Navigating Bank Account Validation on India's GST Portal
The GSTN has recently introduced mandatory bank account validation within the GST system to ensure accurate taxpayer bank details. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the new advisory, explaining the process for checking bank account validation status on the GST portal. It details the various validation statuses—Success, Failure, Success with Remark, and Pending for Validation—and outlines the necessary actions taxpayers must take for each. Correctly registering and validating bank accounts is crucial for seamless GST refund processing and overall compliance.
The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) introduced a new advisory on April 24, 2023, integrating bank account validation into the GST system. This measure aims to verify the accuracy of bank details submitted by all GST-registered taxpayers. This document outlines the key aspects of the GSTN's new feature and provides instructions on how to check the bank account validation status via the portal.
GSTN Advisory on Bank Account Validation: An Overview
Through an advisory issued on April 24, 2023, the GSTN instructed taxpayers to verify their bank account validation status on the portal. Depending on the displayed status, taxpayers might need to perform specific actions or await further updates. The various categories for bank account validation status include:
- Success
- Failure
- Success with Remark
- Pending for Verification
The advisory also notes that taxpayers retain the flexibility to add or remove bank accounts subsequent to registration. Bank account validation within the GST framework is essential, primarily because it facilitates the efficient and accurate processing of GST refunds directly into the specified bank accounts. Therefore, all GST-registered entities are required to ensure their active bank accounts are correctly linked on the GST portal, particularly if this step was overlooked during initial GST registration.
GST Rules for Bank Account Declaration
Taxpayers can register a maximum of ten bank accounts on the GST portal. Any additions or modifications to these bank accounts post-GST registration fall under the category of a non-core amendment and are automatically approved upon submission. When declaring a bank account, mandatory information includes the account number, account type, bank branch address, and IFSC. Users can often auto-populate the bank name and branch address by entering the IFSC code and selecting the 'Get Address' option during a non-core amendment application. Supporting documents, such as a cancelled cheque copy or the first and last pages of a passbook or bank statement, must be uploaded in JPEG or PDF format, with a size limit of 1 MB. If the name or date of birth in the 'Basic Details' tab conflicts with the PAN-registered data, an error will occur. To resolve this, users must update their name and date of birth to match their PAN records for successful bank account validation.
Checking Bank Validation Status on the GST Portal
To check your bank account validation status within the GST system, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Access and log in to the GST portal.
- Step 2: From the dashboard, locate the down arrow next to your account name in the top-right corner. Click it, then select 'My Profile' from the dropdown menu.
- Step 3: On the profile screen, navigate to the 'Quick Links' section on the left-hand side and click on the 'Bank Account Status' tab.
- Step 4: The 'Bank Account Status' screen will display a list of all bank accounts you have added, along with their respective validation statuses.
- Step 5: Hovering your mouse over the status icon will reveal a tooltip explaining its meaning and any recommended actions. You should proceed based on the displayed status.
Taxpayers will also receive notifications regarding their validation status via their GST-registered email address and mobile number once the process is complete.
Understanding Bank Account Validation Statuses and Required Actions
The GSTN advisory outlines four distinct bank account validation statuses. Each status has a specific meaning and may require different actions, as detailed below:
| Status | Description | Required Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Success | The bank account registered with the GST system has been successfully validated and is accurate. | No further action is required. |
| Failure | Validation was unsuccessful due to reasons such as an invalid PAN, the PAN not being registered with the bank, an incorrect IFSC, or a mismatch between the GSTIN-registered PAN and the bank account's declared PAN. | Complete KYC procedures with the relevant bank for the business account, or re-attempt validation by providing accurate bank account details. |
| Success with Remark | The declared bank is not integrated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for online validation. | Submit alternative bank account details on the GST portal for revalidation. |
| Pending for Validation | The bank account validation process is currently incomplete and awaiting verification. | Await completion of the validation by the NPCI. A specific timeline for this validation is not provided. |
In conclusion, this advisory guides all taxpayers through the process of verifying their bank account validation status on the GST portal. Ensuring accurate and valid bank details is critical, as incorrect information can lead to delays in compliance procedures.