The Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal features an innovative Invoice Management System (IMS) that provides distinct dashboards for both recipients and suppliers to review their inward and outward invoices. The supplier's perspective within this system is essential for monitoring the status of outbound invoices, effectively handling tax obligations, and ensuring compliance. This document explores strategies for addressing rejected invoices and outlines frequent mistakes made by suppliers when interacting with the supplier view interface. Suppliers bear critical responsibilities in ensuring accurate tax collection, timely payments, proper documentation, and overall adherence to GST regulations. Key duties include:

Supplier Roles and Responsibilities in GST Compliance

Accurate Reporting of Supply Information

Recipients depend on invoices and sales data entered and stored by suppliers in the IMS. Therefore, it is imperative for suppliers to precisely upload invoice details and records in their GSTR-1, GSTR-1A, or IFF filings. This practice significantly reduces the likelihood of rejections or disagreements from recipients.

Tracking Recipient Actions

The IMS simplifies the process of monitoring invoice statuses. When a recipient acts on an inward invoice, the GST portal automatically updates this information in the supplier's IMS dashboard, specifically within the 'Supplier View' area. Suppliers must consistently track invoice statuses, particularly to identify rejected invoices promptly. This proactive approach minimizes the time required for suppliers to implement necessary corrective measures.

Timely Corrective Actions

Upon identifying a rejected invoice, suppliers must quickly ascertain the reasons for the rejection and undertake corrective steps without delay. Failure to implement these corrections before the 19th of a month will result in the GST portal adding the tax liability from the rejected invoice back into the supplier's GSTR-3B.

What is the 'Supplier View' in IMS?

The 'Supplier View' feature within the GST portal's Invoice Management System (IMS) enables taxpayers to review actions taken by their recipients on outward invoices previously reported via GSTR-1, GSTR-1A, or the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF). This segment is vital for suppliers to track invoice statuses and promptly address any inconsistencies once recipients reject invoices.

Components of the Supplier View

When a taxpayer selects 'Supplier View,' the GST portal requires them to specify the financial year and return period for which they wish to check invoice statuses. A new window then appears, containing two distinct tabs. The first tab presents a comprehensive overview of B2B supplies submitted in GSTR-1, GSTR-1A, or IFF. The second tab displays all rejected outward invoices that the taxpayer has not yet addressed. Within the universal view, all B2B outward invoices for the chosen return period are organized into six hyperlinked categories. Taxpayers can navigate into each category to conduct more detailed searches for invoice and record statuses. For instance, selecting the '4A, 4B, 6A, 6C - B2B, SEZ, DE Invoice' category will open a window detailing all pertinent outward invoices, their current status, and an option to download the data in Excel format. The second tab specifically highlights rejected records for which the taxpayer failed to take action before the 19th of the month or prior to the generation of GSTR-3B.

Advantages of the IMS Supplier View

The 'Supplier View' segment significantly improves the tools available to taxpayers for overseeing recipient actions on supply invoices and records. Distinct advantages of this feature include:

Enhanced Transparency and Accountability

The 'Supplier View' provides real-time capabilities for monitoring recipient activities on supply records, fostering accountability for both parties involved in a transaction regarding their respective duties.

Increased Accuracy in GSTR-2B

This feature allows suppliers to align with recipient expectations concerning the precision of invoice data, thereby diminishing the probability of generating incorrect GSTR-2B statements for recipients.

Reduced Potential for Disputes

The accurate and immediate visibility into the action status of supply records assists suppliers in implementing corrective actions and resolving discrepancies quickly, which in turn minimizes the likelihood of legal disputes.

The 'Supplier View' on the IMS dashboard marks a significant advancement towards simplifying GST documentation and promoting proactive compliance. Nevertheless, to fully capitalize on the advantages of such an automated process, taxpayers must also reduce manual reporting errors and oversights. Integrating seamless technology into suppliers' business operations presents an effective solution.