What is Invoice Matching exactly?
Sale of one person will become purchase of another person, simple rule of transaction, if one is received another is giver. Supplier when supply goods & services to recipient, he has to declare his all supplies in GSTR-1, GSTR-1 supplies will be invoice number wise to recipient GSTN.
Meantime in recipient portal this will become the deemed purchase & will reflect in GSTR-2A. Any modification or alteration are done in GSTR-2 form will reflect in GSTR-1A of supplier. When recipient file his GSTR-2 ie inward supply detail, same will be matched with GSTR-1 ie outward supply detail of Supplier.
In simple words
Supplier | Recipient |
GSTR-1 | GSTR-2A – Auto Populated |
GSTR-1A – Auto Populated | GSTR 2 |
If details matched then only recipient is eligible for input tax credit,
Invoice matching at the time of GSTR-2 filing is based on supplier GSTN, recipient GSTN, Invoice Number & Date, Debit Note Number & date, Taxable Value, Tax amount.
Although GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 filing currently suspended, & only GSTR-1 (Invoice wise Outward Supply Detail) & GSTR-3B (Summary of Outward supplies, Eligible ITC, Payment of Tax) is applicable as of now, yet Invoice matching concept is there.
GSTR-2A is generated by the system on the basis on information received from GSTR-3B and GSTR-1 (sales details).
ITC claimed in GSTR-3B should ideally match with ITC available on all the purchases made by a taxpayer, a mismatch can be found by comparing the details in these two forms.
We have also reproduced below extract of Relevant Section 42 and 43 of CGST Act, 2017
Matching,reversal and reclaim of input tax credit
Under Section 42. (1) of CGST Act 2017, The details of every inward supply furnished by a registered person (hereafter in this section referred to as the “recipient”) for a tax period shall, in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed, be matched––
(a) with the corresponding details of outward supply furnished by the corresponding registered person (hereafter in this section referred to as the “supplier”) in his valid return for the same tax period or any preceding tax period;
(b) with the integrated goods and services tax paid under section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 in respect of goods imported by him; and
(c) for duplication of claims of input tax credit.
(2) The claim of input tax credit in respect of invoices or debit notes relating to inward supply that match with the details of corresponding outward supply or with the integrated goods and services tax paid under section 3 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 in respect of goods imported by him shall be finally accepted and such acceptance shall be communicated, in such manner as may be prescribed, to the recipient.
(3) Where the input tax credit claimed by a recipient in respect of an inward supply is in excess of the tax declared by the supplier for the same supply or the outward supply is not declared by the supplier in his valid returns, the discrepancy shall be communicated to both such persons in such manner as may be prescribed.
(4) The duplication of claims of input tax credit shall be communicated to the recipient in such manner as may be prescribed.
(5) The amount in respect of which any discrepancy is communicated under sub-section (3) and which is not rectified by the supplier in his valid return for the month in which discrepancy is communicated shall be added to the output tax liability of the recipient, in such manner as may be prescribed, in his return for the month succeeding the month in which the discrepancy is communicated.
(6) The amount claimed as input tax credit that is found to be in excess on account of duplication of claims shall be added to the output tax liability of the recipient in his return for the month in which the duplication is communicated.
(7) The recipient shall be eligible to reduce, from his output tax liability, the amount added under sub-section (5), if the supplier declares the details of the invoice or debit note in his valid return within the time specified in sub-section (9) of section 39.
(8) A recipient in whose output tax liability any amount has been added under sub-section (5) or sub-section (6), shall be liable to pay interest at the rate specified under sub-section (1) of section 50 on the amount so added from the date of availing of credit till the corresponding additions are made under the said sub-sections.
(9) Where any reduction in output tax liability is accepted under sub-section (7), the interest paid under sub-section (8) shall be refunded to the recipient by crediting the amount in the corresponding head of his electronic cash ledger in such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that the amount of interest to be credited in any case shall not exceed the amount of interest paid by the supplier.
(10) The amount reduced from the output tax liability in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (7) shall be added to the output tax liability of the recipient in his return for the month in which such contravention takes place and such recipient shall be liable to pay interest on the amount so added at the rate specified in sub-section (3) of section 50.
Matching, reversal and reclaim of reduction in output tax liability
43 (1) The details of every credit note relating to outward supply furnished by a registered person (hereafter in this section referred to as the “supplier”) for a tax period shall, in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed, be matched––
(a) with the corresponding reduction in the claim for input tax credit by the corresponding registered person (hereafter in this section referred to as the “recipient”) in his valid return for the same tax period or any subsequent tax period; and
(b) For duplication of claims for reduction in output tax liability.
(2) The claim for reduction in output tax liability by the supplier that matches with the corresponding reduction in the claim for input tax credit by the recipient shall be finally accepted and communicated, in such manner as may be prescribed, to the supplier.
(3) Where the reduction of output tax liability in respect of outward supplies exceeds the corresponding reduction in the claim for input tax credit or the corresponding credit note is not declared by the recipient in his valid returns, the discrepancy shall be communicated to both such persons in such manner as may be prescribed.
(4) The duplication of claims for reduction in output tax liability shall be communicated to the supplier in such manner as may be prescribed.
(5) The amount in respect of which any discrepancy is communicated under sub-section (3) and which is not rectified by the recipient in his valid return for the month in which discrepancy is communicated shall be added to the output tax liability of the supplier, in such manner as may be prescribed, in his return for the month succeeding the month in which the discrepancy is communicated.
(6) The amount in respect of any reduction in output tax liability that is found to be on account of duplication of claims shall be added to the output tax liability of the supplier in his return for the month in which such duplication is communicated.
(7) The supplier shall be eligible to reduce, from his output tax liability, the amount added under sub-section (5) if the recipient declares the details of the credit note in his valid return within the time specified in sub-section (9) of section 39.
(8) A supplier in whose output tax liability any amount has been added under sub-section (5) or sub-section (6), shall be liable to pay interest at the rate specified under sub-section (1) of section 50 in respect of the amount so added from the date of such claim for reduction in the output tax liability till the corresponding additions are made under the said sub-sections.
(9) Where any reduction in output tax liability is accepted under sub-section (7), the interest paid under sub-section (8) shall be refunded to the supplier by crediting the amount in the corresponding head of his electronic cash ledger in such manner as may be prescribed: Provided that the amount of interest to be credited in any case shall not exceed the amount of interest paid by the recipient.
(10) The amount reduced from output tax liability in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (7) shall be added to the output tax liability of the supplier in his return for the month in which such contravention takes place and such supplier shall be liable to pay interest on the amount so added at the rate specified in sub-section (3) of section 50.