Changes in the GST refund Procedure and Rules



Quick Summary
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has introduced significant updates to the GST refund rules, effective from May 18, 2021. Key changes include excluding the time taken to rectify deficiencies from the two-year limit for fresh refund claims and allowing applicants to withdraw their refund applications before an order is issued. Additionally, amounts debited from ledgers for withdrawn refunds will be recredited, and procedures for releasing withheld refunds have been clarified.

Changes in GST Refund Rules

Recently CBIC has issued Notification No. 15 /2021 - Central Tax dated 18th May 2021 specifying changes in the CSGT Rules, which has brought changes in GST refund procedure (e.g. withdrawal of refund application, adjustment of refund amount against pending demand, extension of time period for computation of period of limitation, etc.). Same has been discussed herein below –

1. Exclusion of time from the date of filing refund claim to the time of communication of deficiencies for period of two year - Insertion of new provision to Rule 90 (3) of the CGST Rules, 2017

The time period, from the date of filing of the refund claim in FORM GST RFD-01 till the date of communication of the deficiencies in FORM GST RFD-03, shall be excluded from the period of two years, for any fresh refund claim filed after rectification of the deficiencies.

Comments: This is a welcome move brought in by CBIC. Earlier the period of filing of GST refund and date of communication of deficiencies was included in the time limit of 2 years. Hence, in case at the time of communication of deficiency, the 2 year period gets over, the claim was rejected.

New GST Refund Rules: What You Need to Know

2. Withdrawal of refund application - Insertion of sub rule 5 in Rule 90 of the CGST Rules, 2017

The refund applicant which is filed (in FORM GST RFD-01) be withdrawn at any time before -

  1. issuance of provisional refund sanction order (in FORM GST RFD-04); or
  2. final refund sanction order (in FORM GST RFD-06); or
  3. payment order (in FORM GST RFD-05); or
  4. refund withhold order (in FORM GST RFD-07); or
  5. notice (in FORM GST RFD-08)

by filing an application in FORM GST RFD-01W.

 

3. Recredit of the amount debited from Electronic Credit/Cash Ledger - Insertion of sub rule 6 in Rule 90 of the CGST Rules, 2017

Once the application for withdrawal of refund in FORM GST RFD-01W is submitted, any amount debited from electronic credit ledger or electronic cash ledger, shall be credited back to the Electronic Credit/Cash ledger

4. Order for Release of Refund Amount withheld - Insertion of new provision to Rule 92 (2) of the CGST Rules, 2017

If the proper officer or the Commissioner is satisfied that the refund is no longer liable to be withheld, he may pass an order for release of withheld refund in Part B of FORM GST RFD- 07.

 

5. Substitution of refund FORM GST RFD - 07

If the proper officer or the Commissioner is satisfied that the refund is no longer liable to be withheld, he may pass an order for release of withheld refund in Part B of FORM GST RFD- 07.

FAQ :

The recent changes aim to streamline the GST refund procedure, making it more efficient and user-friendly for taxpayers by introducing updates to rules regarding refund application withdrawal, time period calculations, and ledger recrediting.

The time from filing a refund claim (FORM GST RFD-01) to the communication of deficiencies (FORM GST RFD-03) will now be excluded from the two-year period for filing a fresh claim after rectifying those deficiencies.

Yes, a refund applicant can withdraw their application in FORM GST RFD-01W at any point before a provisional or final refund sanction order, payment order, refund withhold order, or notice is issued.

Once a withdrawal application (FORM GST RFD-01W) is submitted, any amount debited from the electronic credit ledger or electronic cash ledger will be credited back to the respective ledgers.

If the proper officer or Commissioner determines that a refund is no longer liable to be withheld, they can issue an order for the release of the withheld refund in Part B of FORM GST RFD-07.


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About the Author

Founder - TaxMarvel Consulting Services LLP

Rohit is a CA, CS and CMA and Gold Medalist Law Graduate. He has also passed DISA (ICAI). Rohit is Founder of TaxMarvel Consulting Services LLP (a niche consulting firm engaged in providing GST Services to Corporates and SMEs) He was earlier head ofGST Business (GST Suvidha Provider) for Karvy Data Management Servic ... Read more


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