GST
GST Return Due Dates 2026: GSTR-1, 3B, 9 & 9C
GST return due dates for 2026 — GSTR-1, GSTR-3B (monthly and QRMP), GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C, plus CMP-08, GSTR-7 and GSTR-8 — with exact dates and turnover thresholds.
8 min
GST
How CA firms manage GST return cycles, due dates and reconciliation — and what practice software should handle for GSTR-1 to GSTR-9C.
For most Indian CA practices, GST is the highest-frequency compliance work on the desk. Every active client generates a monthly or quarterly cycle, and a single firm can be tracking hundreds of GSTINs at once. The work itself is rarely difficult — it is the volume, the staggered due dates, and the cost of one missed return that make GST the area where a practice management system earns its keep.
The GST cycle a CA practice actually runs
The recurring touchpoints are predictable: outward supplies in GSTR-1 by the 11th (13th under QRMP), tax payment and summary in GSTR-3B by the 20th, and the annual GSTR-9 and reconciliation statement GSTR-9C by 31 December. Around these sit the operational details that consume staff time — matching purchase registers against auto-populated GSTR-2B, chasing clients for invoices, and confirming ITC before a return is filed. The pattern repeats every month across the client base, which is exactly why it benefits from a structured compliance calendar rather than a spreadsheet.
What to look for in software for GST work
The features that move the needle are auto-fetch of return status from the GST portal, per-client recurring tasks that regenerate each period, and reminders that reach both staff and clients before the due date. Document handling matters too: invoices and reconciliation working papers need to be filed against the right client and period. A built-in client portal closes the loop, letting clients upload data and confirm figures without email back-and-forth. Our independently top-ranked tool, QwikCA, covers GST portal auto-fetch, auto-generated GST tasks and WhatsApp plus email reminders; note that it tracks DSC expiry rather than signing returns in-app.
How it fits the wider practice
GST never runs in isolation — it shares clients, staff and deadlines with TDS, ITR and ROC work. A system that treats GST as one stream inside a single calendar avoids duplicate client records and gives partners a real view of pending returns. The rankings compare how the leading tools handle this, and our guide to choosing CA practice management software covers evaluating GST fit before you commit.