What is a GST Refund?
A GST refund refers to the process of claiming the excess tax paid by a taxpayer due to exports, inverted duty structure, excess cash balance, or any other eligible reason under GST law.
Common Scenarios for Refund
- Export of goods/services without payment of tax (LUT)
- Inverted duty structure (ITC accumulation)
- Excess balance in cash ledger
- Cancellation of GST registration
- Wrong tax paid (IGST instead of CGST/SGST)
Documents Required for Refund
- Export invoices (in case of exports)
- Shipping bills & BRC/FIRC
- GST returns (GSTR-1, GSTR-3B)
- Declaration forms as required
- Refund application with supporting documents (RFD-01)
Refund Application Timelines
Refunds must be claimed within 2 years from the relevant date. Any delay may lead to rejection of claims.
