Sales Tax Bar Association Urges Govt to Activate GSTR-9, 9C Filing for FY 2025-26:

The Sales Tax Bar Association (Regd.) has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging the government to immediately enable the filing facility for GST Annual Return (GSTR-9) and Reconciliation Statement (GSTR-9C) for the financial year 2025-26 on the GST portal.

In its representation dated August 12, 2026, the association sent a representation to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying that the delay in making the forms available is creating difficulties for businesses, tax professionals and taxpayers. The association, established in 1957 and having around 2,000 members, represents advocates, chartered accountants and tax practitioners dealing with direct and indirect taxes.

The association pointed out that GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C are important for annual reconciliation of GST figures. The information reported in these forms helps taxpayers compare their GST returns, books of accounts and figures to be reported in their Income Tax Returns.

According to the association, the issue has become more urgent because taxpayers are currently preparing their Income Tax Returns. The statutory due dates are August 31 for taxpayers who are not subject to tax audit and September 30 for taxpayers who are subject to tax audit.

The association said that if GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C are not available before these deadlines, taxpayers may not be able to properly reconcile their turnover, tax liability, input tax credit and other financial figures before filing their Income Tax Returns. This, it said, could increase the chances of mistakes, notices, litigation and additional compliance costs.

The Sales Tax Bar Association also highlighted that similar representations have been made in previous years, but the problem of delayed availability of the annual return utilities continues to recur every year.

The association has therefore requested the government, CBIC, GSTN and other concerned authorities to activate GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C for FY 2025-26 at the earliest. It has also urged the authorities to make the forms available well before the Income Tax Return deadlines in future years.

The association also suggested that a fixed and predictable timeline should be followed every year for release of GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C utilities. This would help taxpayers in timely completion of their reconciliations, save compliance costs and improve accuracy of reporting under both GST and Income Tax laws, the association said.

The representation concluded with a request to the Finance Minister to issue appropriate directions to GSTN for the prompt activation of the annual return filing facility.