New Delhi, Aug 21: The Centre on Tuesday extended the deadline for filing GSTR-3B returns till Friday. While the earlier last date was August 20, the Finance Ministry announced that traders, wholesaler and retailers will be allowed to file the returns till August 24. In flood-ravaged Kerala, the deadline has been increased till October 5.

"Last date of filing GSTR-3B for the month of July, 2018 has been extended to August 24, 2018," said the official statement, adding that assessees in Kerala have been provided an additional time period due to natural calamity which has struck the state.

Accountants have welcomed the Finance Ministry's decision to extend the deadline, claiming that the GST summary sales returns filing was obstructed on several occasions throughout the past month due to technical glitches.

"There were instances of technical glitches faced on August 20 in filing the return, which was the last date for submission of GSTR 3B. It's good that more time has been given for filing," said Pratik Jain, Partner and Leader, Indirect Tax, PwC, while speaking to news agency PTI. 

In the form of returns collected under the Goods and Services Tax regime, the government revenue had spiked to Rs 96,483 crore in July, up from the collection of Rs 95,610 crore in the preceding month.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2018 08:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).