Clarifications on GST Refund of ITC: Key Highlights of Circular No. 139/09/2020-GST
<h4><strong>Introduction</strong></h4><p>The <strong>Ministry of Finance</strong> issued <strong>Circular No. 139/09/2020-GST</strong> on <strong>June 10, 2020</strong>, addressing <strong>refund-related issues</strong> under GST. The circular clarifies whether <strong>ITC on imports, ISD invoices, and RCM supplies</strong> is eligible for refunds, despite <strong>not being reflected in GSTR-2A</strong>. It also reinforces earlier restrictions on <strong>refunds for ITC on invoices missing from GSTR-2A</strong>.</p><hr><h3><strong>Key Highlights</strong></h3><h3><strong>1. Refund Restriction for ITC Not Reflected in GSTR-2A</strong></h3><ul><li>As per <strong>Circular No. 135/05/2020-GST</strong>, ITC refunds are now <strong>restricted to invoices appearing in GSTR-2A</strong>.</li><li>If an <strong>invoice is missing from GSTR-2A</strong>, <strong>ITC refund will not be granted</strong>.</li><li>This rule <strong>modifies earlier guidelines</strong> where refunds were allowed based on <strong>uploaded invoices</strong>, even if they were absent in GSTR-2A.</li></ul><hr><h3><strong>2. Refunds Allowed for ITC on Imports, ISD Invoices, and RCM Supplies</strong></h3><ul><li>Refund sanctioning authorities were <strong>wrongly rejecting refunds</strong> for:<ul><li><strong>Imports</strong></li><li><strong>Input Service Distributor (ISD) invoices</strong></li><li><strong>Inward supplies under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM)</strong></li></ul></li><li>The circular <strong>confirms that these categories remain eligible for refunds</strong>, even if they <strong>don’t appear in GSTR-2A</strong>.</li></ul><hr><h3><strong>3. No Change in ITC Refund Process for Imports, ISD, and RCM</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Before Circular 135/05/2020</strong>, ITC refunds for <strong>imports, ISD invoices, and RCM supplies</strong> were processed normally.</li><li>This circular <strong>reaffirms that their refund eligibility remains unchanged</strong>, ensuring <strong>consistency in refund procedures</strong>.<a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/nisha/circular-refund-139-9-2020.pdf">circular_refund_139_9_2020</a><br> </li></ul>