GST Official Refund Procedure: All You Need to Know

There are various rules and regulations which have emerged in the GST refund process. The GST refund will be needed to maintain under the GST as even a slight delay in the refund process will impact the working capital and cash flow of the manufacturers and exporters. In the current scenario, there is a delay in refunds extending for months by making refunds available to the concerned manufacturers and exporters, and to get the refunds, it is a challenge as there are strict rules and regulations for the processing of refunds.

Latest Update

23rd December 2021

“CBIC has showcased an advisory related to the Aadhaar authentication for filing of GST refund/Revocation of cancelled applications of registration from 1st January 2022. Read more

9th December 2021

The high court of Madras state prolonged time of limitation and relief to traders on goods and services tax refund claims. read order

18th May 2021

  • “Seeks to prescribe Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementation of the provision of extension of time limit to apply for revocation of cancellation of registration under section 30 of the CGST Act, 2017 and rule 23 of the CGST Rules.” Read Circular

Compulsory to Match Invoices for Exporters GST Refund Issues

Numerous exporters are facing problems in claiming ITC (Input Tax Credit) as the government made it compulsory to match GST Invoices for the claim. Experts say that the situation is the result of late fees waiver of certain forms for companies and suppliers. Under several cases, exporters were unable to claim ITC as forms were not submitted. A corresponding invoice is to be uploaded on the GST portal claiming ITC. All the invoices should be reflected in form GSTR- 2A Find out the full procedure and functionalities of GSTR 2A form with the help of Gen GST software version 2.0. The process is showcased by a simple PDF format. Read more

There are Various Situations for Refund under GST like:

  • Excess amount payment of tax accumulated due to mistake or misinterpretation
  • Export (also deemed export) of goods/services within the claim of rebate or Refund of collected input credit of duty/tax when goods/services are exported
  • Finalization of provisional assessment
  • Refund of Pre-deposit for filing appeal assimilating refund coming in pursuance of an appellate authority’s order
  • Payment of duty/tax during the investigation but no/ less liability arises in the event of finalization of investigation/adjudication
  • Refund of tax paid on purchases done by Embassies or UN bodies
  • Credit collection due to output being tax exempt or nil-rated
  • Credit collection due to inverted duty structure i.e. due to tax rate differential between output and inputs
  • Year-end or volume based incentives provided by the supplier through credit notes
  • Tax Refund Simple steps to claim and know the status of income tax return refund online on government income tax website. Find the full process enclosed with the article. Read more for Foreign Tourists

Read Also: How to File GST Refund Claims Manually? Step by Step Guide Know how to file GST refund claims manually by using GST refund form RFD-01A. We have explained step by step procedure in a brief manner. Read more

There is an Official Refund Process under the GST:

  • An Application form to claim a refund can be filed through the GSTN portal
  • An acknowledgement number will be given to the applicant by the means of SMS or email when the application is filed electronically
  • The changes will be made to return and cash ledger and decrease the “carry-forward input tax credit” automatically
  • Refund application and relevant documents presented must be scrutinized and adhered accordingly within a period of 30 days of filing the refund application
  • The issue of “unjust enrichment” will be analyzed for reach refund application. In the case of non-qualification, the refund would be transferred to CWF (consumer welfare fund)
  • If a refund amount stated crosses the predetermined amount of refund then the file will through the pre-audit process for sanctioning the refund
  • Refund will be credited electronically to the account of an applicant via ECS, RTGS or NEFT
  • The application for refund can be made after every quarter
  • An amount less than 1000 is not eligible for the refund

Trending Topic: Do You Know about GST E-Way Bill and How it Will Generate? Get to know about GST E Way bill and its generating process through online and SMS in a simple manner. Also, we have attached original screenshots of official E way bill portal for better understanding. Read more

Delay in Refund and its Process

Subramanian committee suggested along with the defined GST laws and regulations, that the refund application must be entertained within the period of 90 days and must be processed in the same time period. If in any case the application could not be processed within the given time framework, there is a 6 percent of interest recommended along with the refund amount.

It was also mentioned by the Nirmala Sitharaman (finance minister) who cleared that the refund process will be done within the period of 7 days and if the process gets late for more than 2 weeks then the refund will be provided along with the interest.

It is speculated that the process of refund application will be fast and smooth due to its digital dependability. Also, the data will be uploaded electronically which depicts that the verification and the detailed analysis of the refund application will be quick.

Latest Updates and News on GST Refund Topic

GST Refund in Hilly Areas Under Scanner

Taxpayers in hill area and stations are set to approach the court against revenue department which has found a reversal of transitional credit benefited by them on account of cash balance available in the ledger ahead of GST implementation in the country.

The department has not distributed the available GST refunds to producers and manufacturers of hilly states. Previously before GST implementation, under the area-based exemption scheme, the manufacturers were provided with tax concessions.

The department now mentions that the transitioning provision available under newly implemented indirect tax regime was referred only to the excess credit available with the taxpayers, and it did not apply to the ledger for cash balance.

Furtherly, finance secretary also mentioned that the Cash credit can not undergo into GST as only Input Tax Credit can be accountable for transition under GST regime.

