Question 1

Are there any hidden charges for GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B monthly filing?

Accepted Answer

No. The fee quoted before we start is the fee you pay. Government fees, portal charges or statutory late fees, where they apply, are separate and disclosed to you in advance with the exact amount. We issue a proper GST invoice for our professional fee. If the scope of work changes — for example, an unexpected notice or additional periods — we tell you the revised fee before doing anything further.

Question 2

How long does GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B monthly filing take in Santhome?

Accepted Answer

Filed before the 11th and 20th of every month. That assumes your documents are complete and there is no departmental query. We start the same day we receive your papers and tell you the realistic completion date upfront rather than an optimistic one. Where the GST portal or the officer causes delay — clarifications, physical verification or system issues — we track it daily and keep you informed on WhatsApp.

Question 3

How does a GTA opt for forward charge, and by when must it be done?

Accepted Answer

The option is exercised by filing the Annexure V declaration on the GST portal. For an existing GTA, the window for a financial year runs from 1 January to 31 March of the preceding financial year, so the choice for the coming year must be locked in by 31 March. A newly registered GTA must file the declaration within forty-five days of applying for registration or one month from the date of obtaining registration, whichever is later. Once exercised, the option continues for future years automatically unless the GTA files Annexure VI to revert to reverse charge. Missing the window means remaining under the default reverse charge mechanism for the whole year.

Question 4

My landlord in Santhome has no GSTIN but my business is registered. Who pays GST on the shop rent?

Accepted Answer

You do. With effect from 10 October 2024, renting of immovable property other than a residential dwelling by an unregistered person to a registered person was brought under reverse charge through Notification 09/2024-Central Tax (Rate). So a registered trader renting a shop from an unregistered landlord must pay 18 percent under RCM through GSTR-3B and can claim it back as input tax credit if eligible. Composition taxpayers have since been kept outside this entry, given they cannot claim credit. Many small businesses in Santhome are still unaware of this 2024 change, and scrutiny notices on rent entries have already begun appearing. Call +91 - 9600 606 444 to regularise past months.

Question 5

What is the due date for GSTR-3B in Tamil Nadu?

Accepted Answer

For monthly filers, GSTR-3B is due on the 20th of the following month. If you are registered in Tamil Nadu and have opted for the QRMP scheme, your quarterly GSTR-3B is due on the 22nd of the month following the quarter. GSTR-3B is the summary return through which you actually pay tax, so missing it attracts a late fee of Rs.50 per day (Rs.20 for nil returns) plus interest at 18 percent per annum on tax paid late.

Question 6

Swiggy and Zomato pay the GST on my restaurant orders. How do I show these sales in my returns?

Accepted Answer

Since 1 January 2022, tax on restaurant services supplied through e-commerce operators is payable by the operator under Section 9(5), so you do not charge GST on app orders and no TCS is collected on them either. You must still report these supplies: show them in GSTR-3B Table 3.1.1(ii) as supplies on which the operator pays tax, and disclose them in GSTR-1, without paying tax on them again. Direct dine-in and takeaway billing remains taxable in your hands at 5%. Mixing up these tables is a common error we correct for restaurants in Santhome; call +91 - 9600 606 444 for help.

Question 7

How are B2B and B2C invoices reported differently in GST returns?

Accepted Answer

B2B invoices, meaning supplies to registered buyers, are reported invoice by invoice in Table 4 of GSTR-1 with the buyer's GSTIN, so each one flows into that buyer's GSTR-2B for credit. B2C supplies are split into two streams: large inter-state invoices above the threshold are reported invoice-wise in Table 5, while all remaining B2C sales are reported as consolidated, rate-wise totals per state in Table 7. This is why capturing the buyer's GSTIN correctly at billing matters so much; an invoice keyed as B2C by a cashier gives the registered buyer no credit and triggers correction requests later.

Question 8

My shop was closed for a month. Can I skip filing GST returns for that period?

Accepted Answer

No. Once you hold an active GSTIN, returns must be filed for every tax period regardless of business activity. If there were no sales and no purchases, you must file nil GSTR-1 and nil GSTR-3B for that month. Skipping creates a break in the sequential filing chain, blocks future returns, accumulates late fees and can eventually lead to suspension of registration. Nil returns take only minutes and can even be filed by SMS. If your business in Santhome has periods of inactivity, ask us about our low-cost nil filing plan.

Question 9

How do I claim credit of the IGST paid on imported goods?

Accepted Answer

IGST paid at customs on imported goods is fully creditable, with the bill of entry serving as the prescribed duty-paying document instead of a tax invoice. The data flows from ICEGATE into your GSTR-2B, and the claim is made in Table 4(A)(1) of GSTR-3B. If a bill of entry does not appear, use the search BoE facility on the GST portal to fetch the record before assuming it is missing. Remember that basic customs duty and the social welfare surcharge are never creditable; only the IGST and compensation cess components are. Importers in Santhome should reconcile their ICEGATE ledger with GSTR-2B quarterly, because clearance-date mismatches are frequent.

