Notification No. 15/2025 – Central Tax, Dated 17-09-2025
1. Introduction
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued a notification providing important relief for small taxpayers under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The amendment exempts certain registered persons from filing the annual return, thereby easing their compliance requirements. This measure comes into effect from the financial year 2024–25 onwards.
2. Eligibility for Exemption
According to the notification, the exemption applies to registered persons whose aggregate turnover in any financial year does not exceed ₹2 crore. This turnover threshold has been fixed to specifically target micro and small taxpayers, who often face challenges in meeting extensive compliance requirements due to limited resources.
3. Objective of the Amendment
The primary objective behind this amendment is to reduce the compliance burden and simplify GST procedures. Small businesses typically lack dedicated teams for handling complex GST filings. By exempting them from the annual return requirement, the CBIC seeks to provide relief and allow these businesses to focus on their operations rather than administrative tasks.
4. Impact on Small Taxpayers
This exemption will have a direct positive impact on small businesses, as it will lower costs, reduce paperwork, and save time otherwise spent on filing annual returns like GSTR-9. For the administration as well, the move allows tax authorities to shift focus to higher-value taxpayers and more complex compliance issues, thus streamlining regulatory oversight.
5. Conclusion
The CBIC’s decision to exempt taxpayers with turnover up to ₹2 crore from filing annual GST returns reflects its commitment to promoting ease of doing business and supporting the growth of the MSME sector. By addressing compliance challenges, the notification not only benefits small taxpayers but also strengthens the overall efficiency of the GST framework.
