Section 47 – CGST Act
What is GST Late Fee?
If you are a GST-registered taxpayer and have missed the due date for filing your GST return, the government levies a GST late fee on you for every single day of delay. This charge is governed by Section 47 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017 and keeps accumulating until the return is actually filed.
Simply put — the more days you delay, the higher the GST filing late fee. Even a small period of non-compliance can lead to a significant financial burden, which is why timely GST return filing is critical for every registered business in India.
One important distinction every taxpayer must understand is that GST late fee and GST late payment interest are two entirely different charges. The late fee is triggered by delayed filing of the return, whereas GST late payment interest is charged under Section 50 when the actual tax payment is made after the due date. Both can apply simultaneously and must be paid separately before the portal allows you to submit a delayed return.
Key Point: The GST portal does not allow submission of a delayed return until the applicable late fee is paid in full. Use our free GST late fee calculator above to know the exact amount before you log in to the GST portal.