Question 10

I heard old ITC demands for 2017-18 to 2020-21 were given relief. What is Section 16(5)?

Accepted Answer

The Finance (No. 2) Act 2024 inserted Section 16(5) retrospectively, allowing ITC for financial years 2017-18 to 2020-21 if it was claimed in a GSTR-3B filed on or before 30 November 2021, even though it breached the original Section 16(4) deadline. Section 16(6) gives similar relief for returns filed after revocation of a cancelled registration. Where demands were already confirmed on this ground, a special rectification procedure was notified for taxpayers to have such orders corrected. If your Santhome business paid or is contesting a 16(4) demand for these years, have the eligibility under 16(5) examined; call +91 - 9600 606 444 for a review.

Question 11

I am selling old machinery on which ITC was claimed. Do I have to pay anything back?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under Section 18(6) read with Rule 44, on supply of capital goods on which credit was taken, you must pay the higher of two amounts: the ITC originally availed reduced by five percent per quarter or part thereof from the invoice date, or the tax on the transaction value of the sale. For example, machinery held for three full years has its credit reduced by sixty percent, and you compare the remaining forty percent with the actual tax on the sale price. Refractory bricks, moulds, dies, jigs and fixtures sold as scrap need tax only on transaction value. Compute both figures before invoicing the buyer.

Question 12

Which educational services are actually exempt from GST?

Accepted Answer

The exemption is confined to an educational institution as defined, meaning one providing pre-school education, education up to higher secondary school or equivalent, education as part of a curriculum for obtaining a qualification recognised by Indian law, or an approved vocational education course. Services by such institutions to their students, and specified input services to schools such as transport, catering and security, are exempt. Everything outside this boundary is taxable: private tuition, test preparation, hobby classes, skill courses without recognised certification, and training by ed-tech companies. The recognition of the qualification under Indian law is the decisive test, not the subject taught.

Question 13

What is self-invoicing under RCM and is there a time limit for it?

Accepted Answer

When you receive supplies liable to reverse charge from an unregistered supplier, Section 31(3)(f) requires you, the recipient, to issue an invoice on yourself, because the supplier cannot issue a tax invoice. You must also issue a payment voucher when paying the supplier. From 1 November 2024, Rule 47A prescribes a firm deadline: the self-invoice must be issued within thirty days of receiving the supply. This document is not a formality; the time limit for claiming the RCM credit is reckoned from the self-invoice, and its absence can cost you the credit besides inviting penalty. Maintain a monthly self-invoice series covering rent, freight, legal fees and similar unregistered-supplier heads.

Question 14

Can I transfer cash ledger balance from one GSTIN to another GSTIN of the same PAN?

Accepted Answer

Yes, within limits. Under Section 49(10), unutilised IGST and CGST balances in the electronic cash ledger can be transferred through PMT-09 to the cash ledger of a distinct person, that is, another GSTIN registered on the same PAN in the same or another state. SGST balances cannot be moved across states in this manner. The transfer is not permitted if the transferring GSTIN has any unpaid liability standing in its electronic liability register. Multi-state businesses headquartered in Santhome use this to shift idle deposits to the branch that actually needs the cash, avoiding fresh working capital outflow.

Question 15

Our company paid fees to a lawyer. Who pays the GST on this?

Accepted Answer

You do, as the recipient. Legal services supplied by an individual advocate, a firm of advocates or a senior advocate to a business entity are notified under Section 9(3), so the advocate does not charge GST and your business pays 18 percent under reverse charge in cash through GSTR-3B, claiming it back as ITC if otherwise eligible. Relief exists for small recipients: legal services to a business entity whose turnover is within the registration threshold are exempt. Since the advocate is usually unregistered, remember to raise a self-invoice and payment voucher for the transaction. Litigation-heavy businesses in Santhome should reconcile their legal expense ledger against RCM paid every quarter.

Question 16

What details must a GST tax invoice compulsorily contain?

Accepted Answer

Rule 46 of the CGST Rules prescribes the mandatory contents: your name, address and GSTIN; a consecutive serial number not exceeding sixteen characters, unique for the financial year; the date of issue; the recipient's name, address and GSTIN if registered; the HSN or SAC code; description, quantity and unit; total and taxable value; any discount; the rate and amount of CGST, SGST or IGST shown separately; place of supply with the state name for inter-state supplies; a declaration where tax is payable on reverse charge; and signature or digital signature of the supplier. Missing fields make the invoice defective and can jeopardise your buyer's credit.

Question 17

We sponsored a trade event. Does reverse charge apply to the sponsorship amount?

Accepted Answer

If your business is a body corporate or partnership firm, sponsorship services received are notified under Section 9(3) and you must pay 18 percent GST under reverse charge, with ITC available since sponsorship is a marketing expense. One recent change matters: with effect from 16 January 2025, sponsorship services provided by a body corporate were moved to forward charge, so if the event organiser billing you is a company, it now charges GST on its invoice and RCM does not apply. Where the provider is a proprietor, trust or society, RCM continues. Verify the organiser's constitution before booking the entry, and raise a self-invoice where the provider is unregistered.

