CBIC issues Standard Operating Procedure to be followed in case of Non-Filers of GST Returns [Read Circular]

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs ( CBIC ) has issued Standard Operating Procedure to be followed in case of Non-Filers of GST Returns.

In the 38th meeting of the GST Council meeting under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman had decided to issue Standard Operating Procedure for Tax Officers to take action against Non-Filing of GST Returns.

The CBIC had noticed that divergent practices are being followed in case of non-furnishing of the said returns. In order to clarify the issue and to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of the law across field formations, the Board, in the exercise of its powers conferred by section 168 (1) of the CGST Act, the CBIC has issued the following clarifications and guidelines:

Section 46 of the CGST Act read with rule 68 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017  requires the issuance of a notice in FORM GSTR-3A to a registered person who fails to furnish return under section 39 or section 44 or section 45 requiring him to furnish such return within fifteen days. Further section 62 provides for the assessment of non-filers of return of registered persons who fails to furnish return under section 39 or section 45 even after service of notice under section 46. The CBIC also released a format of FORM GSTR-3A.

The CBIC also said that, As such, no separate notice is required to be issued for best judgment assessment under section 62 and in case of failure to file the return within 15 days of issuance of FORM GSTR3A, the best judgment assessment in FORM ASMT-13 can be issued without any further communication.

The CBIC also issued guidelines to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of law across the field formations:

• Preferably, a system-generated message would be sent to all the registered persons 3 days before the due date to nudge them about the filing of the return for the tax period by the due date.
• Once the due date for furnishing the return under section 39 is over, a system-generated mail/message would be sent to all the defaulters immediately after the due date to the effect that the said registered person has not furnished his return for the said tax period; the said mail/message is to be sent to the authorized signatory as well as the proprietor/partner/director/Karta, etc.
• Five days after the due date of furnishing the return, a notice in FORM GSTR-3A (under section 46 of the CGST Act read with rule 68 of the CGST Rules) shall be issued electronically to such registered person who fails to furnish return under section 39, requiring him to furnish such return within fifteen days;
• In case the said return is still not filed by the defaulter within 15 days of the said notice, the proper officer may proceed to assess the tax liability of the said person under section 62 of the CGST Act, to the best of his judgement taking into account all the relevant material which is available or which he has gathered and would issue order under rule 100 of the CGST Rules in FORM GST ASMT-13. The proper officer would then be required to upload the summary thereof in FORM GST DRC07;
• For the purpose of assessment of tax liability under section 62 of the CGST Act, the proper officer may take into account the details of outward supplies available in the statement furnished under section 37 (FORM GSTR-1), details of supplies auto-populated in FORM GSTR-2A, information available from e-way bills, or any other information available from any other source, including from inspection under section 71;
• In case the defaulter furnishes a valid return within thirty days of the service of assessment order in FORM GST ASMT-13, the said assessment order shall be deemed to have been withdrawn in terms of provision of sub-section (2) of section 62 of the CGST Act. However, if the said return remains unfurnished within the statutory period of 30 days from the issuance of an order in FORM ASMT-13, then the proper officer may initiate proceedings under section 78 and recovery under section 79 of the CGST Act;

The CBIC also directed to follow guidelines by the proper officer in case of non-furnishing of return. In deserving cases, based on the facts of the case, the Commissioner may resort to the provisional attachment to protect revenue under section 83 of the CGST Act before issuance of FORM GST ASMT-13.