The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced a one-day extension for filing GSTR-3B, moving the deadline to November 21, 2024, for GST-registered taxpayers located in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, which are currently preparing for legislative assembly elections.
On November 18, 2024, the CBIC shared via X (formerly Twitter) that the elections in these states are set for November 20, coinciding with the original GSTR-3B filing deadline. This overlap could hamper taxpayers from exercising their right to vote.
To alleviate this concern, the government, with the GST Implementation Committee’s approval, has decided to shift the due date for GSTR-3B submissions for October 2024 from November 20 to November 21. A formal notification regarding this change will be issued soon.
Is This Notification Applicable to All the GST Taxpayers?
No, this extension applies exclusively to GST taxpayers whose principal place of business is in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. These businesses can submit their GSTR-3B without incurring late fees by the new deadline of November 21, 2024.
The term “principal place of business” refers to the registered office address of a GST-registered entity as defined under the GST Act. Generally, it indicates where the main business activities occur. According to experts, this extension specifically targets those registered under GST in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
CA professionals say that late filings of GSTR-3B Form incur a penalty of ₹100 per day, subject to a maximum of ₹5,000. However, taxpayers wishing to claim any outstanding input tax credits for the fiscal year 2023-24 must ensure their GSTR-3B is submitted by November 30, 2024.
Another accountant explained that GSTR-3B serves as a reconciliation form detailing final tax liabilities by balancing input tax credits with output tax credits. If any tax liabilities remain unsettled, an interest penalty at a rate of 18% will apply. Thus, this one-day extension allows taxpayers in Maharashtra and Jharkhand to avoid an additional day’s worth of penalties and interest.
According to a FAQ section provided by CBIC, all regular and casual taxpayers mandatorily file Form GSTR-3B even if they have no business generated during that period. The system will generate Form GSTR-3B and can be accessed through the GSTR-3B dashboard page based on Form GSTR-1 or Form GSTR-2B, at the frequency of monthly or quarterly, post-filing the Form GSTR-1 has been submitted by the taxpayer and/or Form GSTR-2B has been generated.
