GST Credit Note Rejected: How to Resolve This Issue?

Key Takeaways

• If Credit Note is rejected before filing GSTR-1, you can edit and re-upload it in the same month’s GSTR-1.
• There will be no extra liability if it is resolved before filing.
• If rejection was after filing GSTR-1 then it will add back to your tax liability in the next month’s GSTR-3B
• You can issue a corrected credit note in the next month of GSTR-1 to resolve the issue.

Why Credit Note is issued?

Credit note is issued when the goods are returned by the purchaser to it's supplier or the recipient has found an error in the invoice.

By issuing credit note it helps supplier to reduces the tax liability and the customer’s Input Tax Credit.

What to do if the Credit note is Rejected by the Recipient?

This issue is very common and maximum taxpayers are facing this issue when the recipient reject the Credit Note on the GST portal through IMS.

Let's explore how to fix a rejected GST Credit Note in GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B.

Situation 1: Credit Note Rejected But You Have Not Filed GSTR-1 Yet

Let’s say in March 2025, a supplier has prepared GSTR-1 and uploaded a Credit Note. As per the IMS under GST, once the supplier prepare it, the recipient can see it in their IMS immediately.

But for some reason if the recipient reject the Credit Note before you file your GSTR-1, then:

• The supplier must talk to the recipient and can ask why it was rejected.

• Once the reason is known, the supplier can edit or amend the Credit Note in GSTR-1 before filing.

• After the correction, upload the updated credit note again and file GSTR-1. The updated Credit Note will appear again in the recipient's IAMS, and they can accept it now.

Situation 2: Credit Note Rejected But You Have Already Filed GSTR-1

Now, if the customer rejects the credit note after filing GSTR-1 it becomes a bit tricky as you cannot change GSTR-1 for that month anymore. Here is what you need to do:

Let's say a supplier has issued an invoice in March 2025 but recipient has rejected.

Impact on tax liability for supplier

• If a supplier issued credit note in March, it will reduced the tax liability for that month.

• But since the customer rejected the credit note, the tax amount you reduced in March but will add back to your liability again.

• This adjustment won’t happen in March; it will reflect in your GSTR-3B for April 2025.

• In April’s GSTR-3B, you will have to pay the tax that was reversed due to the rejected credit note.

What should you do?

• Firstly find out why they rejected the credit note. If it is a genuine mistake, you can issue a corrected credit note in April 2025.

• Upload the corrected credit note in the month of April GSTR-1. This will again appear in the customer’s IMS, and they can accept it.

• If they accept the corrected credit note, they’ll reduce their ITC, and your tax liability will be adjusted properly.

Genuine Credit Note But Recipient Keeps Rejecting Without Reason

• If the purchaser is just being difficult and it keeps rejecting:

• For this, currently the GST system does not have a specific mechanism to force a customer to accept a credit note.

• The only option is to resolve the issue through discussion with the customer.

Click here to know more about Credit Note: E-Invoicing Requirement From 1st April 2025.