A detailed guide to the GSTR-4 annual return for composition dealers, covering format, required contents, and recent filing concessions.
GSTR-4 is the annual return that composition-scheme taxpayers must file, summarising the year’s turnover and tax. This guide explains who files GSTR-4, what to report, the due date (30 June of the next financial year), and how it works alongside the quarterly CMP-08 statement-cum-challan.
The GSTR-4 form is an annual tax return submitted by taxpayers registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) composition scheme. Unlike regular taxpayers, who must furnish three monthly returns, composition dealers are only required to file GSTR-4 once a year. The usual due date for filing GSTR-4 is April 30th of the subsequent financial year.
Latest Updates on GSTR-4 Filing
As of March 31, 2023, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) announced a concession for composition taxpayers who had outstanding GSTR-4 returns for specific periods (July 2017 – March 2019) or financial years (2017-18 to 2021-22). If these returns are filed between April 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023, late fees exceeding Rs. 500 per return (Rs. 250 each for CGST and SGST) will be waived. No late fees apply to Nil returns filed under this scheme. Further details on this Amnesty Scheme under GST are available here.
Understanding the Structure and Sections of GSTR-4
The revised annual Form GSTR-4 is systematically divided into nine distinct sections.
Table 1-3: Basic Taxpayer Information
This section captures fundamental information about the taxpayer.
| Table | Details |
|---|---|
| GSTIN | The taxpayer’s Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) is automatically populated upon filing the return. |
| Name of the taxpayer | Both the legal name and trade name of the taxpayer are automatically filled when the return is filed. |
| Aggregate turnover details | The total turnover from the preceding financial year is pre-populated. Additionally, the Acknowledgement Reference Number (ARN) and its date are auto-filled after the return submission. |
Table 4: Details of Inward Supplies Subject to Reverse Charge
This section requires a taxpayer to report all received inward supplies.
| Table | Details |
|---|---|
| 4A: Supplies from a registered supplier (other than reverse charge) | This includes details of all supplies received from registered suppliers (both interstate and intrastate) where the reverse charge mechanism is not applicable. |
| 4B: Supplies from a registered supplier (attracting reverse charge) | This covers details of all supplies obtained from registered suppliers (interstate and intrastate) that fall under the reverse charge mechanism. |
| 4C: Unregistered supplier | This entails providing details of all inward supplies received from unregistered suppliers, encompassing both interstate and intrastate transactions. |
| 4D: Import of services | Here, taxpayers must declare all imported services for which tax is payable due to the applicability of the reverse charge mechanism. |
Table 5: Consolidated Self-Assessed Tax Liability from Form GST CMP-08
The data in this table is automatically populated from Form GST CMP-08, which is utilized for quarterly tax payments. This section aggregates payment details from all CMP-08 forms filed throughout the year, including payments made on outward supplies, inward supplies subject to reverse charge, and any tax and interest paid.
Table 6: Annual Details of Outward and Reverse Charge Inward Supplies by Tax Rate
Taxpayers must specify all outward supplies and inward supplies attracting reverse charge, categorised by their respective tax rates. This includes the total taxable value. The corresponding IGST, CGST, SGST, and Cess amounts are automatically calculated and populated.
Table 7: Received TDS/TCS Credit Information
Any Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) or Tax Collected at Source (TCS) credit received from a supplier or e-commerce operator will be automatically populated in this table. Taxpayers are required to specify the GSTIN of the deductor, the gross invoice value, and the amount of TDS deducted.
Table 8: Summary of Tax, Interest, and Late Fee Payable and Paid
This table consolidates the financial obligations and payments.
| Table | Details |
|---|---|
| Tax amount payable | This value is automatically carried forward from Table 6. |
| Tax amount already paid | This figure is auto-populated based on the details submitted in Form GST CMP-08. |
| Balance tax payable | This represents the difference between the tax amount payable and the tax amount already paid. |
| Interest payable and paid | Details regarding interest due for late return filing and the actual interest paid must be reported here. |
| Late fee payable and paid | Information concerning late fees due for delayed GST payments and the amount actually paid should be entered here. |
Amounts paid under various tax heads, such as IGST, CGST, SGST, and Cess, must be itemized separately.
Table 9: Electronic Cash Ledger Refund Claims
In instances where excess taxes have been paid, taxpayers can claim a refund through this section. The refund amount should be itemised by categories: tax, interest, penalty, fee, and others.
Return Verification
Taxpayers are required to formally attest that all details provided in the aforementioned tables are accurate and correct by signing the GSTR-4 form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who files GSTR-4?
Taxpayers registered under the GST composition scheme, once a year.
What is the GSTR-4 due date?
30 June of the financial year following the relevant year.
What is reported in GSTR-4?
A summary of outward supplies, inward supplies (including RCM) and tax paid for the year.
How is GSTR-4 different from CMP-08?
CMP-08 is the quarterly statement-cum-challan for payment; GSTR-4 is the annual return.
