With the financial year closing, GST audits are looming on the horizon for eligible taxpayers. A GST audit involves the examination of records, returns, and other documents maintained by a registered person to verify the correctness of turnover declared, taxes paid, input tax credit claimed, and exemptions assessed.

Key Reconciliations

The foundation of a successful GST audit lies in accurate reconciliations. You must ensure the following are perfectly matched:

  • GSTR-1 vs GSTR-3B
  • GSTR-3B vs GSTR-2A/2B (for ITC claims)
  • Turnover declared in GST returns vs Turnover recorded in Financial Statements

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

During our audits, we frequently observe businesses making the same fundamental errors. These include claiming ITC on blocked credits under Section 17(5), failing to reverse ITC for non-payment to suppliers within 180 days, and discrepancies in e-way bill generation against actual dispatches.

Proactive internal reviews and regular monthly reconciliations are the best defense against adverse findings during a formal GST audit.