Input Tax Credit Eligibility Conditions – Requirements & Guidelines

Input Tax Credit (ITC) eligibility conditions require that the registered recipient must possess valid tax invoices, debit notes, or other prescribed documents. The goods or services must have been received, and the supplier must have paid the relevant tax to the government. Additionally, the recipient should have filed the necessary GST returns, and the claimed ITC must be reflected in their GSTR-2B. ITC cannot be claimed on goods or services used for personal purposes, capital assets where depreciation is claimed on the tax amount, or in cases involving fraud or misrepresentation.

Table of Contents

1. Definitions of ITC (Input Tax Credit) & a Few Terms
2. Eligibility and Conditions for Taking Input Tax Credit (ITC) (Section 16 Read with Rules 36 & 37 of CGST Rules)

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1. Definitions of ITC (Input Tax Credit) & a Few Terms

Input Tax Credit – Input Tax Credit means the tax paid by the Registered Recipient of goods or services in the form of Central Tax (CGST), State Tax (SGST) or Union Territory Tax (UTGST) & Integrated Tax (IGST). Such tax is charged by the Registered Supplier at the time of sale of goods or services made to any Registered Recipient. It means this concept is applicable only for the buyer of goods or the recipient of services who has taken the GST registration.

ITC also includes:

• the GST paid on reverse charge basis by the registered recipient of supply on certain specified goods or services such as GTA, Advocate services etc.
• IGST paid on import of goods

For Example:

Janta Enterprises is a manufacturer and registered in the GST as regular taxpayer. GST payable on the sale of its final product is ₹450 and GST paid on the purchase made by Janta Enterprises is ₹300 Now ₹300 is called the ITC of Janta Enterprises, they can claim the ITC of ₹300 and they will need to deposit only ₹150 (450-300) as GST payable to the Government.

Registered Supplier – A person who has taken a GST registration and supplying the goods or services or both.

Registered Recipient – A person who has taken a GST registration and purchasing the goods or availing the services or both.

2. Eligibility and Conditions for Taking Input Tax Credit (ITC) (Section 16 Read with Rules 36 & 37 of CGST Rules)

The ITC can be claimed by any Registered Recipient only after fulfilling all the following conditions [i.e. from point (a) to (g)]:

(a) The Registered Recipient must be in possession of the requisite documents as follows:

• • • Tax invoice or debit note issued by the registered supplier,
    • Reverse charge invoice (In case of supplies on which recipient is liable to pay tax under reverse charge), which is generated & documented by the recipient himself,
    • Bill of entry (In case of import of goods), proving the payment of GST on import,
    • An Input Service Distributor Invoice or ISD credit note or any document issued by an ISD.

Please Note that the any of the above-mentioned documents must contain at least all the following five particulars for availing the ITC:

• • • The amount of tax charged,
    • Description of goods or services,
    • Total value of supply,
    • GST No. of the supplier and recipient,
    • Place of supply in case of transaction happened between two different States.

(aa) This Condition is Effective from 1st January 2022 – The details of the purchase invoice or debit notes has been furnished by the supplier is his GSTR-1/IFF within the due time limit and such details are being reflected in the GSTR-2B of the registered person.

(b) The registered recipient has received the goods or services or both. Please note here that without actual or deemed receipt of goods/services, recipient cannot claim the ITC in his returns.

• • • For the purpose of this clause, it shall be deemed that the goods have been received by the registered recipient where the supplier has delivered the goods to any other person on the instructions of that registered recipient, before or during the movement of goods. (Bill to ship to model)

For Example:

“A” (Haryana) orders “B” (Rajasthan) to send the goods directly to C (Delhi). Here, the goods shall be deemed to be received by A (Haryana) as soon as the goods have been delivered by B (Rajasthan) to C (Delhi).

• • • It shall be deemed that the registered recipient has received the services where the services have been provided by the supplier to any person on the direction of and on account of such registered recipient.
    • Where the goods against an invoice are received in lots or instalments, ITC can be claimed only after receiving the last lot.