GSTN Intends to Launch Online Application for Refunds

The GSTN organization also under inclusion to launch an online application to process refunds. Chief Executive Officer Prakash Kumar stated that “A separate online app for claiming Integrated GST refunds for August and September would be made available on GSTN portal.” The application will be giving facilities like save and upload sales data of the GSTR 1.

The automated process will be also there to assist in which the data will be extracted and will be to the customs department after digital signature. The details will be validated by the department and further refund process will be initiated accordingly.

GST Refund Advice for Taxpayers

Follow Not Follow
Only browse official GST portal website – www.gst.gov.in for refunds Beware to reply any fake message of GST refund process
Read here to know GST refund status: https://www.gst.gov.in/help/refund Leave any attachment or hyperlink in the fake message
Must Remember that GSTN never call for personal information and GST refund details on email, WhatsApp or SMS The taxpayers should never fill any personal details and other contact details on other websites
Continually browse official GST portal for new updates Never dial at the phone number that is mentioned in the fake message
Any query please use GST helpdesk – 1800-103-4786. Do not believe other similar design websites instead of the official portal

General Queries on GST Refund

Q.1 – What in case if taxpayer miss shipping and invoice bill in a month, can he add the details in subsequent month and get a refund?

Yes, a taxpayer can add the details in subsequent month and can get the refund.

Q.2 – Does GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 needs to be filed for claiming refunds?

If the taxpayers have filed GSTR 1 and GSTR 3B than he doesn’t need to fill other forms to claim refunds.

Q.3 – Is the taxpayer eligible to claim refunds on IGST paid on exports of goods if he has filed GSTR 3B?

Yes, the taxpayer is eligible to get the refunds to claim if he has provided the details of export goods details in GSTR 1 Table 6A and has filed GSTR 3B with relevant tax details

Subodh Kumawat

Subodh has done with numerous professional degrees ranging from Human Rights to Banking along with MBA in HR Marketing. He is also interested in the field of tax-related articles and blog as per the industry based norms. Having expert knowledge in diverse sectors, he assures facts and figures along with testimony, in his articles. Working in SAG Infotech, he is a trusted author among the readers globally.

View Comments

  • Dear sir,
    A cooperative society formed by the Government received grants from the government and it is utilized for the benefits of common public. Can they require GST Registration? If yes.. Can they claim ITC for the fund utilised for the public.. Capital expenditures as well as normal expenses...Society has no benefit from the fund received, but they are paying the GST. Can it be reimbursed? Please help me.

  • Sir,
    Filed refund application for 2018-19 for excess payment of tax. But it is showing status as CWF. What does this mean? and what I can do to get my refund processed after this status of CWF.

  • Dear Sir,

    We want to close our firm due to the proprietor not well and not able to work and we have credit in SGST and CGST. Is there any provision for the refund

  • our inputs tax rate is a maximum 18% and the output tax rate is a maximum of 12% and for this reason, our credit maximum balance is in GST accounts. can we claim the balance refunds? And what is the procedure?

  • Dear Sir, I applied for a term policy through LIC online portal. While the policy was declined after 45 days and the premium amount refunded, the GST fee of Rs 3267/- was not refunded. Can you please guide me as to how I get my refund?

  • Sir,

    I had booked to go on vacation with a travel agent. But due to natural calamities the trip had to be cancelled. Travel agent has refunded the moneys less GST at 5%. As services were cancelled am I eligible to claim refund of GST?

    Regards

    Rakshith Urval

    • As the services have not been rendered, you will get total amount i.e. service charges plus GST in return from the travel agent.

  • We are the importer of Ferrous, Non-Ferrous and Plastic Scrap materials. While Calculating Custom Duty and IGST, Customs Authority is always taking Higher amount (almost 30%-50%) per unit. For e.g. in case of Import of Plastic Scrap, Invoice Shows material priced as the US $ 375/- per Mt even though Custom Authority considers price as US$ 645/- per MT and accordingly they charged custom Duty and IGST. Also, There is not more 10% of the Value addition in Sales Price hence adjustment of the entire amount of IGST is not possible as a result the good amount of GST is accumulated.

    My question as to how we can claim the refund of such accumulated/ non-utilization of GST? This accumulation really hampers our Cash Flow.
    Please advice

    Thanks and best regards

    • In the case on inverted duty structure i.e., when the sale price is less than the purchase price and tax paid on the purchase of goods, is more than tax charged on sale then refund of such unutilised credit can be claimed by filing form RFD-01 for such tax period.

  • WE COULD NOT ABLE TO GET THE REFUND FOR INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURE. CAN ANYBODY HELP US TO PROVIDE THE LATEST CIRCULARS SUPPORTING THE REFUND CLAIM?

  • Dear Sir/Madam,

    It is a very cumbersome process to prepare separate details for Refund Letter, Refund Acknowledgement generated online, Summary of Invoices, etc. Can we get all the forms with Invoices, IGST, etc. details for Refund Application through GEN GST Software itself?

    Thanks & Regards,

  • Jayalakshmi,

    In October, We paid the amount in cess instead of CGST, how to refund the amount

    • You can claim a refund order by logging into your account & avail services options & then refund option. Please note refund amount should be greater than 1000.

      Print the refund order copy generated along with supporting like payment voucher from your cash ledger or challans etc, mark self-attestation & submit to your LVO or GST office.

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