GST update — CBIC circulars of 26 October 2026: there is no change in the GSTR-1 (11th) and GSTR-3B (20th) due dates. The GST Council (57th meeting, 8 October 2026) has recommended a late-fee waiver for smaller taxpayers and a GSTR-3B correction facility from the April 2027 return; these apply only once notified.
Quick answer: If you file GST returns every month in Vadodara, GSTR-1 is due on the 11th and GSTR-3B on the 20th of the next month. If you are on the QRMP scheme (turnover up to ₹5 crore), GSTR-1 is due on the 13th and GSTR-3B on the 22nd after the quarter ends, because Gujarat sits in the 22nd-date group. Miss a date and you pay a late fee of ₹50 a day (₹20 for a nil return), plus 18% yearly interest on any tax paid late.
Most GST trouble does not start with a big mistake. It starts with a date nobody noticed. A return slips by a week, the late fee quietly adds up, and then a notice shows up asking about three months at once.
This guide keeps it simple. Which returns you file, when they are due, what a delay really costs, and when it makes sense to hand the work to a CA.
Which GST Returns Does a Regular Business File?
- GSTR-1: the details of your sales (outward supplies). It feeds your customers’ input tax credit, so errors here hurt them too.
- GSTR-3B: the summary return where you report tax, claim input tax credit and pay what you owe.
- GSTR-9: the yearly return for regular taxpayers above the turnover limit. See our guide on GSTR-9 annual return filing.
Composition dealers and a few other categories follow different forms and dates. If that is you, check with your CA before you rely on the table below.
GST Return Due Dates for Vadodara (Gujarat)
| Return | Monthly filers | QRMP filers (quarterly) |
|---|---|---|
| GSTR-1 | 11th of the next month | 13th of the month after the quarter |
| GSTR-3B | 20th of the next month | 22nd of the month after the quarter |
A few things worth knowing:
- Gujarat is in the 22nd-date group for QRMP. Businesses in some other states get the 24th, so do not copy a date from a friend in Delhi.
- QRMP filers still pay tax every month. The monthly payment is made through a challan, generally by the 25th of the following month.
- If a due date falls on a Sunday or a public holiday, it usually moves to the next working day. Do not plan around that. File early.
- Dates can be extended by notification. Check the GST portal before the date, not after.
What a Late Filing Really Costs
There are two costs: the late fee and the interest. People often only think about the first one.
Late fee
- Return with tax liability: ₹50 per day (₹25 CGST plus ₹25 SGST).
- Nil return: ₹20 per day (₹10 CGST plus ₹10 SGST).
- Maximum per return: ₹2,000 for turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, ₹5,000 for ₹1.5 crore to ₹5 crore, and ₹10,000 above ₹5 crore. For nil returns the cap is ₹500.
Interest
Interest is charged at 18% a year on tax paid after the due date. It runs from the day after the due date until you actually pay. A higher rate of 24% applies where input tax credit was claimed wrongly or in excess and then used.
A simple example
Say your GSTR-3B shows ₹1,00,000 of tax to be paid in cash, and you file and pay 10 days late.
- Late fee: 10 days × ₹50 = ₹500.
- Interest: ₹1,00,000 × 18% × 10 ÷ 365 = about ₹493.
That is close to ₹1,000 for ten days. Now imagine this happening every month. There is also a bigger risk. If you skip returns for long, the department can cancel your GST registration, and getting it back is a lot more work than filing on time.
Mistakes That Cause Most GST Return Problems
- Filing GSTR-3B without matching it to GSTR-1: the numbers differ and a notice follows.
- Claiming input tax credit that does not show in your auto-drafted statement: the supplier has not filed, but you claimed anyway.
- Forgetting a nil return: no sales this month does not mean no return.
- Wrong GSTIN or invoice number: small typos that block your customer’s credit.
- Paying late and assuming the fee is the only cost: interest is separate.
We have covered these in more detail in common GST return filing mistakes and GST input tax credit rules.
Should You File Yourself or Use a CA?
If you have a handful of invoices a month and a simple business, self-filing is possible. It gets risky as soon as you have many invoices, purchases from many suppliers, imports, e-commerce sales or more than one GST registration.
A CA helps most with three things: reconciling your books with the GST portal before you file, catching input tax credit problems early, and handling any notice that arrives later. That last one alone saves most owners a lot of stress.
What a Monthly GST Filing Service Usually Covers
- Collecting your sales and purchase data and checking it.
- Reconciling purchases with your auto-drafted input tax credit statement.
- Preparing and filing GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B before the due date.
- Reminders for tax payment and the yearly return.
- Support if a notice or mismatch comes up.
Scope and fees depend on your invoice volume and registrations, so ask for a clear quote before you start. See our GST services in Vadodara, and keep our tax compliance calendar handy for the other deadlines. Still need a GSTIN? Start with our GST registration guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GSTR-3B due date for Gujarat?
For monthly filers it is the 20th of the next month. For QRMP filers in Gujarat it is the 22nd of the month after the quarter.
What is the late fee for GSTR-3B?
₹50 a day for a return with tax liability and ₹20 a day for a nil return, subject to a maximum that depends on your turnover.
Do I have to file a GST return if I had no sales?
Yes. A registered taxpayer needs to file a nil return. Skipping it still attracts a late fee.
Is interest charged even if I pay the late fee?
Yes. Late fee and interest are separate. Interest is 18% a year on tax paid after the due date.
Who can opt for the QRMP scheme?
Taxpayers with an aggregate annual turnover up to ₹5 crore can choose to file quarterly returns with monthly tax payment.
Can my GST registration be cancelled for not filing?
Yes. Long gaps in filing can lead to cancellation. Filing on time keeps your registration safe.
This article is general information, not professional advice. Due dates, fees and limits can change by notification, so confirm current rules on the GST portal before acting.