39^th GST Council Meeting, Law and Procedure related changes

39^th GST Council meeting held on 14^th March,2020 at New Delhi, has made the following recommendations on GST Law and procedure 

1. 1.      Measures for Trade facilitation:

1. Interest for delay in payment of GST to be charged on the net cash tax liability w.e.f. 01.07.2017 (Law to be amended retrospectively).
2. Where registrations have been cancelled till 14.03.2020, application for revocation of cancellation of registration can be filled up to 30.06.2020 (extension of period of application as one-time measure to facilitate those who want to conduct business).
3. Annual Return:

1. Relaxation to MSMEs from furnishing of Reconciliation Statement in FORM GSTR-9C, for the financial year 2018-19, for taxpayers having aggregate turnover below Rs. 5 crores;

1. Due date for filing the Annual return and the Reconciliation Statement for financial year 2018-19 to be extended to 30.06.2020; and

1. Late fees not to be levied for delayed filing of the Annual return and the Reconciliation Statement for financial year 2017-18 and 2018-19 for taxpayers with aggregate turnover less than Rs. 2 crores.

1. A new facility called ‘Know Your Supplier’ to be introduced so as to enable every registered person to have some basic information about the suppliers with whom they conduct or propose to conduct business.

1. The requirement of furnishing FORM GSTR-1 for 2019-20 to be waived for taxpayers who could not opt for availing the option of special composition scheme under notification No. 2/2019-Central Tax (Rate) dated 07.03.2019 by filing FORM CMP-02.

1. A special procedure is being prescribed for registered persons who are corporate debtors under the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy

Code, 2016 and are undergoing the corporate insolvency resolution process, so as to enable them to comply with the provisions of GST Laws during the CIRP period.

1. A special procedure for registered persons in Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu during transition period, consequent to merger of the UTs w.e.f. 26.01.2020; transition to be completed by 31.05.2020.
2. Extension of due dates for FORM GSTR-3B for the month of July, 2019 to

January, 2020 till 24^th March, 2020 for registered persons having principal place of business in the Union territory of Ladakh. Similar extension is also recommended for FORM GSTR-1 & FORM GSTR-7.

1. Bunching of refund claims allowed across financial years to facilitate exporters.

1. 2.      Deferment of E-invoice and QR Code:

1. Certain class of registered persons (insurance company, banking company, financial institution, non-banking financial institution, GTA, passenger transportation service etc.) to be exempted from issuing e-invoices or capturing dynamic QR code; and
2. The dates for implementation of e-invoicing and QR Code to be extended to 01.10.2020.

1. 3.      Deferment of e-wallet Scheme:

1. Extension of the time to finalize e-Wallet scheme up to 31.03.2021; and

1. Extension of the present exemptions from IGST and Cess on the imports made under the AA/EPCG/EOU schemes up to 31.03.2021.
2. 4.      Continuation of existing system of furnishing FORM GSTR-1 & FORM GSTR-3B till September, 2020;

1. 5.      Other new initiatives:

1. Seeking information return from Banks;

1. To curb fake invoicing and fraudulent passing of ITC, restrictions to be imposed on passing of the ITC in case of new GST registrations, before physical verification of premises and Financial KYC of the registered person.

1. 6.      Issuance of circulars in respect of:

1. Clarification in apportionment of ITC in cases of business reorganization under section 18 (3) of CGST Act read with rule 41(1) of CGST Rules;
2. Appeals during non-constitution of the Appellate Tribunal;