Filing of NIL Form GSTR-1 Return via SMS

From 8th June 2020, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs successfully implemented the facility of filing NIL statements of Form GSTR-3B via SMS. Now, the Government has further simplified the process by allowing the filing of NIL statements of Form GSTR-1 via SMS. According to the press release dated 27th June 2020, this facility has been available since the first week of July 2020.

Traditionally, taxpayers had to log into the GST portal account to file the NIL statement of Form GSTR-1, which was relatively time-consuming. With the introduction of this SMS facility, GST compliance is expected to become simpler. Approximately 12 lakh registered taxpayers under GST are estimated to benefit from this streamlined service.

Steps for Filing NIL GSTR-1 via SMS

The procedure for filing a NIL statement for Form GSTR-1 through SMS is straightforward. Below are the steps to follow:

STEP 1

Send an SMS to 14409 from the registered mobile number in the following format:

NIL<Space>R1<Space>15-digit GSTIN Number<Space>tax period in MMYYYY format.

Type of Return	Example of SMS Format
Form GSTR-1 (Monthly)	SMS format for filing NIL return for the month of May 2020: `NIL R1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 052020`
Form GSTR-1 (Quarterly)	SMS format for filing NIL return for the quarter April 2020 to June 2020: `NIL R1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 062020`

STEP 2 After successfully submitting the SMS to 14409, a six-digit validation code will be sent to the taxpayer’s registered mobile number.

STEP 3

Send a confirmation SMS to 14409 in the following format:

CNF<Space>R1<Space>six-digit validation code.

Upon successful submission of the validation code, the return filing process concludes, and the taxpayer will receive an acknowledgment number.

This new process also aligns with the government’s goal to ease the compliance burden on small and medium businesses. To explore more about various GST filing services, visit our pages on GST Return Filing Overview, GST Return Due Dates, and our customized CA-Assisted GST Filing Services.

For those frequently engaged in NIL filing, the convenient SMS method is a boon. You can also learn more about the process for NIL Return Filing, or if you wish to check the implications of ITC Reconciliation, our comprehensive guides are available to assist you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Filing Nil GSTR-1 Return Via SMS.

To file NIL GSTR-1 return via SMS, you need to send an SMS to 14409 from your registered mobile number in the format "NIL R1 15-digit GSTIN Number tax period in MMYYYY format". After sending this SMS, you will receive a six-digit validation code. Send another SMS with "CNF R1 six-digit validation code" to complete the filing process.

Filing NIL GSTR-1 return via SMS is a convenient and time-saving option for taxpayers. It eliminates the need to log into the GST portal and navigate through the process, which can be time-consuming. This SMS facility is expected to benefit around 12 lakh registered taxpayers under GST.

According to the press release dated 27th June 2020, the facility of filing the NIL statement of Form GSTR-1 via SMS will be available from the first week of July 2020.

Yes, the SMS facility for filing NIL GSTR-1 return is available for both monthly and quarterly returns. The format of the SMS varies slightly depending on whether it is a monthly or quarterly return.

To file NIL GSTR-1 return for a quarterly period via SMS, you need to send an SMS in the format "NIL R1 15-digit GSTIN Number tax period in MMYYYY format". For example, for the quarter April 2020 to June 2020, the SMS format would be "NIL R1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 062020".

No, you can file NIL GSTR-1 return via SMS only from the registered mobile number associated with your GSTIN. The SMS sent from any other mobile number will not be processed.

If you make a mistake while sending the SMS for filing NIL GSTR-1 return, the system will not process the request, and you will not receive a validation code. In such cases, you will need to resend the SMS with the correct format and details.

The article does not mention any specific limit on the number of times you can file NIL GSTR-1 return via SMS. However, it is important to follow the correct procedure and format to ensure successful filing.

No, the SMS facility is currently available only for filing NIL statements of Form GSTR-1. If you have transactions to report, you will still need to log into the GST portal and file the GSTR-1 return through the regular process.

Yes, after successfully submitting the validation code via SMS, you will receive an acknowledgment number, confirming that the filing process for the NIL GSTR-1 return is complete.