Question 18

Our head office in Santhome supports branches in other states. Is a cross-charge invoice really required?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Branches with separate GSTINs are distinct persons, and Schedule I treats supplies between them as taxable even without consideration. Services your head office renders to branches, such as accounting, IT support or management oversight, should be cross-charged through a tax invoice with IGST, which the branch claims as credit. On valuation, Rule 28 helps: where the recipient branch is entitled to full ITC, the value declared on the invoice is deemed to be the open market value, and Circular 199/11/2023 clarifies that internally generated services need not include the salary cost of head office employees. A documented cross-charge policy keeps audits short; call +91 - 9600 606 444 to set one up.

Question 19

Is there a GST consultant near Santhome for gst return filing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We serve Santhome and the surrounding areas from our office at Porur, Chennai - 600 116, Tamil Nadu, and most monthly returns work is completed online — you send documents on WhatsApp and we handle the portal work. If you prefer in-person help, we offer doorstep document pickup across Santhome and you are welcome to visit our office. Reach us on +91 - 9600 606 444 between 9 AM and 8 PM, Monday to Saturday.

Question 20

What is the process for GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B monthly filing?

Accepted Answer

The process runs in clear stages: Monthly data collection; GSTR-1 preparation and filing; ITC reconciliation with GSTR-2B; Tax computation and confirmation. A senior consultant reviews your file at each stage rather than passing it to a data-entry desk, and you receive a confirmation with the filed documents once it is complete. You always know which stage your work is at — we update you on WhatsApp instead of leaving you to follow up.

Question 21

Do you provide gst return filing for small businesses and proprietorships in Santhome?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A large share of our clients in Santhome are proprietors, small traders, shop owners, freelancers and family businesses rather than large companies. The fee of Rs.749/month and the process are the same regardless of size, and we explain the compliance position in plain language — in Tamil or English — so you understand what is being filed on your behalf and why.

Aspect	With ChennaiGST	DIY / Unattended
Record keeping	Every return, challan, acknowledgement and working paper archived in an organised folder, retrievable in minutes years later.	Documents scattered across email, downloads and old phones; assembling records for a bank or an audit takes days.
Supplier defaults	Suppliers who stop uploading invoices are identified within the period and pursued before their default becomes your blocked credit.	Missing supplier invoices surface only when credit is denied, by which time recovering the amount from the vendor is difficult.
Due-date tracking	A maintained compliance calendar with internal cut-offs days before the 11th and the 20th; we chase you for data, not the other way around.	Deadlines remembered from memory or phone alarms; one busy week and the return slips past the due date.
When a notice arrives	A professional drafts the reply in the department's format and files it within the statutory window, such as thirty days for ASMT-11.	You face departmental language alone, and a missed reply deadline can convert a simple query into a demand with penalty.
Portal credentials and data	Logins handled by a small engaged team under strict confidentiality, with credentials stored securely and never passed onward.	Passwords circulating on chats with freelancers and part-timers, and no accountability for who has accessed your business data.
Keeping up with changes	Rate changes, portal updates and new thresholds such as the Rs.5 crore e-invoice limit are tracked by us and applied to your case proactively.	Changes are discovered after the fact — often through a rejected filing, a blocked e-way bill or a departmental letter.

GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B Monthly Filing on Appu 2nd Lane, Santhome

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Trade Profile and GST Jurisdiction for Appu 2nd Lane, Santhome

Why Appu 2nd Lane, Santhome Businesses Choose ChennaiGST

Clean Exits When a Business Closes

Proactive Alerts Before Problems Become Notices

Advisory, Not Just Data Entry

QRMP Managed Properly, Not Just Opted Into

Multi-GSTIN and Branch Coordination

WhatsApp Updates at Every Stage

Our Monthly Returns Process

Monthly data collection

GSTR-1 preparation and filing

ITC reconciliation with GSTR-2B

Tax computation and confirmation

GSTR-3B filing and reporting

Documents Required for GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B Monthly Filing

What GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B Monthly Filing Costs in Santhome

What You Get

No More Late Fees

Confidence During Officer Interactions

Closure Without Loose Ends

Compliance That Continues When You Travel

Bank and Tender Readiness

A Clean GSTIN That Stays Active

With ChennaiGST vs Doing It Yourself

GST Support on Appu 2nd Lane, Santhome

What the Department and the Courts Have Said — relevant to Santhome businesses

Form GSTR-1A returns, allowing same-month correction of sales data

Supreme Court upholds a strict time limit for claiming input tax credit

QRMP scheme introduced: quarterly returns with monthly payment for turnover up to Rs 5 crore

Frequently Asked Questions

Related GST Services & Nearby Areas

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