CBEC’s press release dated 29.11.2017 regarding GST Refund

PRESS RELEASE

29th November, 2017

ON GST REFUND

Exporters have been complaining about delay in grant of refunds pertaining toIntegrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid on goods exported out of India and similarlyInput Tax credit (ITC) on exports. There are media reports with exaggerated estimations ofrefund amounts which are held up for the period July to October 2017. It is clarified that thequantum of IGST refund claims as filed through shipping bills during the period July toOctober 2017, is approximately Rs 6500 Crores and the quantum of refund of unutilizedcredit on inputs or input services, as per the RFD 01A applications filed on GSTN portal, isto the tune of Rs 30 Crores.

Refund of IGST:

With regard to IGST paid on goods exported out of India, majority of refund claimsfor exports made in July, 2017 where due have been sanctioned. Refund claims of IGST paidfor exports made in August, September and October 2017 are being sanctioned seamlesslywherever returns have been accurately filed. The prerequisites for sanction of refund ofIGST paid are filing of GSTR 3 B and table 6A of GSTR 1 on the GSTN portal andShipping Bill on Customs EDI system by the exporter. It is essential that exporters shouldensure that there is no discrepancy in the information furnished in Table 6A of GSTR 1 andthe Shipping Bill. It has been observed that certain common errors such as incorrect Shipping
Bill number in GSTR1, mis-match of invoice number and IGST amount paid, wrong bank account etc. are being committed by exporters while filing their returns. These errors are thesole reason for delay in grant of refunds, or rejection thereof. While information has beenmade available to Exporters on the ICEGATE portal if they are registered, they may alsocontact jurisdictional Customs authorities to check the errors they have committed infurnishing information in GST returns and Shipping Bill, and rectify them at the earliest.
As the Customs system is designed to automatically grant refunds withoutinvolvement of any officer by matching information that is furnished on GSTN portal andCustoms system, the onus is on the exporters to fill in all the details accurately. Exportersmay therefore take due precaution to ensure that no errors creep in while filing Table 6A ofGSTR 1 of August 2017 and onwards. The facility for filing GSTR 1 for August 2017 wouldalso be ready by 4th December 2017. In case of wrong entries made in July, Table 9 of GSTR1 of August month would allow amendments to GSTR 1 of July 2017.

Refund of Input Tax Credit:

As far as refund of the unutilized input tax credit on inputs or input services used inmaking exports is concerned, exporters shall file an application in FORM GST RFD- 01Aon the common portal where the amount claimed as refund shall get debited from theelectronic credit ledger of the exporter to the extent of the claim. Thereafter, a proof of debit(ARN- Acknowledgement Receipt Number) shall be generated on the GSTN portal, which isto be mentioned on the print out of the FORM GST RFD-01A and to be submitted manuallyto the jurisdictional officer. The exporters may ensure that all the necessary documentaryevidences are submitted along with the Form GST RFD 01A for timely sanction of refund.
Exporters are therefore advised to immediately file

(a) Table 6A and GSTR 3B, if notalready done, for processing of IGST refund

(b) RFD 01A on GSTN portal for refund of theunutilized input tax credit on inputs or input services used in making exports and

(c) GSTR 1for August 2017 for amending details provided in July GSTR 1 wherever required.

Government has taken various measures to alleviate the difficulty and is committed toproviding speedy disbursal.

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• Download the official press release on GST refund released by CBEC on 29th November,2017