This notification is about waiving late fees for certain taxpayers who missed filing important GST documents for previous financial years.  

Who is Affected? 
Taxpayers who were required to file both: 

• Annual return (FORM GSTR-9), and 

• Reconciliation statement (FORM GSTR-9C) 

for the financial years 2017-18 to 2022-23 but failed to file the reconciliation statement (GSTR-9C) along with their annual return. 

1. Relief Provided: 

• The late fee for filing FORM GSTR-9C (the reconciliation statement) is waived if it is filed on or before 31st March 2025. 

• However, this waiver applies only to the portion of the late fee that exceeds the standard fee mentioned in Section 47 of the CGST Act. 

1. No Refund Clause: 

• If a taxpayer has already paid the late fee for delayed filing, they will not get a refund. This relief is only for those filing now or in the future before the deadline. 

Why Was This Done? 

This move is to encourage taxpayers to comply with past filing requirements without burdening them with excessive penalties. Many taxpayers may have missed filing due to operational or technical challenges, and this waiver provides them with an opportunity to comply without facing high late fees. 

Impact: 

• For taxpayers: Reduced financial burden for those who missed deadlines in past years. 

• For the government: Encourages taxpayers to complete their pending filings, improving compliance and data accuracy.