Overview
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is India's destination-based tax on the supply of goods and services. Supplies within a state attract central and state tax (CGST and SGST, or UTGST in a union territory); supplies between states and imports attract integrated tax (IGST).
Most GST questions turn on a few points — whether a transaction is taxable, at what rate, where it is supplied and whether input tax credit is available — and on keeping returns consistent with the business's books and its suppliers' filings. The firm advises on these points and supports clients through refunds, audits, notices and appeals.
When it is typically needed
- Registering for GST, or adding places of business
- Unclear classification, rate or place of supply for a product or service
- Input tax credit in the books does not match GSTR-2B
- Claiming a refund on exports or accumulated credit
- Receiving a notice, audit intimation or demand
- Appealing an order, or assessing e-invoicing and e-way bill requirements
Scope of work
Advisory and classification
- GST registration and advisory
- Applicability and rate classification
- Place of supply
- Transaction structuring
Returns and reconciliation
- GST return filing support
- Input tax credit reconciliation
- GSTR-2B matching
- Annual return support
Refunds and ITC matters
- GST refund claims
- Input tax credit review
- Blocked credit advisory
- Export refund support
Assessment and notice support
- GST audit support
- Replies to notices
- Departmental representation
- Demand matters
Appeals and litigation
- GST appeal filing
- E-way bill matters
- E-invoicing advisory
- Litigation support
Terms explained
For readers less familiar with Indian tax and regulatory terminology.
- GSTIN
- GST Identification Number — the 15-character registration number of a GST-registered person.
- ITC
- Input Tax Credit — credit for GST paid on business purchases, available against output tax subject to conditions.
- GSTR-2B
- An auto-generated statement on the GST portal showing input tax credit available to a recipient based on suppliers' filings.
- Place of supply
- The rules that decide whether a supply is intra-state or inter-state, and therefore which tax applies.
- Zero-rated supply
- Exports and supplies to Special Economic Zones, which may be made with tax refunded or without payment of tax under a Letter of Undertaking (LUT), subject to conditions.
- E-invoicing and e-way bill
- Electronic reporting of specified invoices to the government's portal, and the electronic document required for movement of goods above prescribed thresholds.
Scope and limitations
- Refunds, credits and the outcome of any proceeding are determined by the tax authorities and appellate bodies; no outcome is assured.