For Example –  “A” (Haryana) purchased the goods from “B” (Rajasthan). “B” (Rajasthan) issued an invoice of ₹50,00,000 including GST dated 27-9-2019. Due to the high quantum of goods, “B” (Rajasthan) sent the goods to “A” (Haryana) in lots.

The 1st lot of the goods purchased was received by “A” (Haryana) on 29-9-2019

The 2nd lot of the goods purchased was received by “A” (Haryana) on 30-9-2019

The 3rd and last lot of the goods purchased against the invoice was received by “A” (Haryana) on 2-10-2019.

Hence, in the above example, “A” (Haryana) can claim the ITC on the invoice dated 27-9-2019 in the GST return for the month of Oct 2019, since the last lot was received on 2-10-2019.

(ba) This Condition is Effective from 1st October 2022 – The details of input tax credit in respect of the said supply showing in the GSTR-2B of such registered person, has not been restricted.

(c) The registered supplier has paid the GST charged from the registered recipient to the government either in cash or through utilisation of eligible ITC.

The Amendment effective from 1st October, 2022

In case, the credit of input tax availed by a registered person against which the tax payable has not been paid by the supplier, then the ITC shall be reversed by the registered person along with applicable interest.

However, where the said supplier makes payment of the tax payable in respect of the aforesaid supplies, the said registered person may re-avail the amount of credit reversed by him.

(d) The registered supplier has filed its outward supply return (e.g. GSTR-1 in case of regular taxpayer) and the input invoices & debit notes are properly reflecting in the GSTR-2A of the registered recipient.

(e) The registered recipient has filed the requisite GST returns (Kindly refer GST returns chapter for the different types of returns)

(f) No ITC would be allowed on the capital assets if the depreciation is claimed on the tax part also.

For Example – An asset is purchased for ₹1,18,000 (Basic value is ₹1,00,000 & GST charged @ 18% i.e. ₹18,000)

In this case:

If the depreciation is claimed under income tax on ₹1,18,000, no ITC would be allowed.

If depreciation is claimed on ₹1,00,000, ITC of ₹18,000 would be allowed.

(g) A person who has taken GST registration under composition scheme, cannot claim input tax credit.

(h) ITC can be claimed by the registered recipient in respect of only those goods or services which are used or intended to be used in relation to his business.

(i) No ITC can be claimed in respect of any tax that has been paid for the reason of demand on account of fraud, deliberate misstatement or concealment of facts or ceasing of goods.

2.1 New Restriction Imposed on the Availment of ITC with Effect from 9-10-2019 (Rule 36(4) in CGST Rules, 2017)

This new rule was inserted by the government through CGST (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2019 and it is effective from 9th of October, 2019.

Eligibility Before 9-10-2019 – Before this rule, the registered recipients used to avail the whole eligible input on the basis of their input invoices against goods or services received during the tax period.

Eligibility from 9-10-2019 to 31-12-2019 – Now with effect from 9-10-2019, the registered recipient can only avail the eligible input which is 20% of the eligible input reflecting in its GSTR-2A for that tax period in addition to the eligible input reflecting in the GSTR-2A.

(Eligible ITC existing in 2A + 20% of the eligible ITC existing in 2A) = Provisional ITC maximum allowable in a tax period

Eligibility from 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020 – Now with effect from 1-1-2020, the registered recipient can only avail the eligible input which is 10% of the eligible input reflecting in its GSTR-2A for that tax period in addition to the eligible input reflecting in the GSTR-2A.

(Eligible ITC existing in 2A + 10% of the eligible ITC existing in 2A) = Provisional ITC maximum allowable in a tax period

Eligibility from 1-1-2021 to 31-12-2021 – Now with effect from 01-01-2021, the registered recipient can only avail the eligible input which is 5% of the eligible input reflecting in its GSTR-2A for the tax period in addition to the eligible input reflecting in the GSTR-2A.

