The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) may extend the deadline for GST return filing due to continuing technical problems with the GST Network portal. While businesses get ready for the due date coming up for GSTR-1 for the tax period of December 2024, currently set for January 11, 2025, many taxpayers are finding access to the portal quite problematic.
Attention GST Taxpayers!
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Understanding the Technical Difficulties
Taxpayers have been complaining that the GSTN portal works erratically; at times, it takes forever to open its homepage. These technical glitches have, thus, become a new excuse for businesses not to complete their GST return filing on time. The CBIC has taken cognizance of these issues and is reviewing the situation in consideration of due extension to ensure the facilitation of compliance and, perhaps, relief for taxpayers.
Implications of a Deadline Extension
If CBIC does extend the deadline, it will be of considerable respite to the business and the tax professional community, as they depend upon the GSTN portal to ensure timely compliance. An extension will provide taxpayers with a return-filing opportunity without any added stress of technological disruptions, thus ensuring they meet their tax obligations without penalties.
Importance of Timely Compliance
with GST Time-bound compliance with GST is hence, a prerequisite for businesses to reach their goal of avoiding penal interests and maintaining good repute with the tax authorities. The system of GST is basically aimed at simplifying and bringing transparency in the process of taxation; however, due to technical problems, this very object of the system gets defeated. Taxpayers are advised to keep track of all official notifications made by CBIC about any change in the filing deadline.
Best Practices for GST Return Filing
1. Stay Updated: Regularly visit the CBIC website and other trusted sources for news on the GST filing procedure and any extensions.
2. Prepare in Advance: Prepare all the required documents and information beforehand so that the filing can proceed smoothly once the portal is available.
3. Use Support Resources: If you are having issues, reach out to customer support or consult with tax professionals for help.
Conclusion
The growing likelihood of an extension due to technical glitches in the GST return filing deadline, only underscores how important it is to be prepared and informed. Taxpayers need to stay watchful and step up all their efforts to comply so that they are ready to file as soon as the GSTN portal is up and running again.
