Question 1

What is the process for DRC-01/DRC-01A demand reply?

Accepted Answer

The process runs in clear stages: Demand analysis; Merits assessment; DRC-06 reply drafting; Hearing and payment strategy. A senior consultant reviews your file at each stage rather than passing it to a data-entry desk, and you receive a confirmation with the filed documents once it is complete. You always know which stage your work is at — we update you on WhatsApp instead of leaving you to follow up.

Question 2

How much does DRC-01/DRC-01A demand reply cost in Basin Bridge?

Accepted Answer

Our fee for DRC-01/DRC-01A demand reply in Basin Bridge starts at Rs.4,999 and is quoted in full before we begin — there are no hidden charges added later. The fee covers professional work end to end: document review, preparation, filing and follow-up until completion. Government fees or portal charges, where applicable, are separate and always shown to you upfront. For an exact quote based on your turnover and business type, call +91 - 9600 606 444 and a consultant will confirm it on the call.

Question 3

What is Form DRC-03 and when should I use it?

Accepted Answer

DRC-03 is the form for making a voluntary payment of tax, interest or penalty on the GST portal, either before a show cause notice is issued or within thirty days of receiving one. It is commonly used to pay liabilities found during a self-review, to respond to a DRC-01A intimation, to settle audit findings, or to pay dues flagged in scrutiny. Paying through DRC-03 under Section 73 before the notice, along with interest, means no penalty and no notice on that amount. Select the correct cause of payment and period in the form, because a wrongly mapped DRC-03 creates reconciliation trouble later.

Question 4

What are the exact steps to file a DRC-03 voluntary payment on the GST portal?

Accepted Answer

Log in and go to Services, then User Services, then My Applications, choose Intimation of Voluntary Payment DRC-03 and click New Application. Select the cause of payment, such as voluntary, show cause notice, audit or annual return, pick the section and financial year, and enter the tax, interest and penalty amounts head-wise under IGST, CGST and SGST. A saved draft remains available for fifteen days. Offset the amounts from your ledgers, sign with DSC or EVC, and download the ARN acknowledgement. Our Basin Bridge office files DRC-03 the same day for clients; call +91 - 9600 606 444.

Question 5

Should I just pay the amount mentioned in a DRC-01A intimation?

Accepted Answer

Only after checking the working. DRC-01A is an invitation to settle before a show cause notice, and if you agree with the ascertainment you can pay through DRC-03 and intimate it in Part B, after which no notice is issued for that amount. In a Section 73 matter, paying with interest at this stage means zero penalty, which is a genuine saving. But officers' ascertainments often ignore reconciliations, eligible credits or amounts already paid. Verify the computation, pay only what is truly due, and contest the balance in Part B with reasons. ChennaiGST routinely trims DRC-01A figures for clients before payment.

Question 6

How do I reply to a DRC-01 show cause notice online?

Accepted Answer

The reply to a show cause notice summarised in DRC-01 is filed in Form DRC-06 on the GST portal. Log in, open View Additional Notices and Orders, select the case and use the reply option to upload your written submissions and supporting documents, and opt for a personal hearing. A good DRC-06 addresses each allegation separately, annexes reconciliations, invoices and ledgers, cites the relevant provisions and circulars, and raises limitation and jurisdiction objections where available. File within the time allowed in the notice. ChennaiGST drafts DRC-06 replies for Basin Bridge businesses with a hearing strategy built in from the start.

Question 7

I received Form DRC-07 after an adjudication order. What happens next?

Accepted Answer

DRC-07 is the summary of the demand created on the portal after the officer passes an order, and it makes the amount recoverable. You now have two lawful paths. Either pay the demand, or file an appeal in Form APL-01 within three months of the order with a pre-deposit of 10 percent of the disputed tax, which stays recovery of the balance. If you do nothing, recovery action, including bank account attachment, can begin three months after the order, and even earlier in exceptional cases. Do not let the appeal window lapse; call +91 - 9600 606 444 for an urgent review of the order.

Question 8

How much time does the GST department have to issue a demand under Section 73?

Accepted Answer

For a Section 73 demand, the adjudication order must be passed within three years from the due date of the annual return for the financial year concerned, and the show cause notice must be issued at least three months before that deadline. For Section 74 fraud cases, the order deadline is five years with the notice issued at least six months earlier. For tax periods from FY 2024-25 onwards, a new common provision in Section 74A applies with its own timelines. Always check limitation first; notices issued beyond these dates can be challenged as time-barred, which ChennaiGST examines in every Basin Bridge demand case.

Question 9

How much does it cost to get a GST notice reply drafted in Basin Bridge?

