Summary
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), vide Notification No. 15/2025 – Central Tax dated 17 September 2025, has exempted registered persons having aggregate turnover up to Rs. 2 crore from filing GST Annual Return under Section 44 of the CGST Act for FY 2024-25 onwards. This provides significant compliance relief to small taxpayers.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), exercising powers under the first proviso to Section 44(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and on the recommendations of the GST Council, has issued Notification No. 15/2025 – Central Tax dated 17 September 2025.
Through this notification, the Commissioner has exempted registered persons whose aggregate turnover in any financial year does not exceed Rs. 2 crore from the requirement of filing GST Annual Return for that financial year. The exemption is applicable from the financial year 2024-25 onwards.
This measure aims to reduce compliance burden on small taxpayers while continuing regular return filing requirements under the GST law.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As per CBIC Notification No. 15/2025 – Central Tax dated 17 September 2025, registered persons with aggregate turnover up to Rs. 2 crore are exempted from filing GSTR-9 (GST Annual Return under Section 44 of CGST Act) for FY 2024-25 onwards. This exemption provides significant compliance relief to small taxpayers, though regular monthly/quarterly returns like GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B must still be filed.
Under CBIC Notification No. 15/2025 – Central Tax, the turnover limit for GST Annual Return exemption is Rs. 2 crore aggregate turnover in a financial year. If your aggregate turnover does not exceed Rs. 2 crore in FY 2024-25 or any subsequent financial year, you are not required to file GSTR-9. The exemption applies from FY 2024-25 onwards.
The GST Annual Return exemption for taxpayers with turnover up to Rs. 2 crore is applicable from Financial Year 2024-25 onwards. This was notified by CBIC vide Notification No. 15/2025 – Central Tax dated 17 September 2025, issued under the first proviso to Section 44(1) of the CGST Act, 2017, based on GST Council recommendations.
GST Annual Return filing is required under Section 44(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. However, under the first proviso to Section 44(1), the Commissioner can grant exemptions. Accordingly, registered persons with aggregate turnover up to Rs. 2 crore are exempted from GSTR-9 filing for FY 2024-25 onwards via Notification No. 15/2025 – Central Tax dated 17 September 2025.
Taxpayers with turnover up to Rs. 2 crore are already exempt from GSTR-9C (reconciliation statement), as GSTR-9C is mandatory only for taxpayers with turnover exceeding Rs. 5 crore. With Notification No. 15/2025 now exempting them from GSTR-9 as well, small taxpayers with turnover up to Rs. 2 crore are fully relieved from annual return compliance obligations from FY 2024-25 onwards.