22nd GST Council Meeting - Summary of Decisions

The GST Council conducted the 22nd GST Council Meeting at New Delhi on the 6th of October 2017. In the meeting, various decisions and changes pertaining to GST return filing, composition scheme, GST rates have been announced. The various measures announced in the 22nd GST Council will tremendously improve ease of compliance for SMEs. In this article, we summarise the key decisions made in the 22nd GST Council Meeting.

GST Return Filing

All regular taxpayers registered under GST were currently required to file 4 GST returns every month namely GSTR 3B, GSTR 1, GSTR 2 and GSTR 3. Filing 4 GST returns a month and maintaining GST compliance was a major burden for small businesses that have limited resources. Hence, to reduce the compliance burden for small businesses and improve the ease of doing business, a decision was taken to reduce the number of GST returns for small businesses.

GST Return Filing for SMEs

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with an annual aggregate turnover of less than Rs.1.5 crore can opt-out to file GSTR 1, GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 return every month. Instead, SMEs can file quarterly GST returns and make quarterly GST payments, whether or not enrolled under the GST composition scheme. Henceforth, SMEs can file quarterly GST returns starting from October to December 2017 quarter. For now, all regular taxpayers must mandatorily file monthly GSTR 1, GSTR 2, GSTR 3 and GSTR 3B return for the months of July, August and September 2017. The due date for July 2017 GSTR 1 return, GSTR 2 return and GSTR 3 return has been announced. The due dates for August and September GSTR 1, GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 returns will be announced shortly.

GST Return Filing for Businesses with Over Rs.1.5 Crore Turnover

All persons having GST registration with a turnover of more than Rs.1.5 crore per year will be required to file monthly GST returns in form GSTR 1, GSTR 2 and GSTR 3. All the taxpayers shall file GSTR 3B for the month of July to December 2017, irrespective of annual aggregate turnover.

GST Registration

Earlier the GST Council made it mandatory to register with GST if any person undertook inter-state (selling goods or services from one state to another state) irrespective of aggregate annual turnover. However, in the 22nd GST Council decided to exempt service providers from these criteria. Hence, the service providers can henceforth undertake inter-state sales of up to Rs.20 lakh without obtaining GST registration. It is important to note that only service providers have been provided this exception. Any person supply goods will still be required to obtain GST registration mandatorily, if they undertake inter-state sales.

Reverse Charge Mechanism Suspended

The 22nd GST Council has decided to suspend the GST reverse charge mechanism. Under reverse charge, the recipient of the service must pay GST on behalf of the supplier. Sub-section (4) of section 9 of the CGST Act, 2017 pertains to GST reverse charge and reproduced below for reference:

"The central tax in respect of the supply of taxable goods or services or both by a supplier, who is not registered, to a registered person shall be paid by such person on reverse charge basis as the recipient and all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such recipient as if he is the person liable for paying the tax in relation to the supply of such goods or services or both."

Since registered taxpayers shall pay GST on reverse charge basis when they purchased from an unregistered person (Most times a micro or small business), many registered businesses stopped transacting with micro and small businesses. Hence, the GST Council has decided to suspend the reverse charge mechanism. Now, registered taxpayers can purchase from unregistered persons without paying GST on reverse charge basis. This measure will provide a major boost to micro, small and medium businesses.

GST on Advances Received NOT Required for SMEs

As per GST rules, whenever a taxable person receives an advance, an advance receipt voucher must be issued and the GST on the advance received must be remitted to the Government. In case upon failure to provide the supply and the supplier provides the refund of advance to the customer, then the supplier shall claim the refund. This caused tremendous difficulty for small and medium businesses. As per the decision of 22nd GST Council, the taxpayer can henceforth opt-out to pay GST at the time of receipt of advances on account of supply of goods. for aggregate turnover up to Rs.1.5 crore. Hence, the GST on such advance received becomes payable only when the supply of goods applies.