Section 44. Annual return. -
2[(1)] Every registered person, other than an Input
Service Distributor, a person paying tax under section 51 or section 52, a
casual taxable person and a non-resident taxable person shall furnish an annual
return which may include a self-certified reconciliation statement, reconciling
the value of supplies declared in the return furnished for the financial year,
with the audited annual financial statement for every financial year
electronically, within such time and in such form and in such manner as may be
prescribed:
Provided that the Commissioner may, on the
recommendations of the Council, by notification, exempt any class of registered
persons from filing annual return under this section:
Provided further that nothing contained in this
section shall apply to any department of the Central Government or a State
Government or a local authority, whose books of account are subject to audit by
the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or an auditor appointed for
auditing the accounts of local authorities under any law for the time being in
force.]
3[(2) A registered person shall not be allowed to
furnish an annual return under sub-section (1) for a financial year after the
expiry of a period of three years from the due date of furnishing the said
annual return:
Provided that the Government may, on the
recommendations of the Council, by notification, and subject to such conditions
and restrictions as may be specified therein, allow a registered person or a
class of registered persons to furnish an annual return for a financial year
under sub-section (1), even after the expiry of the said period of three years
from the due date of furnishing the said annual return.]
