Audit Conducted by the Gst Department Under Section 65 of Cgst Act,2017(Updated till january 2024)

Dear colleagues, we have completed 4 years of GST Law. The Honorable Union Finance Minister made a proposal of “scrap GST Audit” in Union Budget,2021. The scope of GST Audit under Section 65 has been increased. As per information from the reliable source from the CGST Department “MASSIVE CASES” will be taken in GST Audit as per Section 65 of CGST Act, 2017. So, it’s time to know “how to select cases for Audit under Sec.65 and what are the Risk Parameters for selection of Audit” by the CGST Department? So, I thought in my mind to create certain awareness and to provide certain important key points on GST Audit taken by the GST Officers under Section 65 of CGST Act,2017 with relevant notifications, Press Releases, and Instructions issued by the CBIC from time to time to prepare data for completion of an audit and discuss with the GST Audit Officer by all the GST professionals on various doubts arising by the GST Audit officer during the GST Audit to the tax professionals.

As per Section 65(1) of the CGST Act, 2017, the Commissioner or any officer authorized by him, by way of a general or a specific order, may undertake an audit of any registered person for such period, at such frequency and in such manner as may be prescribed. The period of audit to be conducted under Sub-section (1) of Section 65 shall be a financial year or multiplies thereof as per Rule 10(1) of CGST Act, 2017. As per Section 2(13) of the CGST Act, 2017, ‘Audit’ means the examination of records, returns and other relevant documents prescribed in the CGST Act,2017, whether the tax payer has maintained or furnished by the registered person under this Act or the rules made thereunder to verify the correctness of turnover declared and taxes paid thereon, input tax claimed by the tax payer and followed compliance with the provisions of the CGST Law. Now Friends, let us understand “what is the Rick Parameters” for the Selection of audit cases by the GST Department.

Some of the important Risk Parameters that could be considered during the selection of audit by Audit Commissioner are as under:-

(i) Volume of the Taxpayer’s turnover/net profit,
(ii) If any changes happened in the Taxpayer’s turnover/net profit for the previous years,
(iii) Volume of Exemptions claimed by the taxpayer’s year wise,
(iv) Higher incidence of supplies without the issuance of E-Way Bills,
(v) Taxpayer who does not file a periodical return but issues E-Way Bills and inconsistency in the data declared in GSTR-1 and E-way Bills generated,
(vi) Financial ratio analysis and if any major variations observations,
(vii) Volume of Tax Refund claimed by the taxpayer’s year wise comparison and if any variations observations,
(viii) Multitude of the taxpayer’s legal relationships with other entities,
(ix) Taxpayer has multiple branches,
(x) Taxpayer who has requested waiver or is bankrupt,
(xi) Taxpayer categorized as High Risk,
(xii) Taxpayer’s return was previously investigated for evasion,
(xiii) Taxpayer who has not been audited in the pre-GST era for a long period i.e. 4 to 5 years under VAT or Service Tax,
(xiv) Any specific information received from other Government authorities i.e. Income Tax, ROC, RBI, Local tax authorities, or any written complaint received from the person.
(xv) Difference in the turnover as declared in Form GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B returns for a continuous period,
(xvi) Difference in ITC availed and utilized as per GSTR-3B and ITC available as per GSTR2A,
(xvii) the Wrong classification of goods or services provide, effecting the wrong levy of tax,
(xviii) Mismatch in the details of Export reported under GSTR-1 and information lodged on ICEGATE, Under the above circumstances the audit officer on receiving authorization from his higher authority as per GST Law,2017, shall issue a notice in advance not less than 15 working days prior to the conduct of the audit.
The audit officer shall complete such audit within 3 months from the date of communication of audit as per section 65(4) of CGST Act, 2017. ‘Commencement of audit’ means the date on which the records and other documents called by the audit officer are made available by the registered person or the actual institution of audit at the place of business, whichever is later.

Procedure to be followed by the GST officer during the department audit:

During the course of the audit, the authorized officer may require the following records and data of a registered taxable person under GST Law,2017.

(a) Financial Year wise audit: As per Sec.65(1) of CGST Act, 2017, the period of the audit shall be a financial year or multiples thereof as per Rule 101(1) of CGST & SGST Rules, 2017.

(b) Powers to order and conduct audit: Persons registered with Central GST authorities, will be audited by the Superintendent of Central Tax who is designated as “ Proper officer” for the purpose of raising demand under Section 65(7) of CGST Act, 2017, vide circular issued by CBE&C No.3/3/2017-GST, dated. 5.7.2017.

(c) Who are registered with the State GST Authorities: such taxable person’s audit is taken up by Assistant Commissioner (State Tax ) and Deputy Commissioner ( State Tax ) designated as a proper officer for the purpose of raising demand under Section 65(7) of SGST Act,2017.

(d) Verification of records by the audit team and audit notes: The proper officer authorized to conduct an audit of the records and books of account of the registered person shall with the assistance of the team of officers and officials accompanying him, verify the documents and statements furnished under the Act and rules made thereunder, to check the correctness of following:-

(i). Books of accounts as per Section 35 of the CGST Act read with Rule 56 Prescribes Accounts and record requirements for a registered person,
(ii). Tax Invoices, Bill of Supply, Delivery Challans, Credit Notes, Debit Notes, receipt Vouchers, payment vouchers and refunds etc., like the details in the invoices, should be subject to specific rules, if the format of the invoices various. Management should be advised to make amendment in the invoice includes the requirements as per the GST Rules, 2017.
(iii). If the taxpayer is having multiple branches, stock transfers amongst branches must also be reconciled. Stock Register reflecting opening balance, receipts, supply, and goods lost, stole Destroyed and the closing stock,
(iv). If the taxpayer is a manufacturer, production records including break up of raw materials, finished goods, scrap, etc,
(v). Details of Advances received and paid during the audit period,
(vi). Records pertaining to Input Tax Credit availed and utilized like if the taxpayer claimed extra ITC, he will have to pay interest @24% on the excess tax amount, the auditor would need to reconcile that businessman does not claim excess Input Tax Credit. Input Tax Credit should be reversed for nonpayment within 180 days and this should be checked by the auditor,
(vii). If the taxpayer has maintained electronic records, log of all the entries modified or Deleted, etc.,
(viii). If the taxpayer is a Job worker, Job work register, etc., Was there any good that was sent on an approval basis and it’s exceeding the time limit of 6 months and not offered to tax? If yes, then add that amount in turnover and increase the tax liability
(ix). Details of E-Way Bills register as per GSTN data,
(x). Copies of GST Returns like GSTR-1, GSTR-2A, GSTR-2B, GSTR-3B, GSTR-4, GSTR 5, GSTR-5A, GSTR-6, GSTR 9/9C, GSTR-10, ITC-01, ITC-05, ITC-05A, and RFD-01 and copies of tax payment challan, etc., for the audit periods.
(xi). Audited Financial Statements including Audit Report etc., for the audit periods,
(xii). Copy of Income Tax Return(filed) for the audit periods,
(xiii). Copy of Form 26AS provided by I.T. Department for the audit periods.
(xiv). Copies of Inward and Outward Ledgers,
(xv). Copy of the GST registration certificates of Principal Place of Business and branch and another place of details whether incorporate or not,
(xvi), Ledger of stock maintained at where house by the taxable person,
(xvii). Copy and details of Trans-1, Trans-2, and 2A and Trans-3, etc., for the year 2017-18 along with stock register and copies of the original invoice relating to ITC claimed in Trans-1 for the period prior to July’2017 as per Sec.143 of CGST Act,2017.

The Below Table shows details of documents to be issued under GST Law by the
taxpayers.

Time period prior to conducting the audit:-

The proper officer after receiving intimation and authorization from the Commissioner about GST Audit under Sec.65 of CGST Act, 2017, where it is decided to undertake the audit of a a registered person shall issue a notice not less than 15 working days prior to the conduct of Audit,

Time Limit for Completion of Audit by the GST department:-

The GST Audit officer is required to complete within 3 months from the date of commencement of the audit. The period can be extended for a further period of a maximum of 6 months by the Commissioner,

The taxpayer to follow the following duties during the GST Audit conducted by the GST
officers:

1.  To Comply in time with GST-ADT-01 notice and all necessary correspondence from the audit an officer with respect to the audit proceeding,
2. To make available all necessary books of accounts i.e. physical records as well as accounting system access/electronic record as per necessity to the audit team and any other document/ information required to complete the audit,
3.  To provide the necessary facility to verify the books of account/other documents as required,
4. To ensure the presence of either the Registered Person or his authorized representative at the place of business where audit is being conducted during audit activity so that he can explain the books and the business activity properly,
5. To extend necessary cooperation to the audit team during the Place of Business audit visit for timely completion of the audit,
6. To follow the statutory timelines in case of making the payment if audit results are accepted and/or to comply with a notice under section 73 /74 of GST Act in case audit findings are not accepted.

