GST · Due Date
Due Date For Filing Gstr 3b (India, 2026)
GSTR-3B is the summary GST return in which you declare your tax for the period and pay it. Missing its due date is the single most common GST compliance slip, and it costs a daily late fee plus interest. This explainer sets out when GSTR-3B is due, how the monthly and quarterly (QRMP) dates differ, where GSTR-1 fits in, and how to keep both on track.
- Monthly GSTR-3B: due by the 20th of the following month, across all states.
- QRMP quarterly GSTR-3B: broadly the 22nd or 24th after the quarter, by state group; tax still paid monthly.
- GSTR-1 (monthly): broadly the 11th of the following month; quarterly under QRMP with an optional IFF.
- Filed only when paid: GSTR-3B counts as filed once the tax is paid, not just when the form is submitted.
- Late filing: a capped per-day late fee plus uncapped interest (broadly 18 percent per year) on tax paid late.
- Verify: confirm your QRMP state group and current dates on the GST portal.
01The monthly GSTR-3B due date
For taxpayers who file monthly, the due date for GSTR-3B is the 20th of the month following the tax period. So the return for January is due by 20 February, the return for February by 20 March, and so on.
This single date, the 20th, applies across all states for monthly filers. The return is only treated as filed once the tax is paid, so the payment has to be completed by the same date, not just the form submitted.
| Tax period (monthly filer) | GSTR-3B due date |
|---|---|
| January | 20 February |
| February | 20 March |
| March | 20 April |
02Quarterly filing under QRMP
Small taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to a notified limit (broadly Rs 5 crore) can opt for the Quarterly Return Monthly Payment (QRMP) scheme. Under QRMP you file GSTR-3B once a quarter but still pay tax every month through a simple challan.
The quarterly GSTR-3B due date under QRMP is staggered into two groups of states, broadly the 22nd or the 24th of the month following the quarter, depending on where your principal place of business is located.
| QRMP state group | Quarterly GSTR-3B due date (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Group 1 (certain states and UTs) | 22nd of the month after the quarter |
| Group 2 (remaining states and UTs) | 24th of the month after the quarter |
Confirm which group your state falls in, and the current dates, on the GST portal before you rely on this.
03Where GSTR-1 fits
GSTR-3B is paired with GSTR-1, the statement of outward supplies. For monthly filers, GSTR-1 is broadly due on the 11th of the following month, ahead of the 20th GSTR-3B date, so your sales data flows into your buyers records before you file your summary return.
Under QRMP, GSTR-1 is filed quarterly, with an optional Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) in the first two months of the quarter so buyers can see invoices sooner. The "last date for gst return" people search for usually means one of these: GSTR-1 around the 11th or 13th, and GSTR-3B around the 20th, 22nd or 24th.
04What late filing costs
Filing GSTR-3B after the due date triggers two charges. A per-day late fee runs until you file, and interest, broadly 18 percent per year, runs on any tax paid late. The late fee is capped by turnover; the interest is not.
A late return also delays your own input tax credit utilisation and can hold up refunds, so the cost is not only the fee. For how TDS deadlines sit alongside GST in the same compliance calendar, see the due date for filing TDS returns.
05How to never miss the date
Most missed GST dates are not deliberate; they are forgotten. A few habits remove the risk:
- Diarise the 11th and the 20th (or your QRMP dates) every month, with a reminder two or three days ahead.
- Reconcile before the deadline, not on it. Returns get stuck when a figure does not match on the last day.
- Keep enough balance in your electronic cash ledger so payment does not fail at the last minute.
- File nil returns too. A period with no activity still needs a return.
The annual return has its own, separate deadline; see the GSTR-9 due date.
06How Claw Tax helps
Claw Tax and Accounts is an online tax, GST and accounting service for India that connects you with a verified chartered accountant at a fixed, published price, with a Claw reviewer checking every filing before it is submitted.
Tracking and filing GST returns is free to do yourself on the GST portal, and if you are organised with your dates and reconciliation, you can manage it. The value of help is in never missing a date and never filing a return that later needs correction.
With Claw Tax and Accounts GST return filing, a verified chartered accountant prepares and files your GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B on time, a Claw reviewer checks each return before submission, and you get reminders ahead of every due date, all at a fixed published price with a deadline calendar.
This is not tax advice; a verified CA handles your specifics.
07Frequently asked questions
What is the due date for filing GSTR-3B?
For monthly filers, GSTR-3B is due by the 20th of the month following the tax period, across all states. Under the quarterly QRMP scheme it is due broadly on the 22nd or 24th after the quarter, depending on your state group, while tax is still paid monthly.
What is the difference between monthly and QRMP filing?
Monthly filers submit GSTR-3B every month by the 20th. QRMP is for small taxpayers up to a notified turnover (broadly Rs 5 crore), who file GSTR-3B once a quarter by the 22nd or 24th but still pay tax each month through a challan.
When is GSTR-1 due compared to GSTR-3B?
For monthly filers, GSTR-1 is broadly due on the 11th of the following month, ahead of the 20th GSTR-3B date, so your outward supplies reach your buyers records first. Under QRMP, GSTR-1 is quarterly with an optional Invoice Furnishing Facility in the first two months.
Is GSTR-3B treated as filed if I submit the form but do not pay?
No. GSTR-3B is only treated as filed once the tax is paid. Submitting the form without completing payment by the due date still counts as late, so make sure your electronic cash ledger has enough balance before the deadline.
What happens if I file GSTR-3B late?
Two charges apply. A per-day late fee runs until you file, subject to a turnover-linked cap, and interest, broadly 18 percent per year, runs on any tax paid late and is not capped. A late return can also delay your input tax credit and any refunds.
Do I still need to file GSTR-3B for a month with no business?
Yes. A period with no outward supplies and no tax is a nil return, and it still has to be filed by the due date. If you skip it, a late fee accrues just as it would for any other return.