With the arrival of the year 2020, GST is all set to pace up with some crucial updates. These updates are being brought into effect to simplify GST compliance, curb tax evasion, and, improve the GST filing ratio.

The main highlight of the year 2020 is going to be the new GST returns. The new returns shall introduce new and simplified forms GST Ret 1, Ret 2 and Ret 3 along with annexure form GST Anx 1 and Anx 2. Unlike the current filing system, the new forms shall be uploaded on a real-time basis, and backed with eInvoicing mechanism, it is expected to partially automate the form preparation process.

However, these returns forms will be introduced from the month of April 2020. Thus, going by a chronological sequence, here’s a list of important updates and amendments for and from the month of January:

1. eInvoicing system is made available on a voluntary basis

The eInvoicing system has been made available on a voluntary basis for businesses with an aggregate turnover exceeding INR 500 crore. Under the eInvoicing system, a taxpayer can generate an eInvoice from any accounting/billing software of his preference. However, the generated eInvoice will be considered valid only once it has been reported on the IRP portal and a unique IRN number has been issued to it.

2. GST Collection crossed 1 lakh crores for the month of December

The GST collection for the month of December was INR 1.03 lakh crores. This is the 2^nd consecutive month where the GST collection has exceeded 1 lakh crores, indicating the stabilisation of revenue collection, credits to the anti-evasion measures introduced by the government.

3. Sabka Vishwas Legacy and Dispute Resolution Scheme Extended

Sabka Vishwas LDRS is a dispute resolution and amnesty scheme under GST that came into force on September 1, 2019. The day to avail the benefits of the scheme was December 31^st, 2019. However, considering the taxpayer response to the scheme, the central government has extended the same for a period of 15 days i.e. until January 15, 2020.

4. Aadhaar to be made mandatory for GST

The GST Network has decided to make Aadhaar authentication or physical verification mandatory for new dealers from January 1, 2020, to keep malpractice in check. This is because there are currently 66.79 lakh new dealers registered under the Goods and Service Tax who are contributing to just 15% of the total revenue under the tax regime.

5. GSTR 1 filing and EWB

The 38^th GST Council waived off the late fee for unfurnished GSTR 1 form for the period between July 2017-November 2019, if the same is filed on or before January 10^th, 2020. Henceforth, if a taxpayer does not file his GSTR 1 for 2 consecutive filing period, his/her EWB system will be blocked.

6. New Offline Tools (Version 1.6) for annual returns now available on GSTN Portal

In order to simplify annual return filing for a taxpayer, some changes have been brought into the annual return form GSTR 9 and the recon statement GSTR 9, vide Notification No. 56/2019 dated 17.11.2019. The last date to furnish the annual return forms was extended to January 31, 2020, on account of unavailability of the updated offline tool.

Accordingly, the changes in the application software and the offline tools are now made available on the GSTN portal. The GSTN has resolved the following two issues as per press note:

• Error JSON not showing any error now fixed.
• Column 5G, 12B and 12C made optional.

7. GSTN has enabled a Statistics column under downloads section for the taxpayers to access data

The GSTN has enabled a Statistics column under the download section. By clicking on the relevant tab, a taxpayer can access the following data from the statistics option are as under.

• Registration:The State-wise data having details of active taxpayers at the close of last month. This excludes those taxpayers whose registration has been cancelled but includes those taxpayer’s registration was restored on application/appeal.
• Tax Collection:

• 1. Tax data is divided into three parts viz. Tax Paid on GST Portal, IGST paid on Customs Portal and IGST settled to States/UTs.
  2. July 2017 is the first month, there was no settlement and hence there is no data under the same.

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