GST Filing for Beginners – Step by Step Guide.
If you are new to business or recently got your GST registration, filing GST returns might feel a little confusing at first. Lekin chinta mat kariye – is article me hum simple steps me samjhayenge ki GST filing kaise karte hain. Bas dhyan se padhiyega, sab samajh aa jayega!
Step 1: Understand What GST Return Is
Sabse pehle samajhiye ki GST return kya hota hai.
GST return ek document hota hai jisme aap apne business ki sales, purchases, tax collected aur tax paid ki details government ko dete hain.
Aapko regularly GST return file karna hota hai – monthly ya quarterly, jaise aapne registration ke time opt kiya ho.
Step 2: Know Which GST Returns to File
Naye logon ke liye sabse important returns ye hote hain:
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GSTR-1 – Isme aap apni outward supplies (jo maal ya service aapne becha hai) ki detail dete hain.
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GSTR-3B – Isme aapko summary deni hoti hai ki kitna tax collect hua aur kitna pay karna hai.
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CMP-08 – Agar aap composition scheme me ho to ye quarterly return bharna hota hai.
(Composition scheme wale GSTR-1 aur 3B nahi bharte.)
Step 3: Keep These Documents Ready
Filing se pehle ye cheeze ready rakhiye:
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Sales invoices
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Purchase bills
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Debit/credit notes
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Previous return ka summary
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Your GST login credentials
Ye sab data accurate hona chahiye, warna penalty lag sakti hai.
Step 4: Log in to the GST Portal
Ab GST portal pe login kariye:
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Website pe jayiye: https://www.gst.gov.in
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Apna GSTIN, username aur password dalke login kariye
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Dashboard khul jayega – yahan aapko “Returns Dashboard” ka option milega
Step 5: File GSTR-3B (Basic Return Filing)
Sabse pehle 3B file karna seekhte hain:
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“Returns Dashboard” me jayiye
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Month select karke GSTR-3B choose kariye
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Apni sales aur purchases ki summary bhar dijiye
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Tax liability calculate hoke show ho jayegi
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Offset liability pe click karke aap apna input tax credit (ITC) adjust kar sakte hain
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Submit karke “File Return” pe click kariye – aapko DSC ya OTP se verify karna padega
Step 6: File GSTR-1 (Sales Details)
GSTR-1 me aapko apne har invoice ki detail deni hoti hai:
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Dashboard me “Prepare Online” choose kariye
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Invoice-wise detail bhar dijiye ya excel se upload kariye
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Check kariye ki sab data sahi hai
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Submit aur File kar dijiye
Ye return aapko har mahine ya quarter me file karna hota hai.
Step 7: Pay Your Tax (If Payable)
Agar aapka tax payable banta hai (after ITC adjustment), to payment section me jakar challan generate kariye aur online ya offline payment kariye.
Step 8: Download Acknowledgement
Return file hone ke baad ek Acknowledgement Receipt Number (ARN) milta hai. Iska PDF download karke safe rakhna zaroori hai for record.
Bonus Tips:
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Hamesha due date yaad rakhiye:
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GSTR-3B: 20th of next month
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GSTR-1 (monthly): 11th of next month
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CMP-08: 18th of next quarter
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Late filing pe late fees + interest lagta hai
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Agar confusion ho to ek CA se consult kar sakte hain
Conclusion
GST filing pehle thoda tough lag sakta hai, lekin jab aap step by step process follow karenge, to ye kaafi easy ho jayega. Regular filing aur sahi data dena sabse important hai. Agar aap naye ho to pehle 1-2 baar kisi professional ki help le sakte hain, baad me aap khud confident ho jaayenge.
Aapka GST filing journey shubh ho! ๐
Let me know if you'd like this in PDF format or translated completely into Hindi too!
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Absolutely! Here's the humanized, friendly version of the article — same helpful info, but written just like a person would explain it to a friend who's just starting out with GST.
GST Filing for Beginners – A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (Hindi Style in English)
So, you’ve just started your business or recently got your GST number, and now you’re hearing things like “GSTR-3B bharna hai” or “returns file karo nahi toh fine lagega.” Sounds scary? Don’t worry. I got you.
Let’s break it down together — step by step, in the simplest way possible. No complicated jargons, bas seedhi baat, no bakwaas.
๐ Step 1: What Even Is a GST Return?
Okay, let’s start with the basics.
A GST return is basically a report you file online, jisme aap government ko batate ho:
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Aapne kitna maal becha (sales)
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Kitna kharida (purchases)
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Kitna tax liya aur diya (tax details)
Simple, right? It’s like keeping a diary of your business transactions, but for the government.
๐ Step 2: Which GST Forms Do You Need?
If you’re a regular GST taxpayer (most people are), then mainly these two:
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GSTR-1: Yeh form me aapko batana hota hai ki aapne kya-kya becha (sales details).
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GSTR-3B: Yeh ek summary hoti hai — sales, purchases, and tax payable ka short report.
Agar aap composition scheme me ho (matlab chhoti shop ya business jahan fixed percentage tax lagta hai), toh aapko CMP-08 file karna hota hai, not GSTR-1/3B.
๐️ Step 3: Gather Your Stuff
Before you sit down to file, keep these things ready:
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All your sales invoices
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Purchase bills
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Any credit/debit notes
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Previous return (helpful for cross-checking)
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Your GST portal login details
Trust me, it saves time and headache.
๐ป Step 4: Log In to GST Portal
Head over to: www.gst.gov.in
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Click on Login
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Enter your GSTIN, username, and password
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Once inside, go to Returns Dashboard
That’s where all the action happens.
๐ Step 5: Let’s File GSTR-3B First
Think of GSTR-3B as the “quick summary” return.
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Go to the dashboard
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Select the right month
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Click on Prepare Online under GSTR-3B
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Fill in your sales and purchases figures
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Adjust your Input Tax Credit (ITC) — if you have it
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Submit and file (you’ll need OTP or DSC to sign it)
Done! You’ve officially filed a GST return ๐
๐งพ Step 6: Now File GSTR-1 (Your Sales Details)
This one needs a bit more time — here you enter all your invoice-level sales data:
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Select GSTR-1 from the dashboard
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Either enter invoice details manually or upload via Excel
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Double-check everything
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Submit and file
Pro tip: If you have lots of invoices, use a tool or get help from your accountant the first few times.
๐ฐ Step 7: Pay Your Tax (If Needed)
After filing, if there’s any tax to pay (after adjusting ITC), just:
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Go to Payment section
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Generate a challan
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Pay online via net banking/UPI or offline at the bank
Don’t delay it — late payment means interest + penalty.
After you file, you’ll get an ARN (Acknowledgement Receipt Number). Download the PDF, take a screenshot, email it to yourself — just keep it safe.
You’ll need it if anything ever goes wrong.
๐ Bonus Tips:
Due dates matter
GSTR-3B: by 20th of the next month
GSTR-1: by 11th (monthly) or as per quarter
CMP-08: by 18th of the month after the quarter
Filing late? Expect a fine.
Don’t copy others’ data — use your own records.
If stuck, get help from a CA or accountant at least for the first 2-3 months.
✅ Final Thoughts
GST filing looks intimidating at first — no doubt about that. But once you understand the flow and file 1-2 returns, it becomes just another monthly routine.
Just keep your records clean, file on time, and stay calm.
And hey, if you mess up? That’s okay — sab seekhte hain. You're learning, and that's what counts