Tax Free Purchase Figure missed in GSTR 3B

Hi Prem,

Here’s how you can handle the missed tax-free purchase figures in your GSTR-3B returns:

Background:

• You missed reporting tax-free (exempt or nil-rated) purchases in some months’ GSTR-3B for FY 2022-23.

• Total turnover ~ ₹3 crores.

• Sales (including nil-rated sales) were properly reported.

What to do?

1. For Past Months (Already Filed Returns):
   Unfortunately, GSTR-3B cannot be revised or amended for previous months once filed.
   You cannot revise old GSTR-3B returns to add missed tax-free purchases.

2. Correcting in Current/Upcoming GSTR-3B (September 2023):

   • Include the missed tax-free purchases in the current month’s GSTR-3B (September 2023) under the 'Exempted, Nil Rated and Non-GST inward supplies' (Table 4B).

   • This way, your cumulative purchases for the year will reflect the correct figures.

3. Maintain Proper Records:

   • Keep detailed records of all missed tax-free purchases month-wise for your internal reconciliation and audit trail.

   • This will help during GST audit or scrutiny to justify the treatment.

4. Disclosure to Authorities (Optional):

   • If the missed amounts are material and you want to be extra cautious, consider filing a letter/explanation to your jurisdictional GST officer explaining the correction in the current month’s return.

Summary:

• No amendment allowed in old GSTR-3B.

• Adjust missed tax-free purchases in the upcoming (September 2023) return under exempt/nil-rated purchases.

• Maintain documentation for audit.