Highlights of 38th Council Meeting held on 18 December 2019

Grievance Redressal Committees (GRC) will be constituted at Zonal/State level with both CGST and SGST officers and will also include a representative of trade and industry for addressing grievance of specific/general nature of taxpayers at the Zonal/State Level.
Due date for Annual Return (GSTR-9) & Reconciliation Statement (GSTR-9C) for the financial year 2017-18 has been extended up to 31.01.2020.
Following measures would be taken to improve filing of FORM GSTR-1:
(i) Waiver of late fees for GSTR-1 for tax periods between July 17 to Nov. 19, if the return is filed by 10th January 2020.
(ii) E-way bill for taxpayers who have not filed their FORM GSTR-1for two tax periods shall be blocked
Provisional Input Tax Credit in respect of Invoices and Debit Notes that are not reflected in GSTR-2A shall be restricted to 10% of the eligible credit reflecting in GSTR-2A.
Suitable action will be taken for blocking of fraudulent availment of the input tax credit through fake invoices.
SOP will be issued for tax officers regarding action to be taken against non-filers of GSTR-3B returns.
Due dates of filing of GST Return for the month of November, 2019 to be extended for some North-Eastern states.
GST Council has also approved some law amendments which will be introduced in Budget 2020.

Rate Related Changes:

Exemption has been provided to entity on upfront amount payable in case of long term lease of industrial/financial infrastructure plots from 50% or more ownership to 20% or more ownership of central or state government. (will be effective from 1st January, 2020)
Single Rate has been notified for both State Run and State-authorized lottery. (will be effective from 1st March, 2020).