounts as exempted supply turnover in GSTR-3B which is also not right as this may have impact on rule 42 and rule 43 compliance for reversal of ITC. When the amounts are not shown, then such amounts can be disclosed in column 5F. A comment/ observation can also be made in GSTR-9C to avoid confusion as to reversal of ITC.
- Transactions with distinct persons (branches/ regional offices etc.) would not be part of financial statements. However, impact under GST in terms of Schedule I to CGST Act 2017 to be considered where there is a liability. If registered, then the transactions should be disclosed in 4B/4I/4J.
- In case of exports, validity of documents such as LUT/ Bond can be reviewed. In case of any deficiency, appropriate action to renew it or obtain with condonation of delay to be considered. LUT where not filed, ensure letter for condonation of delay is available or where possible, LUT has been filed manually to the jurisdictional officer.
- There could also be mistake in type of tax paid. IGST liability would have been discharged as CGST & SGST or vice versa. Appropriate adjustments can be considered while filing annual return or the application of section 77 (CGST) or section 19(IGST) considering the situation at hand. Classification of supplies including rate of taxes applied can also be reviewed for confirmation. Action for short or excess payment could be taken.
- In case of any advance amounts which are liable for GST but not paid till now, then details can be disclosed in table 4F to discharge the GST through DRC-03.
Table 10 & 11 of GSTR 9 - Reporting of transactions for the financial year declared in returns of the next financial year till the specified period
Ta. Ref |
Description |
Reference to fill information |
Instruction provided in form |
10 |
Supplies/tax declared through Amendments (+) (net of debit notes) |
|
For FY 2021-22, Details of additions or amendments to any of the supplies already declared in the returns of the previous financial year but such amendments were furnished in Table 9A, Table 9B and Table 9C of Form GSTR-1 of April 2022 to October 2022 shall be declared here. |
11 |
Supplies/tax reduced through Amendments (-) (net of credit notes) |
Note: Amendments made based on Circular 26/26/2017 in the GSTR 3B of subsequent FY would be relevant.
|
For FY 2021-22, Details of additions or amendments to any of the supplies already declared in the returns of the previous financial year but such amendments were furnished in Table 9A, Table 9B and Table 9C of Form GSTR-1 of April 2022 to October 2022 shall be declared here. |
Additional points for Table 10 & 11
1. Due to wordings used in the returns and instructions, it is quite common to get confused on disclosing of information between Part II of Form GSTR 9 and Part V of Form GSTR 9. It is important to collate the information of amendments made including debit note and credit note including dates and the year of supply it belongs to.
2. Table 10 can contain the details of debit note dated in previous financial year but reported in subsequent financial years return. It can also include tax invoices dated in previous financial year but reported between April to September of subsequent financial year. It can also include amendment made increasing the turnover through GSTR-1 as well.
3. Table 11 can contain the details of credit note dated in previous financial year but reported in subsequent financial years return. It can also include amendment made decreasing the turnover through GSTR-1 as well.
4. Workings for reporting done in GSTR 9 of FY 2021-22 must match with the corresponding workings & reporting made in Part V of GSTR 9 for FY 2020-21.
Conclusion
Many taxpayers have been receiving auto-generated system-based notices from the department on account of non-matching of the values of turnover between GSTR 1, GTSR 3B, GSTR 9, GSTR 9C which raises a cause of concern. Hence, it is very important to have proper verification mechanism in place to have a maker-checker concept while disclosing details in various forms and returns most importantly in GSTR 9 & 9C. Further, the exercise of filing Annual Returns must not be restricted to only number crunching and entering the values in various fields of each table but instead it must be considered as an opportunity to verify the tax positions taken, process improvement, records & accounts maintained and many more which would eventually help in adopting feasible tax structuring and to avoid future litigation.
Also Read:
- Checklist of Accounts, Records & Documents to be maintained from GST Audit Perspective: GST Audit Series (Part 1)
- In-depth Audit Programme & Checklist for conducting GST Audit - Part 2
- Key Amendments in FY 2021-22 relevant for GST Audit - Part 3
The authors can also be reached at mahadev@hiregange.com, ravikumar@hiregange.com or yash@hiregange.com