Maharashtra GST Department Announces Relief from Late Fees amid Tax Portal glitches:

Maharashtra GST Department Announces Relief from Late Fees amid Tax Portal glitches The Maharashtra State Tax Department has issued a Trade Circular dated 17th April, 2026, that brings relief to taxpayers filing returns under the Profession Tax (PT) Act, 1975. Recently, the department has shifted to a new IT system for the implementation of the MVAT Act, CST Act, and Profession Tax Act through the newly designed portal called mahagst.gov.in. During this shifting process, many taxpayers faced technical issues. Many taxpayers were unable to access the system.

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To support taxpayers in such a situation, the government had already granted some relaxations earlier, in a Trade Circular dated March 13th, 2026. Now, further relief has been provided to the taxpayers by announcing an exemption from late fees for filing PT returns for March 2026 and the annual return for FY 2025-26. Key Relief Provided If taxpayers pay their Tax dues on or before 15th March 2026, and file their monthly return (March 2026) and the Annual Return (FY 2025-26) on or before 30th April 2026, they will get an exemption from late fees.

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Important Points to Note

• If tax is paid on time (by 15th March 2026) and the return is filed by 30th April 2026, no late fee will be charged.

• For the return filed after 30th April 2026, the late fee is Rs 200 for up to 30 days' delay and Rs 1000 after that.

• If the tax is paid late, i.e., after 15th March, then a late fee of Rs 200 will be charged if the delay is up to 30 days, and a late fee of Rs 1,000 will be charged if the delay is more than 30 days.

• If multiple payments are made for the monthly return (March 2026) and annual return (FY 2025-26), and one of those payments is made after 15th March 2026, then a late fee of Rs 200 will be charged if the delay is up to 30 days, and a late fee of Rs 1,000 will be charged after that.

• Unregistered (URD) taxpayers will also not pay any late fee if they pay tax by 15th March 2026 and file the return by 30th April 2026. However, if URD taxpayers pay tax on time but file the return after 30th April, 2026, a late fee of Rs 200 will be charged if the delay is up to 30 days, and a late fee of Rs 1,000 will be charged after that.

• Even if the URD Taxpayer filed a return on time but pays the tax dues after March 15th, 2026, then the same late fees will apply.