GST Refund Rules 2021 – Refund of tax, interest, penalty, fees or any other amount

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GST Refund Rules 2021: “refund” includes refund of tax paid on zero-rated supplies of goods or services or both or on inputs or input services used in making such zero-rated supplies, or refund of tax on the supply of goods regarded as deemed exports, or refund of unutilized input tax credit as provided…

GST Refund Rules 2017

GST Refund Rules

1. Application for refund of tax, interest, penalty, fees or any other amount

(1) Any person, except the persons covered under notification issued under section 55,claiming refund of any tax, interest, penalty, fees or any other amount paid by him, other than refund of integrated tax paid on goods exported out of India, may file an application electronically in FORM GST RFD-01through the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner:

Provided that any claim for refund relating to balance in the electronic cash ledger in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (6) of section 49 may be made through the return furnished for the relevant tax period in FORM GSTR-3 or FORM GSTR-4 or FORM GSTR-7,as the case may be:

Provided further that in respect of supplies to a Special Economic Zone unit or a Special Economic Zone developer, the application for refund shall be filed by the –

  • (a) supplier of goods after such goods have been admitted in full in the Special Economic Zone for authorised operations, as endorsed by the specified officer of the Zone;
  • (b) supplier of services along with such evidence regarding receipt of services for authorised operations as endorsed by the specified officer of the Zone:

[Provided also that in respect of supplies regarded as deemed exports, the application may be filed by, –

  • (a) the recipient of deemed export supplies; or
  • (b) the supplier of deemed export supplies in cases where the recipient does not avail of input tax credit on such supplies and furnishes an undertaking to the effect that the supplier may claim the refund]1

Provided also that refund of any amount, after adjusting the tax payable by the applicant out of the advance tax deposited by him under section 27 at the time of registration, shall be claimed in the last return required to be furnished by him.

(2) The application under sub-rule (1) shall be accompanied by any of the following documentary evidences in Annexure 1 in FORM GST RFD-01, as applicable, to establish that a refund is due to the applicant, namely:-

  • (a) the reference number of the order and a copy of the order passed by the proper officer or an appellate authority or Appellate Tribunal or court resulting in such refund or reference number of the payment of the amount specified in sub-section (6) of section 107 and sub-section (8) of section 112 claimed as refund;
  • (b) a statement containing the number and date of shipping bills or bills of export and the number and the date of the relevant export invoices, in a case where the refund is on account of export of goods;
  • (c) a statement containing the number and date of invoices and the relevant Bank Realisation Certificates or Foreign Inward Remittance Certificates, as the case may be, in a case where the refund is on account of the export of services;
  • (d) a statement containing the number and date of invoices as provided in rule 46 along with the evidence regarding the endorsement specified in the second proviso to sub-rule (1) in the case of the supply of goods made to a Special Economic Zone unit or a Special Economic Zone developer;
  • (e) a statement containing the number and date of invoices, the evidence regarding the endorsement specified in the second proviso to sub-rule (1) and the details of payment, along with the proof thereof, made by the recipient to the supplier for authorised operations as defined under the Special Economic Zone Act, 2005, in a case where the refund is on account of supply of services made to a Special Economic Zone unit or a Special Economic Zone developer;
  • [(f) a declaration to the effect that tax has not been collected from the Special Economic Zone unit or the Special Economic Zone developer, in a case where the refund is on account of supply of goods or services or both made to a Special Economic Zone unit or a Special Economic Zone developer;]185
  • (g) a statement containing the number and date of invoices along with such other evidence as may be notified in this behalf, in a case where the refund is on account of deemed exports;
  • (h) a statement containing the number and the date of the invoices received and issued during a tax period in a case where the claim pertains to refund of any unutilised input tax credit under sub-section (3) of section 54 where the credit has accumulated on account of the rate of tax on the inputs being higher than the rate of tax on output supplies, other than nil-rated or fully exempt supplies;
  • (i) the reference number of the final assessment order and a copy of the said order in a case where the refund arises on account ofthefinalisation of provisional assessment;
  • (j) a statement showing the details of transactions considered as intra-State supply but which is subsequently held to be inter-State supply;
  • (k) a statement showing the details of the amount of claim on account of excess payment of tax;
  • (l) a declaration to the effect that the incidence of tax, interest or any other amount claimed as refund has not been passed on to any other person, in a case where the amount of refund claimed does not exceed two lakh rupees:

Provided that a declaration is not required to be furnished in respect of the cases covered under clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (d) or clause (f) of sub-section (8) of section 54;

  • (m) a Certificate in Annexure 2 of FORM GST RFD-01 issued by a chartered accountant or a cost accountant to the effect that the incidence of tax, interest or any other amount claimed as refund has not been passed on to any other person, in a case where the amount of refund claimed exceeds two lakh rupees:

Provided that a certificate is not required to be furnished in respect of cases covered under clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (d) or clause (f) of subsection (8) of section 54;

Explanation.– For the purposes of this rule,

  • (i) in case of refunds referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (8) of section 54, “invoice” means invoice conforming to the provisions contained in section 31 ;
  • (ii) where the amount of tax has been recovered from the recipient, it shall be deemed that the incidence of tax has been passed on to the ultimate consumer.

