The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council

Extension of Board's Circular No. 12/2018-Customs dated 29.05.2018 for sanction of pending IGST refund claims where the records have not been transmitted to ICEGATE due to GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B mismatch error

Circular No. ES/434/2020-21                                                            18th February, 2021                                                                                                  

To: Members of the Council       

Sub:  Extension of Board's Circular No. 12/2018-Customs dated 29.05.2018 for sanction of pending IGST refund claims where the records have not been transmitted to ICEGATE due to GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B mismatch error

Dear Member,

We would like to inform you that CBIC has issued Circular No.4/2021- Customs dated 16th February, 2021 on the above subject. 

In this connection, CBIC has received several representations regarding IGST refunds which are pending due to mis-match of data between GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B. 

"The resolution to the above problem was provided by the Board, as an interim measure, vide Circular No. 12/2018-Cus dated 29.05.2018 read with Circular No. 25/2019- Cus dated 27.08.2019 in respect of Shipping Bills filed upto 31st March, 2019."

The IGST refunds related to the Shipping Bills filed after 31st March, 2019 having mismatch error between GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B could not be processed and are held up on above account. Having regard to the fact that a substantial number of IGST refunds are stuck due to above error as functionality to amend GSTR-3B return is not available so far, there is a need to extend the facility in respect of the Shipping Bills filed after 31.03.2019 as well.

Now, the matter has been examined by the Board. 
 
  • It appears that the payments mismatch has happened even subsequent to the period covered in the above said Circulars. Therefore, in order to overcome the problems faced by the exporters, CBIC has decided that the solution provided in Circular 12/2018-Customs read with Circular No. 25/2019-Customs would be applicable mutatis mutandis for the Shipping Bills filed during the financial year 2019- 20 and 2020-21 (i.e. in respect of all Shipping Bills filed/ to be filed upto 31st March, 2021). 

  • In respect of guidelines provided in Para 3A and 3B of the said Circular 12/2018-Customs, dated 29.05.2018, the comparison between the cumulative IGST payments in GSTR-1 and GSTR 3B would now be for the period April 2019 to March 2021. 

  • The corresponding CA certificate evidencing that there is no discrepancy between the IGST amount refunded on exports in terms of this Circular and the actual IGST amount paid on exports of goods for the period April 2019 to March 2020 and April. 2020 to March, 2021 shall be furnished by 31st March, 2021 and 30th October 2021, respectively. 

  • The concerned Customs Zones shall provide the list of GSTINs, who have availed benefit under Para 3A & 3B of said circular and yet have not submitted the CA certificate to the Board by 15th April, 2021 for the IGST refunds relatable to financial year 2019-20 and by 15th November, 2021 for financial year 2020-21.

Members may kindly make a note of the above.

Thanking you,  

Yours faithfully,

S. BALARAJU
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR