GSTR-4 is the annual return prescribed under Rule 62 of the CGST Rules read with Section 39 of the CGST Act, 2017, specifically for taxpayers registered under the Composition Scheme of Section 10 (regular composition) and the special composition option under Notification 02/2019 for small service providers. It is a consolidated, financial-year-level return in which composition dealers report their total outward supplies, inward supplies liable to reverse charge, inward supplies from regular taxpayers, and tax paid during the year through quarterly CMP-08 statements — essentially rounding off the composition dealer's GST year.
The composition scheme is designed for small businesses — manufacturers and traders with aggregate turnover up to ₹1.5 crore (₹75 lakh for special category states) and specified service providers up to ₹50 lakh — who pay GST at a low fixed rate (1%, 5%, or 6% depending on category) without availing input tax credit and issue a Bill of Supply instead of a Tax Invoice. Within this scheme, quarterly tax payment happens through Form CMP-08, while the annual declaration — with all the yearly totals and self-assessed information — happens through GSTR-4. Together, CMP-08 + GSTR-4 replace the regular GSTR-1 + GSTR-3B + GSTR-9 cycle for composition dealers.
We offer end-to-end GSTR-4 Filing Services for composition dealers — from quarterly CMP-08 filings, reconciliation of inward and outward supplies with books, correct classification of RCM liabilities, preparation of annual GSTR-4, timely filing on the GST portal with DSC / EVC authentication, handling of late fees and amnesty schemes, and support in transitioning in or out of the composition scheme — so that small businesses stay fully GST-compliant without getting entangled in the complexity of the regular return framework.
30 Apr
Annual GSTR-4 due date
Sec 10
Composition scheme provision
Rule 62
GSTR-4 governing rule
1% / 5% / 6%
Composition tax rates
Laws & Frameworks We Work Under
CGST Act – Sec 10 (Composition)
CGST Act – Sec 39
CGST Rules – Rule 62
Form GSTR-4 (Annual)
Form CMP-08 (Quarterly)
Form CMP-02 (Opt In)
Notification 02/2019-CT(R)
Section 47 – Late Fees
FAQs on GSTR-4 Filing
Who is required to file GSTR-4?
GSTR-4 is required to be filed by every taxpayer registered under the Composition Scheme — whether under Section 10(1) covering traders, manufacturers, and restaurants with aggregate turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, or under Section 10(2A) covering small service providers and mixed suppliers with turnover up to ₹50 lakh under Notification 02/2019. Regular taxpayers, input service distributors, non-resident taxable persons, TDS / TCS registrants, and OIDAR providers are not required to file GSTR-4 — they have their own dedicated returns. A composition dealer must file GSTR-4 even if there were no supplies during the year.
What is the due date for filing GSTR-4?
The annual GSTR-4 is generally due by 30 April of the financial year immediately following the relevant financial year. For example, GSTR-4 for FY 2023-24 is typically due by 30 April 2024. In addition, composition dealers file Form CMP-08 on a quarterly basis by the 18th of the month following the quarter — CMP-08 is the quarterly tax payment statement, while GSTR-4 is the annual declaration. The government has in the past extended GSTR-4 due dates through CBIC notifications, and has also run amnesty schemes to clean up legacy non-filing.
What is the difference between CMP-08 and GSTR-4?
CMP-08 is a quarterly self-assessed statement of tax payable, filed by composition dealers by the 18th of the month following each quarter. The actual tax is paid along with CMP-08 through Form PMT-06. GSTR-4, on the other hand, is the annual return — a consolidated statement summarising the year's outward supplies, inward supplies, RCM liabilities, and tax paid across all four CMP-08s. CMP-08 is the "payment" part, while GSTR-4 is the "declaration" part. Both are required — one does not replace the other — and our team handles both as an integrated quarterly + annual package.
Can a composition dealer claim ITC?
No. One of the defining features of the composition scheme under Section 10 is that the dealer pays a flat, lower rate of tax on turnover in lieu of input tax credit. A composition dealer cannot issue a tax invoice (Bill of Supply is used instead), cannot collect tax from customers, and cannot claim ITC on inward supplies of goods or services. Because of this, the composition scheme is well-suited to businesses whose customers are end-consumers who don't need ITC, but usually unsuitable for B2B-heavy businesses whose customers strongly prefer tax invoices with clear GST charged.
Does a composition dealer need to pay tax under RCM?
Yes. Composition dealers are not exempt from the reverse charge mechanism. They are liable to pay tax under RCM on specified supplies received — for example, goods transport agency services, import of services, services from directors, legal services from advocates, and other notified supplies — at the applicable rates under the CGST / IGST Acts (not at the composition rate). Importantly, even though they pay RCM, they cannot claim ITC of such tax. RCM is reported in Tables 4B, 4C, and 4D of GSTR-4 and is a recurring area where composition dealers need guidance to stay compliant.
What is the late fee and penalty for non-filing of GSTR-4?
Under Section 47 of the CGST Act, late filing of GSTR-4 attracts a late fee — typically ₹50 per day (₹25 CGST + ₹25 SGST) for returns with tax liability and ₹20 per day (₹10 CGST + ₹10 SGST) for nil returns, subject to a prescribed maximum cap. The government has from time to time notified reduced late fees and amnesty schemes for GSTR-4 — often capping the total fee at a much lower number for returns filed within a defined amnesty window. For clients with legacy non-filing, we time the clean-up to coincide with the most beneficial amnesty notification available.
How do we opt into or out of the composition scheme?
To opt into the composition scheme, an eligible taxpayer files Form GST CMP-02 on the GST portal before the beginning of the financial year (or at the time of a fresh GST registration through Form GST REG-01). To opt out — either voluntarily or because the turnover has crossed the threshold — the taxpayer files Form GST CMP-04, and may also file Form GST ITC-01 to claim input tax credit on stock of inputs, semi-finished, and finished goods held on the date of transition. Each of these steps has its own documentation and timelines that need to be coordinated carefully.
Is GSTR-4 applicable if there are no sales during the year?
Yes. A composition dealer who has no outward supplies in a particular quarter or year is still required to file CMP-08 and GSTR-4 as nil returns. The GST system treats GSTR-4 as a mandatory annual declaration for every active composition GSTIN, irrespective of transaction volume. Not filing nil returns will still trigger late fees and may block the dealer's ability to file future returns or continue in the composition scheme. We treat nil GSTR-4 as equally important as full-value filings in our compliance calendar.
Simple, Accurate GSTR-4 Filing for Every Composition Dealer
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