GSTN enables “Communication between Taxpayers” facility on the GST portal
GST when launched was publicized as ‘one nation, one tax’ by the government, aimed to provide a simplified, single tax regime. GST is a dual levy where the Central Government levies and collects Central GST (CGST) and the State levies and collects State GST (SGST) on intra-state supply of goods or services. Centre also levies and collects Integrated GST (IGST) on inter-state supply of goods or services. The GST Portal is a website where all the compliance activities of GST can be done before and after GST login. Activities such as the GST registration, return filing, payment of taxes, application for refund, etc. can be done on the GST Portal.
GSTN, recently launched a new feature on the GSTN portal, where it has enabled a facility of “Communication between Taxpayers” on the GST portal. One can access this feature through Dashboard > Services > User Services > Communication Between Taxpayers.
What is the “Communication between Taxpayers” facilities?
This facility enables the supplier and recipient to directly communicate with each other on GST Portal itself. They can also give a reply to communication received on the portal.
The new functionality will provide communication platform for taxpayers wherein a recipient/purchaser can ask his supplier/s to upload any particular invoice/s that has not been uploaded but is required by the recipient to avail input tax credit (ITC).
Businesses can communicate with their supplier on GSTN portal about invoice uploading or any deficiency therein.
Besides, the supplier can send reply to his recipient through the same facility. Similarly, supplier can also send notification to his recipient about any document uploaded in outward supply statement filed in Form GSTR-1.
Whenever a communication is sent by a taxpayer to his counterpart, intimation by GSTN would also be sent to such counterpart through email and SMS on mobile phone.
Benefits of this new facility
The new facility will make:
- communication easy
- bring transparency in the system
- help in the matching of invoices and avoid complications of Goods and Service Tax Framework.
This facility will also help the taxpayer to raise questions related to Tax Invoices, Debit Note, Credit Note, Missing Document, Amendment of Filed Document, or any other issue. A taxpayer can raise questions both as a buyer or supplier of goods or services
One of the major challenges during GST reconciliation is that the parties involved have a different method for their invoice numbers. This can make it harder for the implementation mechanism to find an exact match around invoice number. A powerful reconciliation tool could solve these problems while also easing the process of matching and reconciling GST returns data. This facility is expected to help taxpayers in reconciliation of invoices. GSTN is also planning more features in this tool such as facility to import invoices from communication facility to GSTR 1.
