GST compliance: the recurring tasks every registered business manages

Pending professional review. This guide is awaiting review by our Chartered Accountants.

Once a business is registered under GST, compliance becomes a cycle. The specific returns and their due dates depend on the type of registration (regular, composition, ISD, non-resident, e-commerce) and on notifications issued from time to time, so treat this as an overview of the work involved rather than a calendar.

Every month or quarter

• Outward supplies: reporting sales invoice-wise in the statement of outward supplies.
• Summary return and tax payment: filing the summary return and paying the net tax after input tax credit.
• Input tax credit reconciliation: matching the credit claimed in your books with what your suppliers have reported. Unmatched credit is the most common source of GST notices.
• Records: keeping invoices, credit/debit notes, e-way bills and payment records in order.

Every year

• The annual return and, where applicable, the reconciliation statement.
• A year-end review of credits, reversals and classification.

When something changes

• Amendments to registration — new place of business, change of address, new partners or directors.
• Rate changes — see how to decide which rate applies.
• New business lines that may change how supplies are classified.

Where businesses usually need help

Credit mismatches with suppliers, classification and rate questions, departmental notices, GST audits and assessments. Our GST services cover each of these, and the official due-date calendar is always available on the GST portal.