(Eligible ITC existing in 2A + 5% of the eligible ITC existing in 2A) = Provisional ITC maximum allowable in a tax period.

Eligible Input – Eligible input means the input which is fulfilling all the eligibility conditions as prescribed above excluding the blocked credit under section 17(5) and the reversals required under rules 42, 43 & 37 if any.

Please note that the said condition shall apply cumulatively for the period February, March, April, May, June, July and August, 2020 and the return in FORM GSTR-3B for the tax period September, 2020 shall be furnished with the cumulative adjustment of input tax credit for the said months in accordance with the condition above.

It means that the 10% restriction on ITC can be worked upon cumulatively for the months (Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug 2020) in the GSTR-3B of Sep 2020 month.

Eligibility from 01-01-2022 – Now with effect from 01-01-2022, the registered recipient can only avail the eligible input which is reflecting in its GSTR-2B for the tax period.

(Eligible ITC existing in 2B = ITC maximum allowable in a tax period)

2.2 Time Limit or Deadlines for Availing ITC

A registered person cannot claim the input tax credit after the following date:

(a) 30th November of the Next FY (w.e.f. 01-10-2022)

(b) Actual Date of Filing of GSTR-9 (Annual Return)

whichever is earlier

Please note that till 30-09-2022, the date mentioned in point (a) above was “due date of GSTR-3B of September month of next FY”.

Note No. 1

For finding that ITC is related to which FY, the following elements shall be considered:

1. For ITC on Invoice – Date of that invoice
2. For ITC on Debit Note – Date of the invoice for which such debit note is issued

(However with effect from 01/01/2021, the date of the debit note)

2.2.1 Newly Inserted Provisions in Section 16 for Extended Deadlines to Claim the ITC (w.e.f. 1-7-2017)

1. Extended Time Period for Availing ITC – For FY 2017-18 to FY 2020-21, ITC can be claimed till 30 November 2021. This extension provides taxpayers with additional time to claim ITC for the specified financial years, ensuring they can maximise their tax credits.
2. ITC for Cancelled and Revoked Registrations – Taxpayers can claim ITC (not time-barred at cancellation) within 30 days of revocation. This applies to taxpayers whose GST registrations were cancelled and later revoked. It allows taxpayers to reclaim ITC that was still valid (not expired) when their registration was cancelled. ITC must be claimed within 30 days from the date of revocation, making it essential for taxpayers to act promptly.

Please note that no refund shall be made of all the tax paid or the input tax credit reversed, which would not have been so paid, or not reversed, if the above provisions had been in force at all material times.

2.3 Restriction on the Availment of ITC if the Payment of Invoice is Not Made Within 180 Days by the Registered Recipient (Rule 37 of CGST Rules)

A registered person,

• who has claimed the ITC on any inward supply, other than the supplies on which tax is payable on reverse charge basis,
• but fails to pay to the supplier, the amount towards the value of such supply [whether wholly or partly w.e.f. 01st October, 2022] along with the tax payable thereon,
• within 180 days from the date of invoice,

shall pay [or reverse w.e.f. 01st October, 2022] an amount equal to the input tax credit availed in respect of such supply [proportionate to the Invoice amount not paid to the supplier w.e.f. 01st October, 2022] along with interest payable thereon under section 50.

Such reversal shall be done in GSTR-3B for the tax period immediately following the period of 180 days from the date of the issue of the invoice.

Here reverse charge inward supplies are not included in goods or services. It means that the condition of 180 days is not applicable in case of inward supplies on which RCM is applicable.

For Example:

A Ltd. purchased goods from B Ltd. of ₹1,18,000 (Basic ₹1,00,000 & ₹18,000 tax thereon) against invoice dated 1st June 2018. Here, if A Ltd. does not pay the invoice amount to B Ltd. within 180 days of the date of  invoice (i.e. till 27th Nov 2018), the Input of ₹18,000 will have to be added to the Output tax liability of A Ltd. along with interest @ 18% p.a. in the GST return of Nov 2018 month.

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