09 August 2024
let x ltd is the business engaged in bus travelers and their tickets are booked through online platforms y ltd like redbus or Abhibus etc here Ticket price is 1000+5% GST charged to the customer will be received by y ltd. y ltd will deduct their platform commission of 10% which comes to 100+18% gst = 118 here y ltd will collect 1050 and remit 932 to x ltd (1050-118) from the above case y ltd should disclose its income as 100 +18% gst but if in case y ltd has not disclosed the full amount 100+gst instead, they disclosed 50+gst in their GST returns In this case, how does govt have a track that the income is leaking here and there is no control ( specifically by notification tds u/s 194h is not applicable in this case ) how can govt track a case like this or what are the possibilities to track this leakage.
13 August 2025
Government Tracking & Controls: Mismatch in GST Returns: X Ltd will report ₹1000 + GST as sales in its GSTR-1. Y Ltd reports only ₹50 + GST as commission income. This creates a mismatch between supplies declared by X Ltd and inward supplies by Y Ltd. GST system has a matching mechanism and can flag discrepancies. Audit & Scrutiny: The tax authorities can conduct GST audits or assessments. Cross-verification of bank statements, payment gateways, and contracts can reveal under-reporting. TDS under GST: Section 194H (TDS on commission) does not apply to GST payments. But TDS under GST on commission is generally not applicable here, so no direct TDS mechanism. Third-party Data & Payment Gateways: Payment gateways, bank statements, and electronic transaction trails provide data. The government can track collections vs. remittances. Invoice Matching & E-way Bills: E-invoice and e-way bill data further enhance traceability. If Y Ltd does not declare correct commission, mismatch alerts occur. Use of Technology & AI: GSTN and tax authorities use AI and analytics to detect under-reporting. Frequent mismatch flags a case for scrutiny. Possible Remedies & Actions: Compliance drive: The government periodically issues notices and audits for mismatch cases. Penalty & Interest: Under-reporting commission can attract penalties under GST laws. Mandatory e-invoicing: For large turnover, mandatory e-invoicing reduces under-reporting. Contractual Agreement Review: Authorities may seek contracts between X Ltd and Y Ltd to verify commission terms. Cross-Verification of Bank Transactions: Any large payments/refunds are verifiable. Summary: Aspect Impact/Tracking Method Mismatch in GST Returns Automatic mismatch flags & scrutiny Lack of TDS applicability No direct TDS tracking on commission Payment Gateway Data Electronic transaction records analyzed Audit & Assessment Tax officer can request detailed documents Penalties Possible for under-reporting and mis-declaration Conclusion: While TDS under section 194H is not applicable on GST commission income, government tracking largely relies on GST return reconciliation, electronic payment trails, audits, and technology tools to detect under-reporting or leakage.