Modes of serving Notice under GST:

1. Hand-delivering the notice either directly or by a messenger or by a courier to the the taxpayer or his representative.
2.  By registered post or a speed post or a courier with an acknowledgment addressed to the last known place of the business of the taxpayer.
3. Communication through the email address.
4. Make it available on the GST portal after logging in.
5. By publication in a regional newspaper being circulated in the locality- that of the taxpayer based on the last known residential address.
6. If none of the above means is used, then by affixing it in some prominent place this last known place of business or residence. If this is not found reasonable by the tax authorities, they can affix a copy on the notice board of the office of the concerned officer or authority as a last resort.

Notices in GST Portal:

The main problem faced by the taxpayers regarding notices is that many times, they don’t understand how to check the notice on the GST portal. Earlier, notices were sent in hard copy at the registered address of the taxpayer, but in GST Law, to follow:-

1.  Log in on common portal > Click on User services > Click on View Notices,
2. Or sometimes few notices are served under the heading View additional notices.

List of Notices Form – Description and Response/ Precautions for the same:-

What are the consequences if not responded to the notices by the taxpayer?

The taxpayer should respond promptly to the notice issued in his /her name within the time specified. In case, the taxpayer fails to do so, he will be legally acted upon. The GST authorities can eventually prosecute such a taxpayer or consider it as a purposeful default and charge the taxpayer with a penalty. But, as a good practice and timely reply to the notices, Taxpayers are always advised to keep track of information reported on the GST Portal.

If any irregularity or mistake is observed, the taxpayer should try to correct the same in the most latest return, if possible, also, the taxpayer should reconcile all the returns with each other, like turnover reported in Form GSTR-1 with Form GSTR-3B and E-Way Bills generated and also the reconciliation of Input Tax Credit availed in Form GSTR3B with Form GSTR-2A or Form GSTR-2B.

How to identify differences between Form GSTR-2A and Form GSTR-3B?

Generally, these following differences happen between Form GSTR-2A and Form GSTR-3B.

(i) The supplier is having a frequency of uploading Form GSTR-1 Quarterly,
(ii) Input Tax Credit as per Reverse Charge Mechanism,
(iii) Input Tax Credit relating to Import of Services and Goods,
(iv) The important issue is Supplier has not uploaded and filed Form GSTR-1 in time and not properly filed and uploaded.
(v) The buyer has not made a payment on inward supply of goods and services within specified time i.e. within 180 days, but supplier raised invoice as per GST law at the time of supply of goods and services but the recipient has claimed ITC on such invoices. So, under these circumstances, the buyer has reversed ITC along with interest and informed the supplier.

If the buyer has identified differences between Form GSTR-1 and Form GSTR-3B, how to rectify such differences for the buyer?

If the buyer has identified any differences between Form GSTR-1 and Form GSTR-3B, he has to take appropriate steps i.e. to follow up with the supplier and inform to upload Form GSTR-1 timely with correct details of Tax invoices with correct tax and value of supply of goods and services.

What is the importance to reconcile Form GSTR-1 with Form GSTR-3B by the
taxpayer?

The GST department is watching taxpayers’ data along with Form GSTR-1 and Form GSTR3B regularly with their data analysis wing as per the GST audit manual issued by the GST department from time to time to select files for GST audit by the GST authority as per Section 65 of CGST Act. If GST analysis identifies differences as per the GST manual GST audit department issues notice on Form ASMT-10 to the taxpayer to submit all the records for audit under Section 65 of the CGST Act.

What are the consequences, if any mistakes are identified by the GST Audit officer?

During the audit due to many reasons, mistakes are made by the taxpayer like:-
(i) Wrong or Fake invoices are issued by the taxpayer,
(ii) False information provided while registering under GST or financial records or documents or has filed fake returns to evade tax and has hidden information or has given false information during proceedings,
(iii) The taxpayer has collected GST but did not submit it to the GST department within 3 months,
(iv) The taxpayer has taken ITC without actual receipt of goods and services,
(v) If the taxpayer deliberately suppressed outward supply of goods or services to evade tax and other mistakes, the taxpayers are liable to pay a penalty as per below:-

CONCLUSION:

After completion of GST Audit by the Appropriate officer, if such taxpayer has not paid tax or short paid tax or erroneously claimed refund amount or wrongly claimed Input Tax Credit availed or utilized, then the proper officer has to issue a notice to the taxpayer within 30 days and serve show-cause notice to file objections. If he has satisfied with the objections filed by the taxpayer he will drop the proposal of demand or otherwise initiate action under section 73 or 74 of CGST Act, as the case may be.

Dear colleagues,
I think the above article has clarified all your doubts on the GST audit conducted by the GST department under Section 65 of the CGST Act. So, you have to take care of your client and also complete audit smoothly, and give support and proper guidance to your clients and department officers as per notifications, circulars, and amendments issued from time to time by the Government in this regard. Finally, I am trying to provide on the above subject at my best of knowledge.

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