Advisory on Annual Aggregate Turnover Functionality

Aggerate Annual Turnover for the Financial Year is being displayed on the GST portal when the user clicks on Navigate to Returns Dashboard at the time of login.

The values for AATO displayed is based on return filing data filed by taxpayers and computation done as on 26/06/2021. Turnover value is updated dynamically as per filing of Returns. Aggregate Turnover is updated dynamically based upon the filings done by all GSTINs under the PAN. Final Turnover & Aggregate Turnover will be made available post tax-officer’s verification 11/10/2021.

On the page user can see the values based on the returns filed and if there not filled up to date, the AATO  is estimated and shown. In case if the returns are filed, then the actual AATO based on the returns is displayed.

If the value for AATO is wrong, the taxpayers can file a ticket  https://selfservice.gstsystem.in. and get the same rectified.

An Advisory has been issued in this context and it is highly recommended for all the professional to go through the same.

• This facility shows to the taxpayer AATO (Annual Aggregate Turnover) based on the returns filed by him/her in the last financial year.
• The facility of turnover update has also been provided to the taxpayer in this functionality, if the said taxpayer feels that the system calculated turnover varies from the turnover as per his/her records.
• As stated, the calculation is based on the returns filed in the last financial year. For details of the calculation see Turnover calculation logic.
• This facility of turnover update shall be provided to all the GSTINs registered on a common PAN. All the changes by any of the GSTINs in his turnover shall be summed up for computation of Annual Aggregate Turnover for each of the GSTINs.
• The taxpayer can amend the turnover twice within a period of one month from the date of roll out of this functionality.
• Thereafter, the updated value shall be frozen with no further attempts provided to the taxpayers to amend their turnover(s) and this turnover figure will be sent to the Jurisdictional Tax Officer for review.
• In case the jurisdictional Officer finds any discrepancy in the updated/amended values furnished by the taxpayer, the said officer can amend the turnover.
• Tax officers are expected to consult and/or communicate with the taxpayer before amending the turnover declared by the taxpayer.
• The turnover finalized by the tax officer after such consultation shall be considered final.
• In case no action is taken by the officer within 30 days on the turnover reported by the taxpayer, the same shall then be considered final (which will be displayed to the taxpayer accordingly) and will be considered as such for the entire previous financial year.
• In case of any grievances pertaining to the said functionality, the aggrieved taxpayer can raise a ticket at https://selfservice.gstsystem.in.
• All such tickets shall be investigated by the technical team and shall be resolved on a case by case basis and when needed they shall be forwarded to the jurisdictional officer.

Note: Taxpayers are expected to use this functionality only if there is a discrepancy observed by them in the system calculated turnover as per the calculation logic mentioned above.

New Functionalities made available for Taxpayers on GST Portal in June, 2021

User experience is the key and keeping in this in mind, new features have been added to the GST portal constantly and some of the new Functionalities were made available for Taxpayers on GST Portal in June, 2021. They are

1. Moving the records saved in IFF, to later months of same Quarter, by taxpayers under QRMP Scheme

There can be cases where the QRMP Taxpayers have entered the data in the IFF but not submitted. In such cases the records which are saved and not submitted/filed can be moved from one period to another period as well as moved from various periods of the Quarter to GSTR – 1 while filing the return.

• Taxpayers can now MOVE the records saved in their IFF of first month of a quarter (if the time for filing it has expired) to IFF of second month of the quarter.
• Taxpayers can also MOVE the records saved in IFF of first month & second month of the quarter (if the time for filing it has expired) to their quarterly Form GSTR-1 (of the same quarter). Please note that the records can be moved only within a quarter.
• While preparing IFF/GSTR-1 (of later months of same quarter) online, in case of saved records, taxpayers will get a pop-up prompting them to either MOVE the records by selecting YES or delete them by selecting NO.

2. Auto population of GSTR-3B liability, for taxpayers under QRMP Scheme, from their IFF and GSTR 1

The tax liability in the case of QRMP taxpayer, it will be auto populated from IFF filed during the months to GSTR – 3B. This will ensure that there are not data entry errors and correct liability gets reported.

3. Filing for refund of accumulated ITC by taxpayers making exempt/ nil-rated supplies, by selecting an option of not having an LUT number in the refund application

Exports are Zero rated supplies under GST and the exporters have an option to invoice with payment of taxes or without payment of taxes. In cases where the invoice is issued without payment of taxes, the taxpayer has to file a refund application separately to claim the accumulated input tax credit in the electronic credit ledger.

