Slow GST portal: September returns filing due date may be extended

With taxpayers facing slow functioning of the GSTN portal, CBIC on Thursday said it is examining the proposal of extending the deadline for filing GST returns for September.

GSTR-3B is filed in a staggered manner between the 20th, 22nd, and 24th of each month by taxpayers in different states.

Thursday being the last day for filing returns for some category of taxpayers, many reported slowness in the portal while filing their monthly GSTR 3B returns.

In a tweet, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said it has received "an Incident Report" from GSTN regarding slowness in the system along with a proposal for extending the due date.

"We continue to monitor the matter closely and the proposal for extension is being examined in consultation with the GST Council so that there is no burden of late fees or interest on the taxpayer," the CBIC said.

The GST Network (GSTN) provides the technology backend for the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Infosys is the service provider for GSTN.

The GSTN too acknowledged the issue and said it is working to resolve it.

"Taxpayers have reported slowness in portal while filing GSTR 3B return today. The persistence of the issue is acknowledged. Technical teams are working to resolve the issue. An incident report has been sent to CBIC for considering extension in the return filing dates," the GSTN tweeted.

AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said technical glitches in GSTN have once again soured the festive season for tax professionals and corporates.

"Small extension of a day or two is inevitable forcing the corporates to work on the weekend," Mohan added.

Abhishek Jain, Tax Partner, KPMG, said: "20th of every month is the due date for filing GSTR 3B, and the GSTN has done a good job in handling the traffic so far."

"However, for the month of October, the portal displayed some slowness which has been acknowledged by GSTN. As such, CBIC should consider granting the requisite extension to avoid any interest implications for the taxpayers who were not able to file returns due to the glitch," Jain added.