Common JSON Errors and Troubleshooting for GSTR-9C Filing
Taxpayers commonly face JSON errors when filing their GSTR-9C annual reconciliation statements. This article provides a comprehensive guide to identifying and resolving various JSON errors that can occur during both the generation and upload of GSTR-9C files on the GST portal. It also offers solutions for specific issues like 'sign is invalid' errors and outlines essential prerequisites and best practices to prevent such problems, ensuring a smoother filing process.
When filing the annual reconciliation statement, GSTR-9C, businesses frequently encounter various JSON errors. This article outlines a helpful list of these GSTR-9C errors along with their corresponding solutions, aiding your team in successful submission.
JSON Errors in GSTR-9C Filing and Their Solutions
The following table details common JSON errors encountered during the generation and uploading of GSTR-9C JSON files, along with their respective solutions.
Errors during JSON file generation
| Sr. No. | Error | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheet Validation Error | Ensure you select 'Validate Sheet' for each section within GSTR-9C. |
| 2 | OLE Application Error | 1. Close all active Excel and Word files, along with the eMSigner application.2. Access 'Internet Options' via Windows search. Navigate to 'Security' > 'Custom level'. Enable 'Automatic prompting for ActiveX control' and set 'Download unsigned ActiveX Control' to 'Prompt'. Click 'OK'.3. Download Notepad++. Open the utility folder, right-click 'wsweb.html', and select 'Edit with Notepad++'. Locate the '' tag, add a space after it, then press backspace.4. Save the file before closing it.5. Restart your system for the new settings to take effect.6. Relaunch eMSigner, open the utility, and attempt to create the JSON file again. |
| 3 | 'File Generation is in progress, please try after sometime' error when downloading GSTR-9C JSON from GST portal | This error occurs when you try to download a JSON file without previously uploading one to the GST portal.1. Update the data in the GSTR-9C offline tool; then generate and save the JSON file.2. Click the 'Upload' tab under GSTR-9C on the GST portal.3. Upload the saved JSON file to the GST portal.4. Once the status changes to 'Processed', you can then download the JSON file. |
| 4 | Unable to generate or sign the JSON file in the GSTR-9C offline utility | This error typically occurs because the GSTR-9C utility tool cannot recognize the 'wsweb.html' file due to system configuration issues.1. Go to the location where the JSON file is downloaded.2. Right-click on the 'wsweb.html' file and select 'Edit with Notepad++'.3. Add a space anywhere in the file and immediately remove it. You will observe the file icon turn red, indicating it has been modified.4. Save the file; the icon should then turn blue.5. Regenerate the JSON file after these changes are saved. Sign the file to proceed. |
| 5 | Server connection error while signing GSTR-9C JSON file: 'Please check the server connection1: [object Event]' | This error indicates that the trusted root certification authorities are uninstalled on your machine.1. Open the eMSigner folder on your system > 'eMweb' folder > open 'certificate.crt'. (Note the cross sign on the certificate icon).2. Click 'Install the certificate' and select 'Current User'.3. Choose 'Place all the certificates in the following store', then browse and select 'Trusted Root Certification Authorities'. Complete the installation.4. The browser will initiate the signing process. Click 'Allow blocked content' and then 'Initiate signing'. Click 'Open eMSigner' to launch it and sign the generated JSON. |
Errors during JSON file upload
| Sr. No. | Error | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Error Occurred | 1. This is a system error. Attempt to reload the file 2-3 times.2. If the error persists, re-prepare the offline utility and then re-upload it. |
| 2 | Received but Pending | 1. This is a system error. Attempt to reload the file 2-3 times.2. If the error persists, re-prepare the offline utility and then re-upload it. |
