Export Refund Filing frequency under GST Circular no. Circular No.37/ 11/2018 – GST Dated: 15th march 2018 reads:
11. Filing frequency of Refunds: Various representations have been made to the Board regarding the period for which refund applications can be filed. Section 2(107) of the CGST Act defines the term “tax period” as the period for which the return is required to be furnished. The terms ‘Net ITC’ and ‘turnover of zero rated supply of goods/services’ are used in the context of the relevant period in rule 89(4) of CGST Rules. The phrase ‘relevant period’ has been defined in the said sub-rule as ‘the period for which the claim has been filed’.
11.1 In many scenarios, exports may not have been made in that period in which the inputs or input services were received and input tax credit has been availed. Similarly, there may be cases where exports may have been made in a period but no input tax credit has been availed in the said period. The above referred rule, taking into account such scenarios, defines relevant period in the context of the refund claim and does not link it to a tax period.
11.2 In this regard, it is hereby clarified that the exporter, at his option, may file refund claim for one calendar month / quarter or by clubbing successive calendar months / quarters. The calendar month(s) / quarter(s) for which refund claim has been filed, however, cannot spread across different financial years.