Port Blair, Sept. 17: The Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Finance Minister, Govt. of India, New Delhi to consider certain exemptions for filing GSTR3B for Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

He informed the Finance Minister that due to sudden increase in cases of COVID-19, the A&N Islands went for complete lockdown for the whole month of August 2020. The re-opening happened from 01/09/2020 along with the nationwide commencement of unlock-4.  Further the stable Internet connectivity at par with mainland India was started in Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 10/08/2020.

The MP further informed the Minister that the filing of annual return for financial year 2017-18 after 08/02/2020 are subject to late fees of 200 per day.  There was very poor internet connectivity in A&N Islands prior to 10/10/2020, due to which many people could not comply with the filing requirements timely and now subject to pay late fees.

Therefore, the Member of Parliament requested the Finance Minister to consider following exemptions for filing GSTR3B for Andaman & Nicobar Islands keeping in view of the difficulties faced due to lack of internet connectivity and unprecedented situation arisen due to Covid-19.

1) To extend concessional date of filing GSTR3B for the period of July 2017 to August 2020 till 31st October, 2020.

2) To waive late fees for Annual Return filing for the financial year 2017-18 up to 31/10/2020.

3) To extend the due date of filing Annual Return for the financial year 2018-19 upto 31/12/2020 instead of 30/09/2020.