Help Center › GST

Prepare and file GSTR-1

See your outward supplies in GSTR-1 tables, check them against your books, then save to GSTN and file with an OTP, or download JSON or Excel.

GSTR-1 is the return of your sales. Arthlekha builds it from your sales invoices, credit notes and debit notes for the month or quarter you pick. You can check it, then save and file it on the GST portal without leaving the app.

Before you start

GST registration must be on in GST configuration. When it is off, the Statutory (GST) menu is hidden.
To save or file on the portal, link your GST portal account by OTP in GST configuration. Viewing the report and downloading JSON or Excel do not need this link.
To file, set the Authorized Signatory PAN in the GST Filing Authority part of the Business Profile. The filing OTP goes to the mobile registered with that PAN.
Record all sales, credit notes and debit notes for the period first. Check due dates on the GST portal.

Steps

Open Statutory (GST) > GSTR-1.
Choose Monthly or Quarterly (QRMP).
For monthly, pick the month and year. For quarterly, pick the quarter, such as Q1 (Apr–Jun), and the financial year.
The report loads. The top band shows the number of Invoices, the Taxable Value, the Total Tax and the Invoice Value.
Click a table heading to open it and see the invoices inside.
Click Verify with Books to check the return against your accounts. See below.
Click the refresh icon if you change any invoice while the page is open.

Tables in the report

Table	What it shows
4A	B2B invoices to customers with a GSTIN, not under reverse charge.
4B	B2B invoices where the customer pays tax under reverse charge (RCM).
5	B2C (Large): inter-state sales to unregistered buyers above the invoice limit shown on screen.
6	Exports, with or without payment of tax.
7	B2C (Small): all other sales to unregistered buyers, grouped by state and rate.
8	Nil rated, exempt and non-GST sales, split inter-state and intra-state.
9B	Credit and debit notes, for registered and unregistered customers.
12	HSN/SAC summary, once for B2B supplies and once for B2C supplies.

For a quarterly return, B2B invoices already filed through IFF in the first two months of the quarter are left out of 4A. A note on the screen tells you how many were left out. B2C, HSN and the other tables still cover the full quarter.

Verify with books

Click Verify with Books.
A table compares Sales Taxable, Output CGST, Output SGST and Output IGST in GSTR-1 with your ledgers. Both sides are net of credit and debit notes.
Each row shows GSTR-1, Books and the Diff. A difference under 50 paise counts as matched.
If a row does not match, look for a sale posted to the wrong ledger or a GST amount entered by hand in a journal.
Click Hide Books Check to close it.

Save to GSTN

Click Save. This uploads the GSTR-1 data to the GST portal as a draft.
A green message shows the GSTN reference and the return period.
To see what the portal now holds, click Verify. The GSTN Portal Status window shows the summary saved on the portal.

You can save again after correcting invoices. The new save replaces the draft.

File with EVC (OTP)

Save the return first and wait about a minute.
Click File. The File GSTR-1 window opens.
Click Generate summary & send OTP. This can take 30 to 60 seconds.
An OTP is sent to the mobile registered with the signatory PAN shown on screen.
Type the 6-digit OTP and click File GSTR-1.
When it works, the window shows GSTR-1 filed successfully and the ARN. Note the ARN.
Click Resend OTP if the OTP did not arrive.

Once filed, this return cannot be modified. Correct mistakes in a later period with a credit or debit note.

Download for the offline tool

Click the Download GSTN JSON icon to get a file you can upload on the GST portal yourself.
Click the Export Excel icon to get the return in the GSTR-1 Excel template.

Common problems

GST account not linked. Go to Settings > GST Portal and link via OTP. — link your GST portal in GST configuration.
GST portal session expired. Re-link with OTP. — the portal link lasts only a few hours. Link again in GST configuration.
Business GSTIN not set — enter your GSTIN in the Business Profile.
Authorized Signatory PAN is not set — fill the GST Filing Authority part of the Business Profile.
GSTN is still processing your previous save (RET192411) — the portal has your data in a queue. Wait about 60 seconds and try again.
GSTN says the summary isn't ready — click Save first, or wait for a save that is still running, then file again.
Enter the 6-digit OTP sent to the signatory's mobile. — the OTP box must have exactly 6 digits.
An invoice is missing — check that its date falls in the period picked. For a quarterly return, it may already be in IFF.

More in GST

GST configurationSwitch GST registration on or off, save your NIC e-invoice and e-way bill login, and link your GST portal account by OTP.Generate an e-invoice (IRN)Get an IRN and signed QR for a sales invoice, record an e-invoice made on the government portal, and cancel an IRN.Generate and manage an e-way billGenerate an e-way bill from a sales invoice, delivery challan or credit note, then update the vehicle, extend, change transporter, cancel or print it.GST Filing DashboardSee which GST returns are filed, pending or overdue for each month of the year, and fetch the latest status from the GST portal.File B2B invoices early with IFF (QRMP)Under the QRMP scheme, upload B2B invoices for the first or second month of a quarter through IFF, so your buyers can claim input tax credit sooner.Prepare and submit GSTR-3BSee your GSTR-3B summary of output tax, input tax credit and tax payable for a month or quarter, export it, and save or submit it to GSTN.Reconcile GSTR-2B and post it to booksFetch GSTR-2B from the GST portal, match it with your purchase bills, accept small differences, and optionally post missing bills to your books.