How do you reconcile input tax credit in your books with GSTR-2B before filing GSTR-3B?
What the interviewer wants to hear
- GSTR-2B is the auto-drafted ITC statement from suppliers’ filings
- Match invoices in the purchase register with GSTR-2B by GSTIN, invoice number and amount
- Follow up suppliers for missing invoices
- Do not claim ineligible or blocked credits
- Track timing differences and claim them in a later month when they appear
Model answer
GSTR-2B is the auto-drafted statement of input tax credit built from what my suppliers report in their GSTR-1. Each month I export my purchase register from Tally or Zoho Books and match it with GSTR-2B using GSTIN, invoice number, date and tax amount, usually with a reconciliation tool or an Excel template. I sort the results into matched, in books but not in 2B, in 2B but not in books, and amount mismatches. For invoices missing from 2B, I contact the supplier to upload them, and I do not claim that credit until it appears, as credit generally depends on it being reflected. Invoices in 2B but not in books may be missing bills or wrong GSTIN entries, so I check them. I also exclude blocked credits, such as most food and beverage costs. Then I claim the reconciled ITC in GSTR-3B and keep the working file for audit.
Can you answer it under time pressure?
Take a timed medium round and get scored on every answer.
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