Accepted Answer

Professional fees depend on the type of notice and the stakes involved. A simple clarification or return-default reply costs far less than a detailed defence to a show cause notice with multiple issues. At ChennaiGST, notice reply services start at Rs.4,999, which covers studying the notice, reconciling your data, drafting a reasoned reply with supporting annexures and filing it on the GST portal. Hearing representation is scoped separately where required. We serve businesses across Basin Bridge and nearby localities, and the first assessment of your notice is done before we quote. Call +91 - 9600 606 444 with a copy of the notice for a fixed quote.

Question 10

How can I verify whether a GST notice I received is genuine or fake?

Accepted Answer

Every communication from a central GST officer must carry a Document Identification Number (DIN), which you can verify on the CBIC website. Notices issued through the GST portal carry a Reference Number that can be checked after logging in, and a genuine notice will also appear in your View Notices and Orders or View Additional Notices and Orders tab. As per CBIC instructions, a communication without a DIN is treated as invalid. Be cautious of demands received only on WhatsApp or email asking for payment to personal accounts. If in doubt, call +91 - 9600 606 444 and we will verify the document before you respond.

Question 11

I received Form ADT-01 saying my business is selected for GST audit. What does it mean?

Accepted Answer

ADT-01 is the intimation that the department will conduct an audit of your records under Section 65. The notice must be issued at least fifteen working days before the audit begins and will specify the financial years covered and the documents required. The audit may happen at your place of business or at the department's office. It is a detailed examination of returns, books, ITC claims and classifications, not a routine visit. Use the fifteen-day window to reconcile your data and organise records rather than waiting for the officers to arrive. ChennaiGST provides end-to-end audit support for Basin Bridge businesses; call +91 - 9600 606 444 early.

Question 12

Which food items became completely tax-free under GST 2.0?

Accepted Answer

From 22 September 2025, UHT milk, pre-packaged and labelled paneer and chena, and all Indian breads including roti, chapati, paratha and khakhra attract nil GST. In the pharma space, thirty-three notified lifesaving drugs and medicines for cancer and rare diseases also moved to nil rate. Remember that selling nil-rated goods still has compliance effects: you issue a bill of supply instead of a tax invoice for such items, and input tax credit attributable to nil-rated supplies must be reversed proportionately under Rules 42 and 43. Grocery retailers in Basin Bridge commonly need help splitting mixed billing correctly.

Question 13

How do I decide whether to charge CGST plus SGST or IGST on an invoice?

Accepted Answer

Compare two data points: the location of the supplier and the place of supply determined under the IGST Act. If both fall in the same state, the supply is intra-state and you charge CGST plus SGST; if they fall in different states, it is inter-state and you charge IGST. The buyer's billing address alone is not the test; the place of supply rules for the specific goods or service govern. Common traps include hotel stays, property-linked services and bill-to ship-to chains, where the place of supply departs from the customer's address. Configuring these rules in your billing software saves Basin Bridge businesses repeated corrections; call +91 - 9600 606 444 for a setup review.

Question 14

What are the common types of GST notices a business can receive?

Accepted Answer

The frequent ones are: REG-03 seeking clarification on a registration application; GSTR-3A for non-filing of returns; ASMT-10 pointing out discrepancies found on scrutiny of returns; DRC-01A intimating an ascertained tax liability before formal proceedings; DRC-01, the show cause notice under Section 73 or 74; ADT-01 intimating a departmental audit; REG-17 proposing cancellation of registration; RFD-08 proposing rejection of a refund claim; and summons under Section 70. Each has its own reply form and deadline, ranging from seven working days to thirty days, so identifying the notice type correctly is the first step in responding. When in doubt, call +91 - 9600 606 444.

Question 15

How much time do I get to raise an invoice for services?

Accepted Answer

A tax invoice for services must be issued within thirty days from the date of supply of the service. For banks, insurers, financial institutions and NBFCs, the limit is forty-five days. Where services are supplied continuously, the invoice follows the contract: if the due date of payment is ascertainable, invoice on or before that date; if not, invoice when payment is received; and if payment is linked to completion of an event or milestone, invoice on or before its completion. Consultants and agencies that bill quarterly should check their contracts against these rules, since late invoicing defers nothing legally.

Question 16

Can I transfer cash ledger balance from one GSTIN to another GSTIN of the same PAN?

Accepted Answer

Yes, within limits. Under Section 49(10), unutilised IGST and CGST balances in the electronic cash ledger can be transferred through PMT-09 to the cash ledger of a distinct person, that is, another GSTIN registered on the same PAN in the same or another state. SGST balances cannot be moved across states in this manner. The transfer is not permitted if the transferring GSTIN has any unpaid liability standing in its electronic liability register. Multi-state businesses headquartered in Basin Bridge use this to shift idle deposits to the branch that actually needs the cash, avoiding fresh working capital outflow.

Question 17

I returned an advance because the deal was cancelled. What document do I issue?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how far the paperwork went. If you had issued only a receipt voucher and no tax invoice, you issue a refund voucher under Rule 51 when returning the advance, and the tax paid on that advance can be adjusted. If a tax invoice had already been issued, the cancellation is handled through a credit note under Section 34 instead. The refund voucher records the original receipt voucher reference, the amount refunded and the tax involved. Event managers and contractors see cancellations regularly, and using the wrong document between these two is a common reconciliation error.