| 3 | Processed with Error | Follow these steps:1. Generate and download the error report from the GST portal.2. Open the downloaded zipped error file on your system.3. Use the GSTR-9C offline utility to open this file.4. Review each worksheet and check the 'Portal validation error' column for rectification instructions.5. Log in to the GST portal and navigate to the GSTR-9C dashboard.6. Download the PDF file containing GSTR-9C tables derived from GSTR-9.7. Cross-verify the figures in the GSTR-9C error file with the PDF.8. Resolve the errors, validate the sheet, and regenerate the JSON file. Ensure it is signed using eMSigner.9. Upload the corrected JSON to the GST portal. |
| 4 | 'Compile error' when submitting GSTR-9C | Use Microsoft Excel version 2007 or higher to prepare GSTR-9C. |
| 5 | 'Run time error 13 Type mismatch' when opening JSON file in GSTR-9 offline utility | This error arises if you attempt to download and open a JSON file after only uploading supporting documents like P&L statements and balance sheets, without first generating the JSON for the GSTR-9C data itself. Ensure you have generated the JSON after updating and verifying the GSTR-9C data in the offline tool.1. Log in to the GST portal and go to the GSTR-9C 'Prepare offline' page.2. Upload the GSTR-9C JSON file, ensuring it is successfully processed.3. Next, generate and download the GSTR-9C JSON file to your system.4. Open the downloaded JSON file with the GSTR-9C offline tool; it should open without error. |
| 6 | 'File generation is in progress, please try after sometime' error for GSTR-9C offline utility (when downloading JSON for auto-filling GSTR-9 data) | This message appears when users attempt to download JSON meant for importing into the offline utility to obtain auto-filled GSTR-9 data.To obtain the extract, follow these instructions:1. On the GSTR-9C tile, click the 'Initiate-Filing' button.2. The GSTR-9C page will appear.3. Select the 'DOWNLOAD GSTR-9C TABLES DERIVED FROM GSTR-9 PDF' button. Values must be manually entered into the GSTR-9C offline utility.4. Create a JSON file and send it to the taxpayer via email for their signatures. |
| 7 | 'File generation is in progress' error when users attempt to download GSTR-9 data from the GST portal as a JSON file to auto-populate GSTR-9 data in the GSTR-9C offline tool. | The GSTR-9C offline tool is not designed for auto-population. Data must be entered manually into the tool. |
Resolving 'Sign is Invalid' Errors
If you encounter a 'sign is invalid' error, perform the following steps in your system settings:
- Locate the folder where the JSON file is downloaded.
- Right-click on the
wsweb.htmlfile and choose 'Edit with Notepad++'. - Insert a space anywhere in the file and then immediately remove it. This action updates the file.
- Save the file.
- Generate the JSON file again after the HTML file changes are saved.
- The browser should then display a window to initiate the signing process.
Preventing JSON Errors in GSTR-9C Filing
To proactively avoid JSON and other filing issues, ensure these prerequisites are met before filing:
- Use Java version 8 or higher.
- Use Excel 2007 or higher.
- Ensure Excel-Macro functionality is enabled.
- Use Internet Explorer 11 or Microsoft Edge browser.
Additionally, when downloading or unzipping GSTR-9C files, ensure all folder contents, including the WS Web file, are kept together in a single folder.
The information reported in GSTR-9C must precisely match the corresponding data in GSTR-9 to prevent errors. This includes:
- Turnover
- Taxable turnover
- Total amount paid
- ITC claimed
Taxpayers sometimes face difficulties uploading their balance sheet and profit and loss account files. This is often because files containing keywords such as 'balance sheet' or 'profit and loss account' are flagged as sensitive information, leading office firewalls to block their upload. To successfully upload these files, taxpayers should utilize an open network, such as the internet.
In some cases, the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) may not appear even after being attached to the system. To make the DSC available, the owner must type https://127.0.0.1:1585 into the browser's address bar and click 'Proceed to safety'.
Furthermore, if taxpayers are unable to sign GSTR-9C using eMSigner, they should close all other eMSigner instances, download the utility from the GST portal, and then launch it by selecting 'Run as administrator'.