Tech glitches hit GST filings, deadline extended by a day

Indore: Technical glitches on goods and services tax (GST) portal on the last day of filing March 2026 returns forced authorities to extend the GSTR-3B deadline by one day, after thousands of taxpayers in Madhya Pradesh were unable to complete filings.The due date for filing the March GSTR-3B return was April 20, but persistent issues through the day left many unable to file, prompting the extension. Users reported repeated login failures, automatic logouts and error messages such as "unable to load template", disrupting return filing at a critical time.The problems came after weeks of slow portal performance, with dashboards taking unusually long to open.Tax bodies, including the Madhya Pradesh Tax Law Bar Association and the Commercial Tax Practitioners Association, Indore, flagged the issue to the state commercial tax department, citing widespread disruption."Thousands of taxpayers could not file their returns on time due to continuous technical issues on the portal. The decision to extend the deadline by one day has provided some relief, but such disruptions create uncertainty and compliance pressure," Madhya Pradesh Tax Law Bar Association president AK Lakhotia said.GSTR-3B is a monthly summary return in which taxpayers report their total GST liability for a given tax period and make the necessary tax payments. It is a key compliance requirement for regular taxpayers, and delays can attract late fees and interest.Practitioners said the extension provided temporary relief, but recurring technical issues continue to raise concerns over compliance risks and additional costs for businesses. They have urged authorities to strengthen server capacity and stabilise the portal to avoid such disruptions during peak filing periods.