Issues in Tax Audit – Difference in ITC in GSTR 2A & GSTR 3B

Certain persons are required to get his books of account audited as per Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The applicability of this audit is mentioned in this section. While conducting audit under section 44AB of the said Act, Auditor has to report certain facts which are required by said Act in Form no 3CD which is prescribed for this Audit. Again Audit Report in Form 3CB is also require auditor to give opinion about true and fair view about state of affairs as on 31st March and Profit and loss earned during the period ending 31 st March of the assessee.  So in the light of these requirement of said Act, the auditor has to design and conduct audit. Today, we are going to discuss one such issue which may be required to dealt in details. The issue is Difference in ITC in GSTR 2A and GSTR 3B.

Every registered persons under GST Act, has to filed certain GST return as per its periodicity. One such Return is GST R 3B. As per provisions of GST Act, Input Tax Credit [ hereinafter , it is referred as ITC ] which is claimed by registered persons in GSTR 3B return has to be cross matched by the supplier persons. If it is matched or agreed, then ITC of the claimant or recipient is confirmed and allowed to the recipient. [ Rule 36 [2] of the The CGST Rules, 2017 ].

But if the supplier do not show sales to recipient , then in such situation, ITC claimed by the recipient is disallowed and he has to pay the GST accordingly. So while conducting the audit, Auditor has pay attention on this matter, as there is possibility that assessee has claimed the ITC in his GSTR 3B returns but his suppliers is not showing sales to him in GSTR 2A. So there may be liability which may be arise in future in relation to audit period. Then, there should be proper disclosure and accounting treatment is expected from the assessee on his part and also auditor has to report such matter in Form 3CD in clause 21 g – Contingent liability.

Meaning of Contingent liability

A  possible obligation arising from past events and the existence of which will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the enterprise; or • a present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognised because it is not probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation or a reliable estimate of the amount of obligation cannot be made.

[ As per Accounting Standard 29, issued by ICAI ]

So in the light of this definition of Contingent liability, the difference between ITC in GSTR 2A and GSTR 3B , which is in present case is Rs. 50,000/ is contingent liability because this obligation will arise if suppliers will not update its GST returns within allowable time. So on 31 st March, this event is future uncertain event. Hence it will be contingent liability on 31 st March and hence, we have dealt by that way.

So we will discuss this issue one by one as below:

Situation  –

Assessee A  has claimed ITC of Rs, 200,000 / in his GSTR 3B . GSTR 2A has shows sales to him having ITC of RS. 150,000/. So there is as per these two returns, assessee has claimed excess ITC of Rs. 50,000/ in his GST returns. So if his suppliers do not make  suitable changes  in his GST R 1 return, then recipient persons , here assessee has to pay Rs. 50,000/ as GST liability. 

So there following possibility may be arise.

1] Assessee is quiet confident about that he has made purchases from the suppliers and  and last date for such updation in GST returns is 20 October  [ which is yet to come,]  , and his suppliers will update required GST returns. So there will no difference in ITC claimed by the assessee and shown by his suppliers. So as a result , there will be no any additional GST liability will arise in future.

[ Last date for claiming ITC is due date for furnishing of the return u/s 39 for the month of September following the end of financial year to which such invoice relates  or Due date of furnishing Annual Return of that financial year, which ever is earlier. So due date for September return is 20 October.  it means 20 October is earlier date. So last date is 20 October . ]

                A] If such scenario exist, then assessee will not account this difference of Rs 50,000/ in his books of account as on 31 st March. In this situation, two more possibility may arise. They are as below:

                                * Assessee will disclose this fact in Notes to account attached to financial statement as 

Contingent liability with quantification.

In such situation,

A]  Auditor has to report this contingent liability in Clause 21g of the Form 3CD.

* Assessee will not disclose this fact in Notes to account attached to financial statement as Contingent liability with quantification.

In such situation,

1]  Auditor has to report this contingent liability in Clause 21g of the Form 3CD.

2] He has to report this fact in Form no 3 CB as qualification or in Key Audit Matters [ considering materiality of the issue ] . Because assesse is not disclosing  this difference of ITC in Notes to Account . So to that extent , profit of the assessee might be  inflated by that amount [ here , by Rs. 50,000/ ] or loss might be  suppressed by that amount [ here , by Rs. 50,000/ ] , if assessee is showing GST in Profit and loss account. And If not, then the state of affairs of the assessee might be  changed by that amount [ here , by Rs. 50,000/ ] While reporting this qualification or Key Audit Matters  in Audit Report, auditor should consider the requirement stated in Standard on Auditing 700 [ Revised ] and Standard on Auditing [SA] 701 issued by ICAI.     

B] Assessee is accepted that he has claimed excess ITC in GST Return, then in such situation, there will be two  possiblilities :

1] If assessee accepts the liability and account this liability in the books of account.

Then no any other disclosure or note is require. As liability is accounted, so there is no any contingent liability remains.

2] if Assessee accepts that   liability but not account this liability in books of accounts.

Then  such scenario exist,

1] He has to report this fact in Form no 3 CB as qualification or in Key Audit Matters [ considering materiality of the issue ] . Because assesse is not accounting  this difference of ITC in books of  Account . So to that extent , profit of the assessee is inflated  by that amount [ here Rs. 50,000/ ] or loss is  suppressed by that amount [ here Rs. 50,000/ ] , if assessee is showing GST in Profit and loss account. And If not, then the state of affairs of the assessee is  changed by that amount [ here Rs. 50,000/ ]

While reporting this qualification or Key Audit Matters  in Audit Report, auditor should consider the requirement stated in Standard on Auditing 700 [ Revised ] and Standard on Auditing [SA] 701 issued by ICAI.     

If assessee did not provide data regarding GSTR 2A and GSTR 3B to Auditor,

 then auditor will not in position to decide about any additional liability on account ITC liability. So he should make disclaimer note in Form NO 3CD and qualification in Form 3CB.

As there are lots of issues of cross matching of ITC in GST , even small businessman also are facing these issues. So the Small assesses who are eligible for Tax Audit u/s 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961, have these issues in their accounting . So Auditor has to be careful about such kind of issues. And Conduct audit accordingly.

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Disclaimer: Above discussion is made for general information purpose. I tried to  summarise issues relating to GST ITC.  Please go through and let me know , if there is any error or omissions or other views, if possible which will helpful to all professionals.  Thanks.

CA Shirish Vinchurkar,

Chartered Accountants. Chalisgaon Maharashtra. Casjv12@gmail.com