I understand that you have received an intimation for excess ITC availed in 2017-18. This may be due to the new rule 88D of CGST Rules, which deals with the ITC mismatches between GSTR-2B and GSTR-3B. According to this rule, if the amount of ITC availed by the taxpayer in GSTR 3B for any tax period or periods exceeds the amount of ITC in Form GSTR 2B, by such amount and such percentage as may be recommended by the Council, a system generated intimation shall be sent on the common portal of the taxpayer. This intimation will be sent in Form DRC-01C1. The taxpayer has to respond to this intimation within seven days by either paying the excess ITC amount along with interest, or submitting the reasons for the discrepancy along with supporting documents, if any2. The tax authorities will then verify the response and take appropriate action.
If you have availed ITC in 2017-18 and received it in September 2018, you may have reported it in your GSTR-3B for September 2018. However, your GSTR-2B for September 2018 may not have reflected the same amount of ITC, as it is based on the invoices uploaded by your suppliers. This may have caused a mismatch between your GSTR-2B and GSTR-3B, and triggered the intimation under rule 88D. You may have also filed your GSTR-9 for 2017-18 without reconciling the ITC difference.
To resolve this issue, you may have to check your GSTR-2B and GSTR-3B for September 2018 and identify the invoices that have caused the ITC mismatch. You may also have to check your GSTR-9 for 2017-18 and see if you have reported the correct amount of ITC. You may then have to respond to the intimation in Form DRC-01C by either paying the excess ITC amount along with interest, or submitting the reasons for the discrepancy along with supporting documents, if any. You may also have to rectify your GSTR-9 for 2017-18, if required, by filing an amendment return in Form GSTR-9C