GSTR 4 is an annual compliance requirement for taxpayers who opted for the GST Composition Scheme during all or part of a financial year. The return consolidates yearly business and tax information after the applicable quarterly CMP-08 statements are filed.
Understanding its eligibility, form details, filing steps and deadline helps composition taxpayers complete annual compliance accurately and avoid unnecessary late fees.
Key Takeaways
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GSTR-4 applies to taxpayers covered by the composition scheme during any part of a financial year.
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All applicable CMP-08 statements must be filed before GSTR-4.
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The return reports turnover, inward supplies, reverse-charge liability, tax, interest and late fees.
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From FY 2024-25 onwards, the normal deadline is June 30 following the financial year.
What Is GSTR 4?
GSTR-4 is the annual return prescribed for registered persons paying tax under the composition scheme. From FY 2019-20 onwards, the annual form replaced the earlier quarterly GSTR-4 system. Composition taxpayers now use CMP-08 to declare and pay self-assessed tax each quarter and file GSTR-4 after the financial year.
The return covers turnover in the state or union territory, inward supplies, tax payable, tax paid and other prescribed particulars. It helps taxpayers reconcile yearly records with CMP-08 figures. Filing remains mandatory even when a person stays under the composition scheme for only part of the year.
Also Read About: What is GST?
Who Should File GSTR 4?
Every registered taxpayer who opted for the composition scheme for the whole or any part of a financial year must file GSTR 4. Eligible filers include traders, manufacturers and restaurant service providers covered by Section 10. Eligible service providers using the special composition arrangement under Notification No. 2/2019-Central Tax (Rate) must also file it.
The general composition turnover limit is ₹1.5 crore in the preceding financial year. A ₹75 lakh limit applies in specified states, while eligible service providers under the separate scheme have a ₹50 lakh limit. Taxpayers leaving the scheme during the year must still file for the composition period. Regular taxpayers and persons never covered by either composition arrangement do not file GSTR-4.
Details Required in GSTR 4
The GSTR 4 form combines taxpayer-entered information with values drawn from filed CMP-08 statements. The main details include:
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GSTIN, legal name and trade name
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Inward supplies from registered suppliers
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Inward supplies attracting reverse charge
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Relevant inward supplies from unregistered suppliers
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Import of services
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Quarter-wise turnover and tax payments from CMP-08
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Rate-wise outward supplies and reverse-charge inward supplies
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Tax, interest and late fee payable and paid
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Refund claimed from an excess electronic cash ledger balance, where applicable
Documents Required for Filing GSTR 4
A standard set of documents does not need to be uploaded with every GSTR 4 form. However, taxpayers should keep the following records ready:
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Filed CMP-08 statements
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Sales and purchase registers
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Bills of supply and purchase invoices
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Debit and credit notes
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Reverse-charge records
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Tax challans and electronic cash ledger details
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Turnover and rate-wise tax workings
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GSTIN-wise supplier details
Complete records help identify differences before filing as the annual return cannot be revised.
How to File GSTR 4 Online?
The GSTR 4 annual return is available only after you file all applicable CMP-08 statements for the financial year.
Step 1: Log In to the GST Portal
Visit the GST portal and sign in with valid credentials. Confirm the filed status of every required CMP-08 statement for the financial year.
Step 2: Navigate to the Returns Dashboard
Go to Services > Returns > Annual Return. Select the relevant financial year, click Search, and locate the GSTR-4 tile.
Step 3: Select GSTR-4
Choose Prepare Online or use the offline utility where required. Review the auto-populated CMP-08 figures and open the relevant tables.
Step 4: Enter Return Details and Submit
Enter the inward-supply and rate-wise turnover details, then save each table. Review the generated summary, tax liability, interest and late fee. Create a challan if the electronic cash ledger has insufficient funds. Offset the liability, select the declaration and authorised signatory, and file using DSC or EVC. Save the ARN and filed return.
Due Date for Filing GSTR-4
From FY 2024-25 onwards, the GSTR 4 annual return is due by June 30 following the end of the financial year. The government may extend the deadline through a notification.
Older guidance may still show April 30. The April deadline applies only up to FY 2023-24. Taxpayers should check the GST portal and current notifications before filing.
GSTR-4 Late Fee and Penalties
The GSTR 4 late fee depends on whether the return has a tax liability. For FY 2021-22 onwards, delayed filing attracts a combined late fee of ₹20 per day where the total central tax payable in GSTR-4 is null. The maximum combined late fee is ₹500.
In all other cases, the combined late fee is ₹50 per day, subject to a maximum of ₹2,000. The amounts include the corresponding CGST and SGST or UTGST components.
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Note: Interest may also apply when tax remains unpaid under the applicable GST provisions.
Can GSTR-4 Be Revised?
A filed GSTR 4 form cannot be revised on the GST portal. Taxpayers should compare the form with CMP-08 statements, books, invoices and cash-ledger records before authentication.
The correction route after filing depends on the nature and tax impact of the error. Any additional liability must be addressed under the applicable GST procedure. Professional guidance may be useful where an error affects turnover, tax or earlier filings.
GSTR-4 vs CMP-08
You can understand the meaning and use of GSTR-4 better through the comparison table below:
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Parameter |
GSTR-4 |
CMP-08 |
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Purpose |
Annual composition return |
Statement for self-assessed composition tax |
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Frequency |
Annual |
Quarterly |
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Applicability |
Composition taxpayers for any part of the year |
Composition taxpayers for each applicable quarter |
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Due date |
June 30 following the year from FY 2024-25 |
18th after the quarter ends |
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Filing sequence |
Filed after applicable CMP-08 statements |
Filed before annual GSTR-4 |
Latest Updates on GSTR-4
The main recent GSTR 4 update is about the annual due date. The GST Council recommended moving the deadline from April 30 to June 30 following the financial year. The revised timeline applies from FY 2024-25 onwards and gives composition taxpayers two additional months for annual reconciliation.
Quarterly CMP-08 requirements remain unchanged.
Conclusion
GSTR 4 completes annual GST compliance for taxpayers who used the composition scheme during a financial year. Filing all CMP-08 statements, reconciling yearly records and reviewing the form before submission can reduce errors. Eligible taxpayers should file by June 30 from FY 2024-25 onwards unless an official extension applies.
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