GSTR-9 Due Date Extension Latest News: Will Finance Ministry Grant Relief Before January 2026?

The GSTR 9 due date for FY 2024-25 remains December 31, 2025, and as the clock ticks down, taxpayers and professionals across India are anxiously waiting for an extension announcement.

Despite multiple representations from leading professional bodies including the Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, no official notification has been issued by the CBIC or Finance Ministry.

The absence of relief has left thousands of businesses scrambling to complete their annual GST return and reconciliation statement filings before the year ends. In my years of handling GST compliance, I have never seen such widespread panic and collective demand for extension as I am witnessing today.

The hashtag Extend Due Date Immediately has been trending across social media platforms with tax professionals, chartered accountants and business owners united in their plea for government intervention.

Also Read: Gold Rate Today Chennai: Latest 22K and 24K Gold Prices for December 31, 2025

Key Takeaways

• GSTR-9 due date for FY 2024-25 is December 31, 2025, with no extension announced yet
• Late fees of Rs 200 per day will apply from January 1, 2026 onwards
• GSTR-9 mandatory for taxpayers with turnover above Rs 2 crore, GSTR-9C required above Rs 5 crore
• Multiple professional bodies including BCAS and GCCI have submitted representations seeking extension
• Forms released late on October 15, 2025, with major amendments causing preparation difficulties
• Social media campaigns trending with #Extend_Due_Date_Immediately gaining massive support
• No government response received despite urgent requests from tax community

Current Status of GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C Filing

The statutory deadline for filing GSTR-9 annual return and GSTR-9C reconciliation statement for financial year 2024-25 is December 31, 2025. GSTR-9 is mandatory for all registered taxpayers whose aggregate turnover exceeded Rs 2 crore during the financial year.

Meanwhile, GSTR-9C which requires reconciliation with audited financial statements applies only to taxpayers with turnover exceeding Rs 5 crore. I have personally experienced how challenging it becomes when you need to reconcile multiple data sources within such tight timelines.

The late fee structure is particularly harsh with Rs 200 per day penalty comprising Rs 100 CGST and Rs 100 SGST. This penalty is capped at 0.5 percent of turnover which still amounts to substantial amounts for large businesses.

Major Challenges Faced by Taxpayers This Year

The forms for FY 2024-25 were released only on October 15, 2025, leaving taxpayers with barely two and half months to complete the entire reconciliation process.

The government introduced significant changes in the forms including new ITC bifurcation tables, revised reporting for reversals and reclaims, and updated auto-population from GSTR-2B and GSTR-3B. These amendments have increased the granularity and complexity of Input Tax Credit reporting substantially.

In my practice, I found that taxpayers now need to go through numerous additional compliance procedures which are extremely time consuming. The dependence on audited annual financial statements further complicates matters since tax audits were extended until mid-November in many cases.

The timing could not have been worse. The due date for completion of adjudication under section 73 of CGST Act for FY 2021-22 and under section 74 for FY 2018-19 also falls on December 31, 2025.

This means both taxpayers and professionals were occupied with attending personal hearings and preparing submissions throughout November and December.

The CBIC continued introducing amendments in auto-populated ITC data until November 30, 2025, which was the deadline for vendors to report invoices for FY 2024-25. Additionally, GST reforms effective from September 22, 2025, introduced key changes to tax rates and compliance processes requiring further revisions.

Representations Seeking Extension

The Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society submitted a detailed representation on December 11, 2025, listing multiple reasons for seeking extension.

They followed up with another representation on December 29, 2025, emphasizing the genuine difficulties faced by taxpayers.

The society which has over 11,500 members from across the country highlighted how increased granularity in ITC reporting, overlapping statutory deadlines and dependence on tax audits have made GSTR-9 and 9C preparation extremely difficult within existing timelines. BCAS specifically requested a three month extension considering these circumstances.

The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a different approach by urging the Finance Minister to waive late fees for GSTR-9 and 9C filing until January 31, 2026.

The GCCI Director General stated that structural changes particularly in ITC reporting and multiple disclosure requirements significantly reduced the time available for comprehensive reconciliations.

Other organizations including Malad Chamber of Tax Consultants, BJP Professional Cell and various CA societies have also submitted requests seeking extensions ranging from January to February 2026.

Social Media Campaign and Public Sentiment

The campaign on social media platform X formerly known as Twitter has gained tremendous momentum. The hashtag Extend Due Date Immediately is trending in India with thousands of posts urging immediate government action.

I am impressed by the unity shown by tax professionals in raising their collective voice similar to the successful ROC extension campaign. Many professionals are expressing frustration over having to work on New Year’s Eve with posts saying saal ka aakhiri din hum aaj bhi filing filing khel rahe hain.

Professional Body	Representation Date	Key Demand
BCAS	Dec 11 & 29, 2025	3-month extension
GCCI	Dec 30, 2025	Late fee waiver till Jan 31
BJP Professional Cell	December 2025	Extension to Jan/Feb 2026
Malad Chamber	December 2025	Reasonable extension

Common opinions emerging from recent tweets include strong demands for justice and humanity in compliance, calls to tag Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and CBIC officials for immediate action, and emphasis on providing accurate filings rather than rushing to avoid penalties.

Many noted the relief granted on ROC annual filing extension till January 31, 2026, and expressed disappointment over lack of similar consideration for GST annual returns. There is widespread appreciation for professional bodies persistently highlighting genuine difficulties and many are advising to file today if possible while hoping for a last minute notification.

What Should Taxpayers Do Now

Given the uncertainty, I strongly advise taxpayers to not wait for an extension announcement. If your GSTR-9 and 9C are ready or near completion, file them immediately to avoid late fees which will start accumulating from January 1, 2026.

The penalty of Rs 200 per day can quickly add up to significant amounts. Prioritize accuracy over speed but understand that perfection might not be achievable given the tight timelines. If you discover errors after filing, you can always file revised returns in subsequent periods.

For those still working on reconciliations, focus on the most critical aspects first. Ensure your ITC claims are properly documented and reversals are accurately reported. The new bifurcation requirements are complex but non-compliance will attract scrutiny.

I recommend working with experienced professionals who understand the nuances of the amended forms. Keep all supporting documents ready including audited financial statements, tax audit reports and detailed ITC registers.

Conclusion

The battle for GSTR-9 9C due date extension latest news continues as we enter the final hours of 2025. While professional associations have made compelling arguments for relief, the government has remained silent so far.

The GSTR-9 due date extension latest news twitter discussions show overwhelming support for taxpayer relief. Whether the Finance Ministry grants an extension or waives late fees remains to be seen. My advice is to be prepared for both scenarios and complete your filings if possible.

The collective voice of tax professionals deserves acknowledgment and I remain hopeful that authorities will consider the genuine hardships being faced. Until an official notification arrives, the safest approach is to meet the December 31 deadline even if it means working through New Year’s Eve.

Tags: GSTR-9 due date, GSTR-9C extension, GST annual return, CBIC notification, tax compliance, Finance Ministry, late fee waiver

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