Definition 97 - Return Foundation & Interpretation ·
Chapter I - Preliminary
ACTIVEOFFICIAL_TEXT_CAPTUREDindex,follow
Source control: The text/status on this page is tied to the official source gateway and the Phase 1 legal-review register. Open official source.
Finin2min Summary - Definition in 2 Minutes
A return prescribed or otherwise required under the Act or rules.
Exact operative text
(97) “return” means any return prescribed or otherwise required to be furnished by or under this Act or
the rules made thereunder;
Paragraph-wise decode
A return prescribed or otherwise required under the Act or rules.
Section-Rule-Form-Notification bridge
No direct Rule certified in Phase 1. Check notifications, circulars, forms and corresponding State law.
The mapping is a legal concordance, not a round-robin related-link list. It is limited to instruments certified in this phase.
Practical example
Apply the defined term to the transaction facts before moving to the charging, valuation, credit or procedural provision.
Professional alert
Definitions do not by themselves create a tax charge, exemption, credit or filing obligation.
Implementation checklist
- Fix the transaction, taxable period and jurisdiction.
- Read every subsection, proviso, explanation and omission marker.
- Open the mapped Rule, form, notification and circular.
- Test State/UT variation and portal version.
- Preserve evidence, approvals, working papers and acknowledgements.
- Record the conclusion, assumptions, source date and reviewer.
Evidence and retention checklist
- Contract, purchase order, invoice or underlying transaction document.
- Registration, return, ledger, challan and portal acknowledgement.
- Official Act/Rule/notification version used and effective date.
- Internal tax position paper, computation and management approval.
- Correspondence, notices, replies, orders and appeal papers where applicable.
Practical Q&A
- What does definition 97 regulate?
- It regulates return foundation & interpretation ·. Read the exact text, conditions, exceptions and transaction date together.
- Which subordinate law should be checked?
- No direct CGST Rule has been certified in this phase. Notifications, circulars, forms and the corresponding SGST/UTGST layer may also apply.
- What evidence should be retained?
- Preserve the contract or transaction record, invoice or form, portal acknowledgement, payment/ledger evidence, correspondence, legal working and the official source version used.
- Can portal behaviour override the statute?
- No. Portal functionality is operational evidence; legal entitlement and liability remain controlled by the Act, Rules, notifications and binding decisions.