Instructions on GSTR 2B and IMS issued by GSTN!

On November 16, 2024, the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) issued an important advisory addressing various concerns regarding the generation of GSTR-2B for October 2024. GSTN has issued various advisories and instructions about the Invoice Management System (IMS) as this is a new functionality on the portal. Now, GSTN has issued specific instructions about cases where GSTR 2B is not generated.

Let’s understand the advisory.

Advisory dated 16^th November 2024

Important advisory on GSTR 2B and IMS

Nov 16th, 2024

1.   It has been reported by a few taxpayers that their GSTR-2B for the October 2024 period was not been generated on 14th November 2024. In this regard, it is to be informed that as per the design of IMS, GSTR-2B will not be generated by the system in the below scenarios:

     i. In case the taxpayer has opted for the QRMP scheme (Quarterly filers), GSTR-2B will not be generated for the first and second months of the quarter. Ex. For the quarter Oct-Dec, 2024, the quarterly taxpayer will get GSTR-2B for the December 2024 period only and not for October 2024 & November 2024.

     ii. In case the taxpayer has not filed their previous period GSTR-3B, GSTR-2B will not be generated by the system. Such taxpayers need to file their pending GSTR-3B in order to generate GSTR-2B on demand. For example, if the taxpayer has not filed GSTR-3B for September 2024, their GSTR-2B for October 2024 will not be generated. Once the taxpayer files their GSTR-3B for September 2024, they will be able to generate their GSTR-2B for October 2024 by clicking the "Compute GSTR-2B (OCT 2024)" button on the IMS dashboard.

2.   For details kindly refer to various advisories & FAQs provided on IMS:

• Invoice Management System, Sep 3rd 2024‍
• ‍Draft Manual on IMS, Sep 17th 2024 ‍
• ‍Frequently Asked Questions on IMS, Sep 22nd 2024 ‍
• Attention - Advisory on IMS, Oct 14th 2024‍
• Additional FAQs on IMS, Oct 17th 2024‍
• ‍Advisory regarding IMS during initial phase of its implementation, Nov 12th 2024‍
• Advisory on IMS on Supplier View, Nov 13th 2024

Thanking You,
Team GSTN

Key Highlights of the Advisory

This advisory covers specific scenarios under the Invoice Management System (IMS) where GSTR-2B is not generated and provides guidance for affected taxpayers.

The advisory highlights two critical conditions:

1. QRMP Scheme Taxpayers: Taxpayers under the Quarterly Return Monthly Payment (QRMP) scheme will not be able to generate GSTR 2B for the first two months of the quarter. It will be generated as a quarterly view in the last month. For instance, for the October-December 2024 quarter, GSTR-2B will be generated quarterly for December 2024.
2. Pending GSTR-3B Filing: Taxpayers who have not filed their previous GSTR-3B returns will not have their GSTR-2B generated for the current period. Filing the pending GSTR-3B and using the "Compute GSTR-2B" option on the IMS dashboard resolves this issue.

Conclusion

The recent advisory from GSTN underscores the importance of understanding the intricacies of the GSTR-2B generation process, particularly for taxpayers under the QRMP scheme or those with pending GSTR-3B filings. Staying informed about these scenarios can help businesses avoid compliance issues and ensure smoother tax management. By leveraging the resources provided by GSTN, such as FAQs, manuals, and advisories, taxpayers can better navigate the Invoice Management System and address any challenges effectively. 

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