Audit” has been defined in section 2(13) of the CGST Act, 2017 and it means the examination of records, returns and other documents maintained or furnished by the registered person under the GST Acts or the rules made there under or under any other law for the time being in force to verify the correctness of turnover declared, taxes paid, refund claimed and input tax credit availed, and to assess his compliance with the provisions of the GST Acts or the rules made there under.
TYPES OF AUDIT
GST envisages three types of Audit.
- By a Chartered Accountant or a Cost Accountant.
- By Tax Authorities
- Special Audit
1. Audit by Chartered Accountant or a Cost Accountant: Every registered person whose aggregate turnover during a financial year exceeds two crore rupees has to get his accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant or a Cost Accountant and furnish a copy of audited annual accounts and a reconciliation statement, duly certified, in FORM GSTR-9C.
2. Audit by Tax Authorities (section 65 of the CGST Act, 2017): The Commissioner or any officer authorised by him, can undertake audit of any registered person for such period, at such frequency and in such manner as may be prescribed.
- Section 65(3) of the CGST Act, 2017 the registered person shall be informed by way of a notice not less than fifteen working days prior to the conduct of audit in such manner as may be prescribed.
- Section 65(4) of the CGST Act, 2017 the audit under sub-section (1) shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of commencement of the audit:
- Provided that where the Commissioner is satisfied that audit in respect of such registered person cannot be completed within three months, he may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, extend the period by a further period not exceeding six months.
- Section 65(5) of the CGST Act, 2017 during the course of audit, the authorised officer may require the registered person,— (i) to afford him the necessary facility to verify the books of account or other documents as he may require; (ii) to furnish such information as he may require and render assistance for timely completion of the audit.
3. Special Audit [Section 66 of the CGST Act, 2017]: Special Audit the registered person can be directed to get his records including books of account examined and audited by a Chartered Accountant or a Cost Accountant during any stage of scrutiny, inquiry, investigation or any other proceedings; depending upon the complexity of the case.
- Procedure: During the scrutiny, inquiry, investigation or any other proceedings of a registered person, the Assistant Commissioner or any officer senior to him, having regard to the nature and complexity of the case and the interest of revenue, might be of the opinion that the value has not been correctly declared or the credit availed is not within the normal limits.
- In such cases, with the prior approval of the Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner or any officer senior to him can direct the registered person in FORM GST ADT-03 to get his records including books of account examined and audited by a specified chartered accountant or a cost accountant. The chartered accountant or a cost accountant will be nominated by the Commissioner.
- The chartered accountant or cost accountant so nominated has to submit a report of such audit within the period of ninety days, duly signed and certified by him to the Assistant Commissioner.
- On an application made by the registered person or the chartered accountant or cost accountant or for any material and sufficient reason, the Assistant Commissioner can extend the said period by a further period of ninety days.
- On conclusion of the special audit, the registered person shall be informed of the findings of the special audit in FORM GST ADT-04.
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