(3) Where the application relates to refund of input tax credit, the electronic credit ledger shall be debited by the applicant by an amount equal to the refund so claimed.

[(4) In the case of zero-rated supply of goods or services or both without payment of tax under bond or letter of undertaking in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 16 of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (13 of 2017), refund of input tax credit shall be granted as per the following formula –

Refund Amount = (Turnover of zero-rated supply of goods + Turnover of zero-rated supply of services) x Net ITC ÷ Adjusted Total Turnover

Where,-

  1. “Refund amount” means the maximum refund that is admissible;
  2. “Net ITC” means input tax credit availed on inputs and input services during the relevant period;
  3. “Turnover of zero-rated supply of goods” means the value of zero-rated supply of goods made during the relevant period without payment of tax under bond or letter of undertaking;
  4. “Turnover of zero-rated supply of services” means the value of zero-rated supply of services made without payment of tax under bond or letter of undertaking, calculated in the following manner, namely:-

Zero-rated supply of services is the aggregate of the payments received during the relevant period for zero-rated supply of services and zero-rated supply of services where supply has been completed for which payment had been received in advance in any period prior to the relevant period reduced by advances received for zero-rated supply of services for which the supply of services has not been completed during the relevant period;

(E) “Adjusted Total Turnover” means the sum total of the value of-d;

  • (a) the turnover in a State or a Union territory, as defined under clause (112) of section 2, excluding the turnover of services; and
  • (b) the turnover of zero-rated supply of services determined in terms of clause (D) above and non-zero-rated supply of services,
  • excluding-
    • (i) the value of exempt supplies other than zero-rated supplies; and
    • (ii) the turnover of supplies in respect of which refund is claimed under sub-rule (4A) or sub-rule (4B) or both, if any, during the relevant period.‘]

(F) “Relevant period” means the period for which the claim has been filed.

(5) In case of refund on account of inverted duty structure, refund of input tax credit shall be granted as per the following formula:

Maximum Refund Amount = {(Turnover of inverted rated supply of goods) x Net ITC ÷ Adjusted Total Turnover} minus tax payable on such inverted rated supply of goods

Explanation:-For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expressions –

(a) ―Net ITC‖ shall mean input tax credit availed on inputs during the relevant period other than the input tax credit availed for which refund is claimed under sub-rules (4A) or (4B) or both; and

[“Adjusted Total turnover” and “relevant period” shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in sub-rule (4).]

2. Acknowledgement

(1) Where the application relates to a claim for refund from the electronic cash ledger, an acknowledgement in FORM GST RFD-02 shall be made available to the applicant through the common portal electronically, clearly indicating the date of filing of the claim for refund and the time period specified in sub-section (7) of section 54 shall be counted from such date of filing.

(2) The application for refund, other than claim for refund from electronic cash ledger, shall be forwarded to the proper officer who shall, within a period of fifteen days of filing of the said application, scrutinize the application for its completeness and where the application is found to be complete in terms of sub-rule (2), (3) and (4)of rule 89, an acknowledgement in FORM GST RFD-02 shall be made available to the applicant through the common portal electronically, clearly indicating the date of filing of the claim for refund and the time period specified in sub-section (7) of section 54 shall be counted from such date of filing.

(3) Where any deficiencies are noticed, the proper officer shall communicate the deficiencies to the applicant in FORM GST RFD-03 through the common portal electronically, requiring him to file a fresh refund application after rectification of such deficiencies.

[Provided that the time period, from the date of filing of the refund claim in FORM GST RFD-01 till the date of communication of the deficiencies in FORM GST RFD-03 by the proper officer, shall be excluded from the period of two years as specified under subsection (1) of Section 54, in respect of any such fresh refund claim filed by the applicant after rectification of the deficiencies.]193

(4) Where deficiencies have been communicated in FORM GST RFD-03 under the State Goods and Service Tax Rules,2017, the same shall also deemed to have been communicated under this rule along with the deficiencies communicated under sub-rule (3).

