In India, Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns are documents that taxpayers are required to file periodically to provide details of their sales, purchases, tax paid, and tax collected. The returns under GST are categorized into various types based on the type of taxpayer and the specific period for filing. Below are the key categories of GST returns: 1. GSTR-1: Purpose: Details of outward supplies (sales) made by a registered person. Due Date: Monthly or quarterly (for taxpayers opting for the QRMP scheme). Details Included: Information on sales, including taxable supplies, exempt supplies, export sales, and interstate sales. Details of invoices issued to customers. 2. GSTR-2: (Suspended) Purpose: Details of inward supplies (purchases) made by a registered person. Due Date: Monthly. Details Included: Information on the purchases made, including details of invoices received. Input tax credit (ITC) available on these purchases. Current Status: This return was suspended as of 2020. Now, GSTR-2A and GSTR-3B are used for this purpose. 3. GSTR-3B: Purpose: Summary return to declare the net GST liability. Due Date: Monthly. Details Included: Summary of total outward supplies (sales). Input tax credit (ITC) claimed on inward supplies (purchases). Net GST payable (difference between output tax and input tax). 4. GSTR-4: Purpose: For taxpayers who are under the Composition Scheme. Due Date: Annually (with quarterly payments). Details Included: Summary of outward supplies. Details of tax paid under the composition scheme. 5. GSTR-5: Purpose: For Non-Resident Taxable Persons (NRTPs). Due Date: Monthly. Details Included: Outward supplies made by the non-resident. Details of the GST paid on imports and sales. 6. GSTR-6: Purpose: For Input Service Distributors (ISDs). Due Date: Monthly. Details Included: Details of ITC received and distributed by the ISD. 7. GSTR-7: Purpose: For tax deducted at source (TDS) under GST. Due Date: Monthly. Details Included: Details of TDS deducted by the taxpayer on payments made to suppliers. 8. GSTR-8: Purpose: For e-commerce operators who are required to collect tax at source (TCS). Due Date: Monthly. Details Included: Details of supplies made by the e-commerce seller through the platform. Amount of tax collected by the e-commerce operator. 9. GSTR-9: Purpose: Annual return for regular taxpayers. Due Date: Annually (by 31st December following the end of the financial year). Details Included: Consolidated details of outward and inward supplies. Summary of GST paid during the year and ITC claimed. 10. GSTR-10: Purpose: For taxpayers whose GST registration is canceled. Due Date: Within 3 months from the date of cancellation. Details Included: Details of closing stock at the time of cancellation of registration. 11. GSTR-11: Purpose: For persons holding a UIN (Unique Identity Number) who are entitled to a refund. Due Date: Monthly. Details Included: Details of inward supplies made by the person, so that a refund of input tax credit can be claimed. 12. GSTR-3: (Proposed but not in use) Purpose: A monthly return that was meant to combine details of both GSTR-1 (outward supplies) and GSTR-2 (inward supplies). Current Status: This return has been merged into GSTR-3B, and GSTR-3 itself is not used. Special Category Returns: QRMP Scheme Returns: GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B for quarterly filers. GST Annual Return: GSTR-9 for regular taxpayers. Summary of Filing Frequency: Monthly: GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-5, GSTR-6, GSTR-7, GSTR-8 Quarterly: GSTR-1 (for QRMP scheme), GSTR-3B (for QRMP scheme) Annually: GSTR-9 (Annual Return), GSTR-4 (for Composition Scheme), GSTR-10 (Cancellation), GSTR-11 (Refund claimants) These returns ensure the proper reporting of transactions and payment of GST, facilitating compliance and input tax credit (ITC) claims across the supply chain.