Initiation of recovery proceedings due to difference between GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B

Under Goods and Services Tax, various amendments were made effective from 1^st January 2022. Out of them, one of the important amendment that is creating a huge hue and cry between the trade and industry is relating to the initiation of recovery proceedings in case of difference between outward supplies detailed by a registered person via Form GSTR-1 and Form GSTR-3B.

The present article firstly explains the provisions relating to the said recovery proceedings; discusses the CBIC tweet in the matter and also briefs the instruction issued by CBIC in the matter.

Provisions relating to the recovery proceedings in case of difference between GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B-

Vide Section 114 of the Finance Act, 2021, an explanation was inserted to section 75(12) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. Before understanding the newly inserted explanation, firstly let us understand the provisions of section 75(12).

Section 75(12) simply states that recovery proceedings will be initiated in case of any amount of unpaid ‘self-assessed tax’ in accordance with the return furnished under section 39. Now, the inserted explanation states inclusion of the term ‘self-assessed tax’.

Accordingly, the explanation states that the term ‘self-assessed tax’ will include tax payable in respect of which details of outward supplies are furnished via Form GSTR-1, but the tax on the same is not paid through Form GSTR-3B.

The said explanation was inserted vide the Finance Act, 2021 but was made effective from 1^st January 2022 [refer notification no. 39/2021- Central Tax dated 21^st December 2021].

CBIC clarification in the matter via Twitter-

As the matter was hitting up the market, the CBIC via Twitter provided some clarification on 24^th December 2021. Accordingly, CBIC clarified as under-

Explanation to section 75(12) is to clarify the tax on self-declared supplies by the registered person in Form GSTR-1, which is not been paid via Form GSTR-3B, will be considered as self-assessed liability and can be recovered.

It was also clarified by CBIC that the main purpose behind imposing the amendment was to impart discipline in the system and to facilitate the recipient of the supply to avail Input Tax Credit in a timely manner.

CBIC instruction in the matter-

Vide instruction no. 01/2022- GST dated 7^th January 2022, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has issued the following guidelines in the matter-

• Cases, wherein, recovery proceedings can be initiated under section 79 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 on the basis of the explanation under section 75(12)-

1. Tax payable as per details of outward supplies furnished by the registered person in Form GSTR-1 is wholly not paid via return in Form GSTR-3B; or
2. Tax payable as per details of outward supplies furnished by the registered person in Form GSTR-1 is partly not paid via return in Form GSTR-3B; or
3. Any amount of interest payable on non-paid or short paid tax as above.

• Manner of working for recovery proceedings in the matter-
  • Firstly, the proper officer will send a communication (with Document Identification Number) to the registered person instructing the person to-

1. Either pay the short paid or not paid amounts/ tax payable in terms of provisions of section 75(12); or
2. Provide an explanation for the reasons of such short payment or non-payment within a prescribed time limit.
   • If the registered person is able to satisfactorily justify the difference between the figures of Form GSTR-1 and Form GSTR-3B, then the recovery proceedings under section 79 may not be initiated by the proper officer.
   • If the registered person didn’t reply at all or was not able to justify the difference, then the recovery proceedings under section 79 will be initiated by the proper officer.

• Genuine cases for which proper officer may not initiate the recovery proceedings, if the registered person provides appropriate reply-
  • Typographical error or wrong reporting of details in Form GSTR-1 or Form GSTR-3B;
  • Supply of an earlier tax period not declared in Form GSTR-1, however, the tax was correctly paid by reporting the said supply in Form GSTR-3B.

Synopsis-

The summary of the entire provisions is tabulated hereunder-