[(5) The applicant may, at any time before issuance of provisional refund sanction order in FORM GST RFD-04 or final refund sanction order in FORM GST RFD-06 or payment order in FORM GST RFD-05 or refund withhold order in FORM GST RFD-07 or notice in FORM GST RFD-08, in respect of any refund application filed in FORM GST RFD-01, withdraw the said application for refund by filing an application in FORM GST RFD-01W.

(6) On submission of application for withdrawal of refund in FORM GST RFD-01W, any amount debited by the applicant from electronic credit ledger or electronic cash ledger, as the case may be, while filing application for refund in FORM GST RFD-01, shall be credited back to the ledger from which such debit was made.]

[SGST Rules]

3. Grant of provisional refund

-(1) The provisional refund in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (6) of section 54 shall be granted subject to the condition that the person claiming refund has, during any period of five years immediately preceding the tax period to which the claim for refund relates, not been prosecuted for any offence under the Act or under an existing law where the amount of tax evaded exceeds two hundred and fifty lakh rupees.

(2) The proper officer, after scrutiny of the claim and the evidence submitted in support thereof and on being prima faciesatisfied that the amount claimed as refund under sub-rule (1) is due to the applicant in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (6) of section 54, shall make an order in FORM GST RFD-04, sanctioning the amount of refund due to the said applicant on a provisional basis within a period not exceeding sevendays from the date of the acknowledgement under sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (2) of rule 90:

[Provided that the order issued in FORM GST RFD-04 shall not be required to be revalidated by the proper officer.]

(3) The proper officer shall issue a [payment order]196in FORM GST RFD-05 for the amount sanctioned under sub-rule (2) and the same shall be electronically credited to any of the bank accounts of the applicant mentioned in his registration particulars and as specified in the application for refund [on the basis of a consolidated payment advice]

[Provided that the [payment order]198in FORM GST RFD-05 shall be required to be revalidated where the refund has not been disbursed within the same financial year in which the said [payment order]199was issued.]

[(4) The Central Government shall disburse the refund based on the consolidated payment advice issued under sub-rule (3).]

4. Order sanctioning refund

(1) Where, upon examination of the application, the proper officer is satisfied that a refund under sub-section (5) of section 54 is due and payable to the applicant, he shall make an order in FORM GST RFD-06 sanctioning the amount of refund to which the applicant is entitled, mentioning therein the amount, if any, refunded to him on a provisional basis under sub-section (6) of section 54, amount adjusted against any outstanding demand under the Act or under any existing law and the balance amount refundable:

[(1A)Where, upon examination of the application of refund of any amount paid as tax other than the refund of tax paid on zero-rated supplies or deemed export, the proper officer is satisfied that a refund under sub-section (5) of section 54 of the Act is due and payable to the applicant, he shall make an order in FORM RFD-06 sanctioning the amount of refund to be paid, in cash, proportionate to the amount debited in cash against the total amount paid for discharging tax liability for the relevant period, mentioning therein the amount adjusted against any outstanding demand under the Act or under any existing law and the balance amount refundable and for the remaining amount which has been debited from the electronic credit ledger for making payment of such tax, the proper officer shall issue FORM GST PMT-03 recrediting the said amount as Input Tax Credit in electronic credit ledger.]

(2) Where the proper officer or the Commissioner is of the opinion that the amount of refund is liable to be withheld under the provisions of sub-section (10) or, as the case may be, sub-section (11) of section 54, he shall pass an order in [Part A]204 of FORM GST RFD-07 informing him the reasons for withholding of such refund.

[Provided that where the proper officer or the Commissioner is satisfied that the refund is no longer liable to be withheld, he may pass an order for release of withheld refund in Part B of FORM GST RFD- 07.]

(3) Where the proper officer is satisfied, for reasons to be recorded in writing, that the whole or any part of the amount claimed as refund is not admissible or is not payable to the applicant, he shall issue a notice in FORM GST RFD-08to the applicant, requiring him to furnish a reply inFORM GST RFD-09 within a period of fifteen days of the receipt of such notice and after considering the reply, make an order in FORM GST RFD-06 sanctioning the amount of refund in whole or part, or rejecting the said refund claim and the said order shall be made available to the applicant electronically and the provisions of sub-rule (1) shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to the extent refund is allowed:

Provided that no application for refund shall be rejected without giving the applicant an opportunityof being heard.

