What is Form GSTR-2B?
Form GSTR-2B is a purchase-related statement that gets auto-generated for taxpayers. It contains details of inward supplies (purchases) received by the taxpayer, based on the data filed by their suppliers in Form GSTR-1, GSTR-1A, GSTR-5, GSTR-6, and import data from ICEGATE.
It is generated on the 14th day of the succeeding month for every tax period.
Is Form GSTR-2B a static or dynamic statement?
It is a static statement, meaning once it's generated on the 14th of the month, it does not change for that tax period. Any updates by suppliers after the 14th will reflect in the subsequent month's GSTR-2B.
Can taxpayers edit Form GSTR-2B?
No, Form GSTR-2B is a read-only, non-editable statement. However, if a taxpayer takes any action using the Invoice Management System (IMS), they can recompute GSTR-2B accordingly.
Why is Form GSTR-2B important for claiming ITC?
From January 1, 2022, taxpayers can claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) only on invoices or debit notes that appear in Form GSTR-2B. Earlier, ITC was linked to Form GSTR-2A, but that has now changed to GSTR-2B for better consistency.
What is the Invoice Management System (IMS) under GST?
IMS is a facility on the GST portal that lets recipients take action on invoices they receive. They can:
Accept – The ITC becomes available and auto-populates in GSTR-3B.
Reject – The ITC is removed from GSTR-3B.
Keep Pending – ITC can be claimed later, within the legal time limit.
No Action – By default, invoices are deemed accepted.
Can taxpayers change their decision on invoices in IMS?
Yes, multiple actions can be taken on an invoice before filing GSTR-3B. The latest action will overwrite the previous one. Once GSTR-3B is filed, the actions get locked for that period.
Can suppliers see the action taken by recipients on IMS?
Yes, suppliers can view the status of invoices based on the action taken by recipients, providing better transparency.
What is Draft GSTR-2B and Recomputed GSTR-2B?
After the introduction of IMS, the GSTR-2B generated on the 14th is treated as a draft. If a taxpayer takes any action in IMS after the 14th, they must recompute GSTR-2B before filing GSTR-3B to ensure accurate ITC reporting.
Will GSTR-2B generate if the previous GSTR-3B is not filed?
No, GSTR-2B for the next period is generated only after filing the previous period's GSTR-3B.
What about taxpayers under the QRMP scheme?
For QRMP taxpayers, GSTR-2B is generated quarterly after the 14th of the month following the end of the quarter. The same recomputation rules apply.
Are GSTR-2B details auto-populated in GSTR-3B?
Yes, the details from GSTR-2B auto-populate Table 4 of Form GSTR-3B. However, taxpayers must still verify and self-assess the ITC as per GST provisions.
What sections are there in Form GSTR-2B?
Form GSTR-2B is divided into three parts:
ITC Available – Eligible ITC from suppliers, imports, and ISD.
ITC Not Available – Ineligible ITC like those exceeding time limits or incorrect place of supply.
ITC Reversal (Rule 37A) – ITC reversal required if the supplier hasn’t filed GSTR-3B by the specified date.
Any final advice for taxpayers?
Taxpayers must reconcile GSTR-2B with their own records to avoid ITC errors. Remember to:
✔ Avoid double claiming of ITC.
✔ Reverse ITC wherever necessary.
✔ Pay tax under reverse charge wherever applicable.
Still confused about GSTR-2B or ITC eligibility?
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