Everything About Input Tax Credit

What is Input Tax Credit (ITC)?

ITC is one of the core aspects of GST. Simply put, ITC is a credit of input tax. Input credit means that the taxpayer can reduce the output tax liability by the amount of tax already paid on inputs.

So, every registered person while paying the tax on output can claim the credit of tax already paid on input(purchases). The credit claimed shall be credited to the electronic credit ledger of that person. The inputs on which credit is claimed should have been used in the course or furtherance of business.

Importance of ITC

In the earlier Indirect tax regime, the credit of central taxes could not be set off against a state levy and vice versa. So, we can say that ITC was not available on inter-State purchases. This resulted in cascading effect, thereby increasing the price of goods and services.

The GST Regime promises seamless credit on goods and services across the entire supply chain with some exceptions. So, in GST, ITC Scheme has been designed to mitigate the cascading effect of taxes and make GST a destination-based tax. In GST law, it does not require a ‘one-to-one’ co-relation between inward supply and outward supply, because of which, now, any eligible ITC can be used for payment of tax on any taxable output supply.

In which specific cases ITC is not allowed?

In the following specific cases ITC shall not be allowed if allowed subject to some conditions:

• No ITC shall be available unless the registered person complies with the conditions laid down under Section 16 of the CGST Act, according to which ITC shall only be allowed if the person has tax invoice, has received goods and services or both, the tax has been paid to govt., and has furnished a return under section 39.

• No ITC shall be allowed if depreciation is claimed on the tax component.

• NO ITC in respect of any invoice after the due date of furnishing return under section 39.

• No ITC on exempt supplies. (Exception: Zero-rated Supplies i.e., exports or supplies made to special economic zones, ITC shall be available.)

• NO ITC on tax paid in pursuance of any order where any demand has been confirmed on account of wilful misstatement or suppression of facts.

What are Blocked Credits in ITC?

Following are the cases of Blocked Credits as per section 17(5) of CGST Act, 2017, where no ITC shall be available even when used for the business purpose:

What Documentation is required for Claiming ITC?

The input tax credit can be availed by a registered person, including Input Service Distributor on the basis of any of the following documents:

• An invoice, revised invoice, or debit note issued by the supplier,

• Invoice issued by the recipient in case of reverse charge mechanism,

• Bill of Entry or similar document prescribed under the customs act, 1962,

• Document issued by Input service distributor.

Without proper documentation, there will be difficulty in claiming the Input tax credit. Also, any inadmissible or fake credit availed, then as per Rule 86A commissioner or an officer (not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner) can impose restrictions on utilization of such ITC.

What is the Importance of Reconciliation with 2A?

It has been observed that there are some taxpayers who take inflated or bogus ITC, even when proper tax invoices or debit notes in respect of inputs or inputs services are not available. So, to exercise control over such malpractices of availing bogus ITC by taxpayers, certain restrictions have been placed on availment of ITC. So, to safeguard the revenue interest of the government and to block the ineligible ITC or fake ITC Rule 36(4) has been brought.

According to this, ITC on all invoices and debit notes which are uploaded by the supplier in their GSTR-1 can be availed in full.

In respect of invoices, the details of which are not uploaded by the supplier in their GSTR-1 and hence cannot be seen in the recipients GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B, ITC can be availed only up to 5% of the eligible credit available in respect of invoices and debit notes the details of which has been uploaded by the supplier in their GSTR-1.

In simple language, we can say that the ITC claimed should not exceed 105% of ITC reflecting in GSTR-2A on the due date of filing of GSTR-1 of the suppliers for the said tax period.

Imp: The restricted amount of ITC claimed on the invoices, the details of which are not available should not exceed the actual eligible ITC available in respect of invoices uploaded.

SO, it is very important for the reconciliation of GSTR-2A to claim full ITC. This can be done with minimum efforts using Webtel Electrosoft software for filing GST. At Webtel, GSTR-2A is just one click away, which means taxpayers can now download GSTR-2A in one click for the whole financial year or YTD for matching. Webtel also has an advanced matching tool to claim 100% accurate ITC.

Order of Adjustment of Liability

As per section 49(5), the amount of input tax credit available in the electronic credit ledger of the registered person on account of:

• IGST shall be first utilized towards payment of IGST and any remaining amount shall be utilized towards payment of CGST or SGST in any ratio.

• CGST shall be first utilized for the payment of CGST, SGST shall be first utilized for the payment of SGST, UTGST shall be first utilized for the payment of UTGST and any amount remaining thereafter may be utilized towards payment of IGST.

The above can be summarised using the below table:

Also, as per Rule 88A, input tax credit on account of IGST shall be first utilized towards payment of IGST, and the amount remaining if any shall be further utilized for the payment of CGST, SGST, or UTGST in any ratio.

For easy allocation of ITC, software at Webtel can be used since all the provisions relating to apportionment of ITC, any amendment in the law or any circular is timely updated in the software, and Webtel team also provides proper assistance, if required at any phase.

Interest on late payment only on the net liability of GST (excluding ITC)

After the 39th GST council meeting, the interest on delayed GST payments would be applicable only on net cash tax liability after the deduction of the available Input tax credit, if any. The same has been made retrospectively effective from 1st July 2017 via Finance Act 2021.

How Webtel can make the whole GST Filing & ITC claiming easy?

By using the software of Webtel, which provides end-to-end assistance with easy query solutions, such delays can be reduced. Webtel is one roof for GST, as it enables GST filing, generation of E-Invoice, and E-way bil also. Performing all the compliance work under the same platform will not only save from compliance costs but will also reduce time and effort. For further information, you can now schedule a demo on Webtel.