GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B are two types of GST return forms that are used by businesses to reconcile their input tax credit (ITC) with the tax invoices uploaded by their suppliers on the GST portal. In this article, we will discuss GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B in detail, including their meaning, format, and filing procedure.
What is GSTR-2A?
GSTR-2A is an auto-populated form that is generated on the GST portal for every registered person under GST. It contains details of all the invoices uploaded by the supplier of goods or services, and it is available for the recipient to view and download on a monthly basis.
In other words, GSTR-2A is a statement that reflects all the purchases made by a registered person from their suppliers during a particular tax period. This statement is auto-generated based on the information uploaded by the suppliers in their GSTR-1 return. GSTR-1 is the form used by suppliers to upload details of all their outward supplies (sales) during a particular tax period.
GSTR-2A contains the following details:
1. GSTIN of the supplier
2. GSTIN of the recipient
3. Invoice number and date
4. Taxable value and tax amount
5. Place of supply (State code)
6. HSN code (Harmonized System of Nomenclature) of goods or services
7. Type of invoice (regular, debit note, credit note)
8. Reverse charge applicable or not
9. Whether the invoice has been accepted or rejected by the recipient
The recipient can view and download GSTR-2A from the GST portal. It is important to note that GSTR-2A is not a return that needs to be filed. It is only a statement that helps the recipient reconcile their ITC with the tax invoices uploaded by their suppliers.
What is GSTR-2B?
GSTR-2B is also a statement that reflects the purchases made by a registered person from their suppliers during a particular tax period. However, unlike GSTR-2A, GSTR-2B is not auto-populated. It is a statement that is generated by the GST portal for the recipient based on the information uploaded by their suppliers in their GSTR-1 and GSTR-5 returns.
GSTR-5 is the form used by non-resident taxable persons to upload details of their outward supplies (sales) during a particular tax period.
GSTR-2B contains the following details:
1. GSTIN of the supplier
2. GSTIN of the recipient
3. Invoice number and date
4. Taxable value and tax amount
5. Place of supply (State code)
6. HSN code of goods or services
7. Type of invoice (regular, debit note, credit note)
8. Reverse charge applicable or not
9. Whether the invoice has been accepted or rejected by the recipient
10. Input tax credit (ITC) available and not available
11. Integrated tax (IGST), central tax (CGST), and state tax (SGST) available and not available
12. Total ITC available for the recipient
13. Eligibility of ITC based on the status of the supplier (regular taxpayer, composition taxpayer, non-resident taxable person, etc.)
GSTR-2B is generated on a monthly basis and is available for the recipient to view and download from the GST portal. It is important to note that GSTR-2B is also not a return that needs to be filed. It is only a statement that helps the recipient reconcile their ITC with the tax invoices uploaded by their suppliers.
Difference between GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B,
The main difference between GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B is in the way they are generated and the information they provide.
GSTR-2A is an auto-populated statement that is generated for every registered person on the GST portal. It contains details of all the invoices uploaded by the supplier of goods or services during a particular tax period. GSTR-2A is generated based on the information uploaded by the supplier in their GSTR-1 return. It helps the recipient reconcile their ITC with the tax invoices uploaded by their suppliers.
On the other hand, GSTR-2B is a statement that is generated by the GST portal for the recipient based on the information uploaded by their suppliers in their GSTR-1 and GSTR-5 returns. GSTR-2B contains additional information compared to GSTR-2A, such as the availability and eligibility of ITC based on the status of the supplier, and the total ITC available for the recipient. GSTR-2B also provides a summary of the ITC available and not available, and the integrated tax (IGST), central tax (CGST), and state tax (SGST) available and not available.
Another key difference between GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B is in the frequency of generation. GSTR-2A is generated on a monthly basis, while GSTR-2B is generated on a quarterly basis. GSTR-2B is available for the months of July to September, October to December, January to March, and April to June.
In summary, while both GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B help the recipient reconcile their ITC with the tax invoices uploaded by their suppliers, GSTR-2B provides additional information and is generated on a quarterly basis, while GSTR-2A is generated on a monthly basis and is auto-populated based on the information uploaded by the supplier in their GSTR-1 return.
