Govt. extends GSTR-3B return filing deadline to October 25

To address concerns on input tax credit; ‘but move comes after deadline lapsed’

More time: Due date must be extended to Nov. 20 to aid firms that did not claim credit, says Pratik Jain.

The government on Sunday extended the deadline for the filing of GST form 3B returns for September from October 20 to October 25.

“It has been brought to notice that there have been apprehensions by trade and industry relating to the last date for availment of ITC [input tax credit] for the period July 2017 to March 2018,” the government said in a statement. “In order to remove doubts, it was clarified that as per the law, the last date for availing ITC in relation to the period from July 2017 to March 2018 is the last date for the filing of return in the form GSTR-3B for the month of September 2018.”

“In view of the said apprehensions and with a view to give some more time to the trade and industry, the last date for furnishing return in the form GSTR-3B for the month of September 2018 is being extended up to October 25, 2018,” it added.

‘Too late’

However, tax experts say that the deadline extension has come too late as it was announced a day after the original deadline elapsed.

“While the businesses, who could not file the return by the 20th, can avail the extension, this doesn’t really help most large firms who would have already filed their return by working overtime,” Pratik Jain, partner and leader, indirect tax, PwC India, said.

“Since there is no facility for amendment of the return, these firms cannot claim the credit which they might have missed,” he noted. “To provide relief to industry, the government should at least extend the due date till November 20, so that credit can be claimed in October return,” Mr. Jain added.