Important highlights of the 49th GST Council Meeting held on 18th February 2023

Extension of time limit for application for revocation of cancellation of registration and one time amnesty for past cases

The Council has recommended amendment in section 30 of CGST Act, 2017 and rule 23 of CGST Rules, 2017 so as to provide that-

  • the time limit for making an application for revocation of cancellation of registration be increased from 30 days to 90 days;
  • where the registered person fails to apply for such revocation within 90 days, the said time period may be extended by the Commissioner or an officer authorised by him in this behalf for a further period not exceeding 180 days.
  • The Council has also recommended that an amnesty may be provided in the past cases, where registration has been cancelled on account of non-filing of the returns, but application for revocation of cancellation of registration could not be filed within the time specified in section 30 of CGST Act, by allowing such persons to file such application for revocation by a specified date, subject to certain conditions.

Rationalisation of Late fee for Annual Return:

Presently, late fee of Rs 200 per day (Rs 100 CGST + Rs 100 SGST), subject to a maximum of 0.5% of the turnover in the State or UT (0.25% CGST + 0.25% SGST), is payable in case of delayed filing of annual return in FORM GSTR-9. The Council recommended to rationalise this late fee for delayed filing of annual return in FORM GSTR-9 for FY 2022-23 onwards, for registered persons having aggregate turnover in a financial year upto Rs 20 crore, as below:

  • Registered persons having an aggregate turnover of up to Rs. 5 crores in the said financial year: Rs 50 per day (Rs 25 CGST + Rs 25 SGST), subject to a maximum of an amount calculated at 0.04 per cent. of his turnover in the State or Union territory (0.02% CGST + 0.02% SGST).
  • Registered persons having an aggregate turnover of more than Rs. 5 crores and up to Rs. 20 crores in the said financial year: Rs 100 per day (Rs 50 CGST + Rs 50 SGST), subject to a maximum of an amount calculated at 0.04 per cent. of his turnover in the State or Union territory (0.02% CGST + 0.02% SGST).

Amnesty scheme

Amnesty in respect of pending returns in FORM GSTR-4, FORM GSTR-9 and FORM GSTR-10: To provide relief to a large number of taxpayers, the Council recommended amnesty schemes in respect of pending returns in FORM GSTR-4, FORM GSTR-9 and FORM GSTR-10 by way of conditional waiver/ reduction of late fee.

Clarification of Place of supply of services of transportation of goods

Rationalization of provision of place of supply of services of transportation of goods: Council recommended to rationalize the provision of place of supply for services of transportation of of services of transportation of goods, in cases where location of supplier of services or location of recipient of services is outside India, shall be the location of the recipient of services.

GST Compensation

Government of India has decided to clear the entire pending balance GST compensation of Rs. 16,982 crore for June’2022 as shown in the table below. Since, there is no amount in the GST compensation Fund, Centre decided to release this amount from its own resources and the same will be recouped from the future compensation cess collection. With this release, Centre would clear the entire provisionally admissible compensation due for five years as envisaged in the GST (Compensation to States) Act’2017. In addition, Centre would also clear the admissible final GST compensation to those States who has provided the revenue figures as certified by the Accountant General of the States amounting to Rs. 16,524 crore.

GST Appellate Tribunal

The Council adopted the report of Group of Ministers with certain modifications. The final draft amendments to the GST laws shall be circulated to Members for their comments. The Chairperson has been authorised to finalise the same.