GSTR-2B is the auto-drafted statement of input tax credit generated for each GSTIN every month from your suppliers' filings. In practice, credit you claim in GSTR-3B should be supported by GSTR-2B. If a supplier files late or makes a mistake, your credit is at risk.
The routine
- Close your purchase register: make sure every supplier bill for the month is recorded with the supplier's GSTIN, invoice number, date and tax amounts.
- Download GSTR-2B from the GST portal once it is generated for the month.
- Match line by line on GSTIN + invoice number + tax amount. Classify each line as matched, amount mismatch, missing in 2B, or missing in books.
- Follow up suppliers for missing or mismatched invoices with a short list: invoice, amount, what is wrong.
- Claim credit in GSTR-3B based on your reconciled data, and keep the working.
Common reasons for mismatches
- Supplier typed the wrong GSTIN or invoice number.
- Invoice recorded in your books in a different month from the supplier's filing.
- Rounding differences and credit notes not recorded.
- Supplier has not filed GSTR-1 at all.
Keep a running list of chronic late filers. Consider holding a part of their payment until the invoice appears in 2B, as your agreement allows.
Doing it with less effort
Bebaak Tax (on the India Compliance app) imports GSTR-2B and matches it against purchase invoices recorded in Bebaak. If your books are in another system, our GST & tax support service runs this routine for you every month.
