Value-added tax is a kind of tax levied on goods and services added at each stage of production or distribution cycle. Firstly, the value-added amount is identified, and then tax is levied accordingly on all the interstate purchases and sales. The introduction of VAT has helped traders, businessmen and the government by making the taxation process more efficient and transparent.
VAT is to be paid by all enterprises an annual turnover of Rs. 5 lakh or more. To do so, you must apply for a VAT registration, which takes around 20 to 40 days for approval. Once the approval is done, you can both make e-payment online for the amount collected and e-file VAT returns on the Commercial Taxes website for your state. VAT returns must be filed once every month or quarter (depending on turnover or the state).
All goods and services producers registered under the VAT Act 2003 are provided with a user Id and password by the Directorate of Commercial Taxes. Users need to use these credentials to log in to the VAT e-filing system. Alternatively, the Directorate help desk can help in retrieving the login details.
Prerequisites for e-Filing VAT Returns
Before you decide to file VAT returns online, there are a few points that need to be kept in mind. Basically , these are the preconditions for the VATe Filing system.
If you have all the above prerequisites handy, you’re ready to start filing your VAT return. This could take 2 to 6 months depending on the number of VAT receipts.
Listed below are all the steps that you should follow for VAT return e-filing:
Step 1: Log in
Log in to the online portal of the Directorate of Commercial Taxes for your state. Since VAT comes under the purview of state governments, each state has different VAT e-filing portals. However, the procedure is the same for all of them.
Step 2: Password Change
If you are entering the website for the first time, you will be needed to change the password which you should certainly do.
Step 3: Form 14D
Next, you will have to download the PDF version of zipped Form 14D file; on unzipping it, you will find a PDF version of the form. This is the VAT return filing form which you need to fill completely, along with the annexures.
Step 4: Complete the Form
Once the download is complete, the form and all the downloaded annexures need to be filled duly with data contained in your VAT receipts and other relevant details. This can take you a couple of hours or a whole day depending on the number of transactions.
Step 5:Generating XML
Using the downloaded software from the Directorate of Commercial Taxes online portal, you can create XML files out of the filled forms within minutes. Only Form 14D should be uploaded to be in XML, not the annexures, as only it needs to be digitally processed
Step 6:Upload
Upload the generated XML file as well as the duly filled annexures.
Step 7:Correct Mistakes If Any
The filing system instantly spots mistakes you’ve made at this point, so make sure that all data uploaded is correct otherwise the server will prompt and ask you to rectify.
Step 8: Acknowledgement
Once all the forms have been submitted successfully, an acknowledgement receipt will be generated. This is proof of your VAT returns filing for the month. You can either download or print this receipt.
VAT Returns must be filed by all producers of goods and services to the Government of India. Any dealer regardless of manufacturing or trading business, a partnership firm, sole proprietorship or a private limited company whose turnover annually is over Rs.5 lakhs will have to get registered with the VAT Department. However, this amount is a subject to State laws and can be modified by the State Government.
However, dealers who are not under compulsion can also obtain registration and benefits of issuing tax invoice.
VAT is collected at each phase of production, therefore, some of the amounts that have been collected by the customers will be retained by the producers and the rest will have to be paid to the government through designated banks every month.
E-filing of VAT returns is a great way of keeping yourself updated with the taxation process. Not to mention, it has several improvements over manual filing as well. Some of the key benefits are listed down:
Saves Time: Manual e filing can take a couple of days in case your business has made a lot of transactions, particularly if the VAT rate differs. On the other hand, online filing can be completed in a matter of hours and is less tedious.
Real-time Feedback: As soon as you upload the form in XML format to the e-filing portal, you will instantly know whether there are any discrepancies. As in case of any errors, you will be informed how they can be rectified. The state portals also have a detailed set of FAQs, in case you’re stuck.
Acknowledgements Saved: There are chances of paper receipts of getting misplaced or damaged. However, in the case of any inspection, you can’t just say you’ve lost them. Producers who file their returns online exclusively are even asked to produce papers on some occasions (paper receipts are rarely asked but can also be asked to produce paper receipts at times), as the information is easily accessible by the state tax department.
Always Be Aware: Your account on the e-filing portal is where the government will send you all the important notifications. This can be in anything including any information pending from your side. So in case you are confused about what you still need to do to complete the procedure, all you need to do is log in. If the portal does not ask for any documents or clarifications, you’re done.