To claim refund, in the Form RFD – 01, the taxpayer has to enter the Letter of Under Taking Number currently. From this month onwards the taxpayers now an option to select any one of the following

• I have a valid LUT number.
• I don’t have a valid LUT number, since I am making only exempt/ nil rated supplies

The above mentioned are the new features added for the taxpayers on the GST portal to provide better user experience. Since auto population is machine driven, it is recommended to cross check the values auto populated before filing for the accuracy. In case of any differences, the values can be over written and correct values should be entered.

Major Changes in GST Portal

For providing better user experience and new features are being added on the GST portal from time to time by the GSTN. Some of the important feature added on the GSTN portal are listed below

1. Same Jurisdictional Authority in case of an applicant files a new application where it is canceled previously.

Applicants who are applying for registration again, in the previous cases where their registration is canceled by the applicant himself or suo-moto, the new GST registration application filed will be assigned to the same jurisdictional officer who has canceled it.

2. Aadhar Authentication enabled on SPICe -AGILE Form on MCA Portal.

As part of ease of doing business, SPICe -AGILE Form is introduced where multiple registrations can be obtained in a single form by the MCA for the newly established companies. Now Aadhar Authentication is also enabled on the SPICe -AGILE Form.

3. RESET button enabled on GST Portal for Form GSTR-1/ IFF (Invoice Furnishing Facility.

Normal taxpayers, irrespective of their filing profile (quarterly or monthly), have now been provided with a RESET button on the GST Portal, in Form GSTR-1/IFF. This will enable them to delete the entire saved data for the specific return period but not yet submitted or filed their Form GSTR-1/IFF.

4. Reporting and payment of taxes in GSTR-5A

Now taxpayers registered under OIDAR Category can declare and pay interest and other amounts in GSTR-5A.

5. Filing of the refund application by the exporter of services for exports with payment of taxes on account of foreign exchange fluctuations.

The system earlier validated the refund amount claimed by the exporter of services (with payment of tax) against the proceeds realized (against exports, as submitted by the claimant in the Form of FIRC). If the value realized in the BRC/FIRC column was less than the refund amount claimed, such taxpayers could not file their refund application on GST Portal. This validation has now been removed, and the taxpayer will be able to file a refund application now in such cases (As the value realized in BRC/FIRC may fluctuate due to foreign exchange fluctuations, and net realization may be less than the refund amount).

6. Enabling Audit Functionalities on GST portal

Now taxpayers can view and see the department’s notices and reports related to audit under the tab “Additional Notices and Orders.”

Taxpayers can reply to the notices

Taxpayers can apply for an adjournment of or for extension of the audit date to the jurisdictional officer or Audit officer.

The taxpayer can accept/reject/pay the liabilities, discrepancy-wise, as outlined in the Notice for Discrepancies or Addl. Notice for Discrepancies (if any) or in Audit Report (Form GST ADT-02).

7. Changes in Search Tax Payer functionality

In the search taxpayer functionality, now the users can see the status of the Aadhar Authentication or e-KYC status of the searched GSTIN

Selection of Core Business Activity on GSTN Portal

GST has enabled a new feature on the GST portal. At the login time, the portal prompts the user to select the “Core Business Activity.” This is required for the department to understand the nature of the business carried out by the taxpayers.

The portal prompts three options initially

Manufacture – A manufacturer is a registered person who produces new products from raw materials and components using tools, equipment, and machines and then sells them to the consumers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, or other manufacturers. A manufacturer may sell some more brought-out items or may provide some ancillary services with his manufactured goods. Still, he would continue to be classified as a manufacturer because it is the Primary Business Activity.

Trader – A trader is a registered person who engages in the buying and selling of goods. Traders have been further classified as –

• Wholesaler or Distributor
• Retailer

Retailer includes a registered person selling goods through e-commerce operators.

Service Provider & Others – A service provider is a registered person who provides service to a recipient and is neither a manufacturer nor a trader—Example Banking service, Information Technology service, works-contract service, agents, intermediaries, Goods Transport Agency etc.

The taxpayers must select only one of the Activity prompted.

The taxpayer should select one Activity which is providing him the major source of Revenue. Say, for example, if the taxpayer is having a manufacturing turnover of rupees one crore and forty lakhs and services of rupees twenty lakhs, in this case, the taxpayer has to select manufacturing as it is contributing maximum Revenue to him/her.

If the taxpayer is providing works contract services or others, then he/she can select the “Service Provider & Others.”

If the taxpayer is selecting “Trader,” then the system will prompt the taxpayer to select either of the following “Wholesaler/Distributor” or “Retailer.”

The options selected by the taxpayers can be modified at a later date by navigating through My Profile on the GST portal.

GST Tip – 90

As per the time of supply under GST, receipt voucher / tax invoice has to be issued at the time of receipt of advance from the customer (for supply of goods or services) and it has to be uploaded on the GST Portal which will issue a unique reference number for each of the documents and the same has to be reported in table of GSTR – 1.