(4) Where the proper officer is satisfied that the amount refundable under sub-rule (1) [or sub-rule (1A)] 206or sub-rule (2) is payable to the applicant under sub-section (8) of section 54, he shall make an order in FORM GST RFD-06 and issue a [payment order]207in FORM GST RFD-05 for the amount of refund andthesameshall be electronically credited to any of the bank accounts of the applicant mentioned in his registration particulars and as specified in the application for refund [on the basis of a consolidated payment advice]208:

[Provided that the order issued in FORM GST RFD-06 shall not be required to be revalidated by the proper officer:

Provided further that the [payment order]209in FORM GST RFD-05 shall be required to be revalidated where the refund has not been disbursed within the same financial year in which the said [payment order]210was issued.]

[(4A) The Central Government shall disburse the refund based on the consolidated payment advice issued under sub-rule (4).]

(5) Where the proper officer is satisfied that the amount refundable under sub-rule (1) [or sub-rule (1A)]213or sub-rule (2) is not payable to the applicant under sub-section (8) of section 54, he shall make an order in FORM GST RFD-06 and issue [a payment order]214in FORM GST RFD-05, for the amount of refund to be credited to the Consumer Welfare Fund.

5. Credit of the amount of rejected refund claim

(1)Where any deficiencies have been communicated under sub-rule (3) of rule 90, the amount debited under sub-rule (3) of rule 89 shall be re-credited to the electronic credit ledger.

(2) Where any amount claimed as refund is rejected under rule 92, either fully or partly, the amount debited, to the extent of rejection, shall be re-credited to the electronic credit ledger by an order made in FORM GST PMT-03.

Explanation.– For the purposes of this rule, a refund shall be deemed to be rejected, if the appeal is finally rejected or if the claimant gives an undertaking in writing to the proper officer that he shall not file an appeal.

6. Order sanctioning interest on delayed refunds

Where any interest is due and payable to the applicant under section 56, the proper officer shall make an order along witha[payment order]215in FORM GST RFD-05, specifying therein the amount of refund which is delayed, the period of delay for which interest is payable and the amount of interest payable, and such amount of interest shall be electronically credited to any of the bank accounts of the applicant mentioned in his registration particulars and as specified in the application for refund.

7. Refund of tax to certain persons

(1) Any person eligible to claim refund of tax paid by him on his inward supplies as per notification issued section 55 shall apply for refund in FORM GST RFD-10 once in every quarter, electronically on the common portal [or otherwise]216, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner, along with a statement of the inward supplies of goods or services or both in FORM GSTR11.

(2) An acknowledgement for the receipt of the application for refund shall be issued in FORM GST RFD-02.

(3) The refund of tax paid by the applicant shall be available if-

  • (a) the inward supplies of goodsor services orboth were received from a registered person against a tax invoice [and the price of the supply covered under a single tax invoice exceeds five thousand rupees, excluding tax paid, if any]
  • (b) name and Goods and Services Tax Identification Number or Unique Identity Number of the applicant is mentioned in the tax invoice; and
  • (c) such other restrictions or conditions as may be specified in the notification are satisfied.

(4) The provisions of rule 92 shall, mutatis mutandis, apply for the sanction and payment of refund under this rule.

(5) Where an express provision in a treaty or other international agreement, to which the President or the Government of India is a party, is inconsistent with the provisions of this Chapter, such treaty or international agreement shall prevail.

8. Consumer Welfare Fund

(1) All amounts of duty/central tax/ integrated tax /Union territory tax/cess and income from investment along with other monies specified in subsection (2) of section 12C of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944), section 57 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017) read with section 20 of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (13 of 2017), section 21 of the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (14 of 2017) and section 12 of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 (15 of 2017) shall be credited to the Fund:

Provided that an amount equivalent to fifty per cent. of the amount of integrated tax determined under sub-section (5) of section 54 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, read with section 20 of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, shall be deposited in the Fund:

[Provided further that an amount equivalent to fifty per cent. of the amount of cess determined under sub-section (5) of section 54 read with section 11 of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 (15 of 2017), shall be deposited in the Fund.]

(2) Any amount, having been credited to the Fund, ordered or directed as payable to any claimant by orders of the proper officer, appellate authority or Appellate Tribunal or court, shall be paid from the Fund.

(3) Any utilisation of amount from the Consumer Welfare Fund under sub-section (1) of section 58 shall be made by debiting the Consumer Welfare Fund account and crediting the account to which the amount is transferred for utilisation.

(4) The [Central/State] Government shall, by an order, constitute a Standing Committee with a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Member Secretary and such other members as it may deem fit and the Committee shall make recommendations for proper utilisation of the money credited to the Consumer Welfare Fund for welfare of the consumers.

