New GST Invoice Management System (IMS): Form GSTR-2B data Management

Introduction

The GST Council recently introduced the Invoice Management System (IMS) on the GST portal, starting from 1^st October,2024 marking a major enhancement in the ITC Ecosystem of GST, enabling taxpayers to efficiently address invoice corrections/amendments with their suppliers through the portal. This will also facilitate taxpayer in matching of their records/invoices vis a vis issued by their suppliers for availing the correct ITC. This feature is now live and promises significant benefits in terms of time-saving and ease of reconciliation for both monthly and quarterly filers.

Key Features & Benefits of IMS

1. Invoice Management Options
   IMS allows recipients to view and act on invoices in real time. Users can:
   • Accept: This confirms the invoice as valid and it’s considered for ITC in GSTR-2B.
   • Reject: Marks the invoice as invalid, so it’s excluded from ITC calculations.
   • Pending: Leaves the invoice unprocessed for future action (Except for Original credit note, Upward or downward amendment with conditions specified in FAQs)

If a taxpayer takes No Action, the system treats invoices as “deemed accepted” and includes them in the GSTR-2B by the 14th of each month.

2. Flexible ITC Reconciliation
   By allowing businesses to review and act on invoices prior to generating GSTR-2B, IMS ensures that only accurate invoices affect ITC claims, reducing the likelihood of claiming excess or incorrect credits. This especially helps for businesses with high volumes of transactions.
3. Impact on GSTR-2B and GSTR-3B Filings
   Accepted or “deemed accepted” invoices are automatically included in the GSTR-2B draft on the 14th each month. Users can also adjust actions on invoices post-draft generation, provided they recompute GSTR-2B before finalizing GSTR-3B, maintaining flexibility for corrections.
4. Enhanced Transparency and Accuracy
   By making supplier invoices visible and actionable, IMS fosters improved communication and compliance between suppliers and buyers. Reduced risk of errors in ITC claims, helping taxpayers avoid penalties.
5. Exceptions
   The documents will not appear on IMS and will directly go to ‘ITC Not Available’ section of GSTR-2B where ITC is not eligible either due to:      
6. POS rule or
7. Section 16(4) of the CGST Act,

How to Access the IMS Dashboard

Accessing IMS is straightforward. Taxpayers can log in to the GST portal, navigate to Services > Returns > Invoice Management System, and view available invoices categorized by their acceptance status. Users can filter invoices by criteria such as GSTIN or date and download records for offline review.

Summary

The new IMS functionality is a valuable update that reinforces the GST system’s focus on transparency, accuracy, and efficiency. As more businesses adopt IMS, they’re likely to see improvements in both compliance and ITC management, paving the way for a smoother, error-free GST filing experience.