GST return forms likely to be tweaked to curb mismatches

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Draft forms will be uploaded on the MyGov portal on November 1 for public feedback until November 30, a senior official said on Thursday. The revised forms will take effect from April 1, 2027. "Based on the industry responses, we are modifying GSTR-1 form, we are improving the IMS so that the need for editing 3B does not arise," said Gaurav Singh, commissioner in the GST Policy Wing of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

He was speaking at an Assocham conclave on GST. The changes, approved by the GST Council on October 8, aim to reduce errors in tax filings and make it easier for businesses to reconcile sales, tax payments and tax credits. Nearly 80% of GST notices were linked to mismatches in returns.

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Separately, the CBIC is considering simplifying GST audits. Businesses operating in multiple states can currently face audits by tax authorities in each state. Singh said the audit process needed to be reviewed to ensure taxpayers faced "no harassment". Resolving problems in the tax credit system would also strengthen the GST framework and enable further reforms, he added.

Notifications and circulars related to decisions taken at the October 8 GST Council meeting have been vetted by the Law Department and will be made public soon.