(5)

  • (a) The Committee shall meet as and when necessary, generally four times in a year;
  • (b) the Committee shall meet at such time and place as the Chairman, or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee may deem fit;
  • (c) the meeting of the Committee shall be presided over by the Chairman, or in his absence, by the Vice-Chairman;
  • (d) the meeting of the Committee shall be called, after giving at least ten days‘ notice in writing to every member;
  • (e) the notice of the meeting of the Committee shall specify the place, date and hour of the meeting and shall contain statement of business to be transacted thereat;
  • (f) no proceeding of the Committee shall be valid, unless it is presided over by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman and attended by a minimum of three other members.

(6) The Committee shall have powers –

  • (a) to require any applicant to get registered with any authority as the Central Government may specify;
  • (b) to require any applicant to produce before it, or before a duly authorised officer of the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, such books, accounts, documents, instruments, or commodities in custody and control of the applicant, as may be necessary for proper evaluation of the application;
  • (c) to require any applicant to allow entry and inspection of any premises, from which activities claimed to be for the welfare of consumers are stated to be carried on, to a duly authorised officer of the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be;
  • (d) to get the accounts of the applicants audited, for ensuring proper utilisation of the grant;
  • (e) to require any applicant, in case of any default, or suppression of material information on his part, to refund in lump-sum along with accrued interest, the sanctioned grant to the Committee, and to be subject to prosecution under the Act;
  • (f) to recover any sum due from any applicant in accordance with the provisions of the Act;
  • (g) to require any applicant, or class of applicants to submit a periodical report, indicating proper utilisation of the grant;
  • (h) to reject an application placed before it on account of factual inconsistency, or inaccuracy in material particulars;
  • (i) to recommend minimum financial assistance, by way of grant to an applicant, having regard to his financial status, and importance and utility of the nature of activity under pursuit, after ensuring that the financial assistance provided shall not be misutilised;
  • (j) to identify beneficial and safe sectors, where investments out of Fund may be made, and make recommendations, accordingly;
  • (k) to relax the conditions required for the period of engagement in consumer welfare activities of an applicant;
  • (l) to make guidelines for the management, and administration of the Fund.

(7) The Committee shall not consider an application, unless it has been inquired into, in material details and recommended for consideration accordingly, by the Member Secretary.

[(7A) The Committee shall make available to the Board 50 per cent. of the amount credited to the Fund each year, for publicity or consumer awareness on Goods and Services Tax, provided the availability of funds for consumer welfare activities of the Department of Consumer Affairs is not less than twenty-five crore rupees per annum.]

(8) The Committee shall make recommendations:-

  • (a) for making available grants to any applicant;
  • (b) for investment of the money available in the Fund;
  • (c) for making available grants (on selective basis) for reimbursing legal expenses incurred by a complainant, or class of complainants in a consumer dispute, after its final adjudication;
  • (d) for making available grants for any other purpose recommended by the Central Consumer Protection Council (as may be considered appropriate by the Committee);

Explanation.- For the purposes of this rule,

(a) ‘Act’ means the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017), or the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) as the case may be; (b) ‘applicant’ means,

  • (i) the Central Government or State Government;
  • (ii) regulatory authorities or autonomous bodies constituted under an Act of Parliament or the Legislature of a State or Union Territory;
  • (iii) any agency or organization engaged in consumer welfare activities for a minimum period of three years, registered under the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) or under any other law for the time being in force;
  • (iv) village or mandal or samiti or samiti level co-operatives of consumers especially Women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes;
  • (v) an educational or research institution incorporated by an Act of Parliament or the Legislature of a State or Union Territory in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) and which has consumers studies as part of its curriculum for a minimum period of three years; and
  • (vi) a complainant as defined under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986), who applies for reimbursement of legal expenses incurred by him in a case instituted by him in a consumer dispute redressal agency.

(c) ‘application’ means an application in the form as specified by the Standing Committee from time to time;

(d) ‘Central Consumer Protection Council’ means the Central Consumer Protection Council, established under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986), for promotion and protection of rights of consumers;

(e) ‘Committee’ means the Committee constituted under sub-rule (4);

(f) ‘consumer’ has the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986), and includes consumer of goods on which central tax has been paid;

(g) ‗duty‘ means the duty paid under the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) or the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962);

(h) ‗Fund‘ means the Consumer Welfare Fund established by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 12C of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) and section 57 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017);

(i) ‘proper officer’ means the officer having the power under the Act to make an order that the whole or any part of the central tax is refundable]

Manual filing and processing. –

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, in respect of any process or procedure prescribed herein, any reference to electronic filing of an application, intimation, reply, declaration, statement or electronic issuance of a notice, order or certificate on the common portal shall, in respect of that process or procedure, include manual filing of the said application, intimation, reply, declaration, statement or issuance of the said notice, order or certificate in such Forms as appended to these rules.]

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