Question 18

Is the late fee charged on delayed returns the same thing as a penalty?

Accepted Answer

No, they are legally distinct. Late fee under Section 47 is an automatic, fixed daily charge for filing a return after its due date, computed by the portal and payable in cash before the return is accepted; no officer discretion or notice is involved. Penalty, under provisions such as Sections 122 to 125, is imposed through adjudication for specified offences, requires a show cause notice and hearing, and can be contested or reduced. Interest under Section 50 is a third, separate levy compensating for delayed payment. A delayed return with tax due can therefore attract all three simultaneously, each on its own footing.

Question 19

Are there any hidden charges for DRC-01/DRC-01A demand reply?

Accepted Answer

No. The fee quoted before we start is the fee you pay. Government fees, portal charges or statutory late fees, where they apply, are separate and disclosed to you in advance with the exact amount. We issue a proper GST invoice for our professional fee. If the scope of work changes — for example, an unexpected notice or additional periods — we tell you the revised fee before doing anything further.

Question 20

Can I get DRC-01/DRC-01A demand reply done online without visiting the office?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the entire process can be handled online. You share scanned documents on WhatsApp or email, we prepare and file everything on the GST portal, and you receive the acknowledgement and filed copies digitally. Businesses in Basin Bridge regularly complete demand reply with us without a single office visit. If a physical verification or personal hearing is required by the department, we guide you through it.

Question 21

How long does DRC-01/DRC-01A demand reply take in Basin Bridge?

Accepted Answer

Draft reply in 5-7 working days. That assumes your documents are complete and there is no departmental query. We start the same day we receive your papers and tell you the realistic completion date upfront rather than an optimistic one. Where the GST portal or the officer causes delay — clarifications, physical verification or system issues — we track it daily and keep you informed on WhatsApp.

Aspect	With ChennaiGST	DIY / Unattended
Record keeping	Every return, challan, acknowledgement and working paper archived in an organised folder, retrievable in minutes years later.	Documents scattered across email, downloads and old phones; assembling records for a bank or an audit takes days.
Time cost	Roughly an hour a month to send data and approve drafts; the portal work, reconciliation and follow-up are ours.	Hours every month lost to portal errors, JSON files, OTP failures and reworking figures — usually on the due date itself.
Annual return preparation	Monthly reconciliations roll naturally into GSTR-9, filed comfortably before 31 December with figures already agreed through the year.	Twelve months of unmatched data reconstructed in December, with differences discovered too late to be corrected cleanly.
Refund claims	RFD-01 filed with complete statements and annexures, tracked from ARN to bank credit, with any deficiency memo answered promptly.	Incomplete claims bounce back as deficiency memos while the refund sits unclaimed for months and working capital stays blocked.
Goods in transit	E-way bills generated correctly and matched to invoices, so consignments pass roadside inspections without detention or penalty.	A defective or missing e-way bill can mean detention at a checkpoint, with penalties that dwarf the tax on the consignment.
Risk of notices	GSTR-1, GSTR-3B and GSTR-2B reconciled before filing, removing the mismatches that trigger most scrutiny notices.	Inconsistent figures across returns quietly build a mismatch history that surfaces later as ASMT-10 scrutiny or a demand notice.

Expert DRC-01/DRC-01A Demand Reply for Basin Bridge Businesses

Get a Free GST Consultation

Trade Profile and GST Jurisdiction for Basin Bridge

Why Basin Bridge Businesses Choose ChennaiGST

Composition Scheme Compliance Without Slips

Multi-GSTIN and Branch Coordination

Every Return Reviewed by a Senior Consultant

Notice Support Does Not Stop at Filing

Support in Tamil and English

One Dedicated Point of Contact

Our Demand Reply Process

Demand analysis

Merits assessment

DRC-06 reply drafting

Hearing and payment strategy

Order and next steps

Documents Required for DRC-01/DRC-01A Demand Reply

What DRC-01/DRC-01A Demand Reply Costs in Basin Bridge

What You Get

The Lowest Tax Position the Law Allows

Fewer Departmental Notices

Better Cash Flow Planning

Waiver Benefits Never Missed

Compliance That Continues When You Travel

Tax Paid Under the Right Head

With ChennaiGST vs Doing It Yourself

GST Developments Worth Knowing — relevant to Basin Bridge businesses

Service exemption clarifications following the 52nd Council

Old and used vehicles moved to a uniform 18 per cent on margin

Prosecution threshold doubled to Rs 2 crore and compounding amounts reduced

Already Holding the Notice? Read It in About a Minute

Frequently Asked Questions

Related GST Services & Nearby Areas

Ready to Sort Out Your GST?