GST e-invoice will reduce compliance burden: Govt

In a significant aid to companies the federal government plans to eliminate month-to-month submitting of Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns after digital invoices (e-invoices) are totally operationalised. This will scale back compliance burden and verify tax evasion, mentioned finance secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey.

“GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B will ultimately be phased out, once we fully operationalise the electronic invoice (e-invoice),” he mentioned. In the traditional course, the 2 GST returns (GSTRs) means 24 returns filed by GST registered entities each month. The GSTR-1 is a return indicating gross sales or outward provides made in the course of the month and the GSTR-3B is the abstract return indicating provides made, enter tax credit score availed and tax cost made for the month.

E-invoicing is being applied in a phased method. It can be necessary for all from the subsequent monetary 12 months as a part of the federal government’s ongoing efforts in the direction of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Honouring the Honest’. Once put into operation, each e-way invoice system and submitting of sure GST returns (GSTR) would ultimately be withdrawn, mentioned Pandey, who can also be the income secretary.

The authorities has already introduced a roadmap to implement e-invoices. Currently e-invoicing is necessary for firms with turnover of ₹500 crore or extra. From January 1, 2021 it is going to be obligatory for firms with a turnover of greater than ₹100 crore, and from April 1, 2020 it is going to be necessary for all firms.

“Actually our objective is, once you have an electronic invoice it should ultimately do away with your e-way bills, and also eventually do away with GST returns because from the e-invoice itself your returns can be generated. Then, at the end of the month the taxpayer has to simply validate his return and make the payment of taxes,” the finance secretary mentioned.

The authorities on October 1 launched the e-invoicing system for companies having annual turnover greater than ₹500 crore, which replaces the bodily bill and permits patrons and sellers to have actual time data of the invoices. Eventually, it’s going to auto-populate GST returns and companies won’t be required to generate e-way payments. To make certain, the introduction of e-invoice was initially scheduled for April 1, 2020, however it was postponed to October 1 as a result of sudden outbreak of Covid-19.

“The e-invoice system will lead to a massive reduction in compliance and at the same time it will be good for industry, good for the taxpayers and very-very difficult for the fraudsters,” Pandey mentioned.

The authorities, which has launched a significant drive in opposition to GST frauds, believes e-invoices will immediately get rid of faux invoices, at the moment rampant to fraudulently declare enter tax credit score. E-invoices will minimize the compliance burden.

“If an entity operates in 25 states, it has to file 50 returns per month, hence 600 monthly returns in a year,” Mani mentioned. This is along with the 2 annual returns—GSTR-9 and 9C to be filed for every registration, he added.