57th GST Council Gives In-Principle Approval to Optional Annual Return Quarterly Payment Scheme for Small B2C Businesses

The 57th Meeting of the GST Council was held on October 08, 2026, in New Delhi, under the chairpersonship of the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. At the meeting, the GST Council made recommendations relating to process reforms, primarily covering registration, returns, refunds and adjudication; clarifications regarding the applicability of GST on supplies of certain goods and services; and other measures for trade facilitation and streamlining GST compliances.

Concept note for an optional scheme for Annual Return Quarterly Payment (ARQP): The GST Council approved in-principle a concept note for an optional Annual Return Quarterly Payment (ARQP) scheme for taxpayers having an aggregate turnover equal to or less than Rs. 5 Crore in the preceding financial year and engaged exclusively in supplies to unregistered persons (B2C supplies).

The Press Release can be accessed at:  https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2320934&reg=48&lang=1