Question 1

Can I get GST health check 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 Kovilambakkam regularly complete health check 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 2

Do you provide gst health check for small businesses and proprietorships in Kovilambakkam?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A large share of our clients in Kovilambakkam are proprietors, small traders, shop owners, freelancers and family businesses rather than large companies. The fee of Rs.2,999 and the process are the same regardless of size, and we explain the compliance position in plain language — in Tamil or English — so you understand what is being filed on your behalf and why.

Question 3

What is a GST health check and does my business really need one?

Accepted Answer

A GST health check is a preventive review of your compliance before the department finds the gaps. It typically covers reconciliation of GSTR-1 with GSTR-3B and books, ITC matching against GSTR-2B, blocked credit review under Section 17(5), reverse charge exposure, e-invoice and e-way bill compliance, rate and classification checks, and pending return or payment issues. The output is a report quantifying exposures and the corrective steps, such as amendments in coming returns or voluntary payment through DRC-03. With scrutiny and audits now driven by data analytics, businesses in Kovilambakkam that self-review annually face far fewer notices than those that do not.

Question 4

What does a GST health check cost and what will I receive at the end?

Accepted Answer

At ChennaiGST, health check engagements start at Rs.2,999 for a single-GSTIN business, with the fee scaled to turnover, transaction volume and the number of review periods. You receive a written report listing each gap found, the tax, interest and penalty exposure quantified in rupees, the statutory provision involved, and a prioritised action plan covering return amendments, DRC-03 payments and process fixes. We also walk your accountant through the corrections. Many Kovilambakkam clients recover the fee multiple times over through penalty avoided and missed ITC identified. Call +91 - 9600 606 444 to book a review before the next return cycle.

Question 5

How often should I get a GST health check done for my business?

Accepted Answer

At minimum once a year, ideally between September and December, because that window still allows you to correct the previous financial year through the November return-amendment deadline and finalise a clean GSTR-9 by its 31 December due date. Businesses with turnover above Rs.5 crore, multiple registrations or heavy ITC should review quarterly, since e-invoice obligations and larger credit volumes raise the stakes. A health check is also wise before events such as applying for a large refund, receiving an ADT-01 audit intimation, or a business sale, when past compliance suddenly gets examined closely. Consistency matters more than frequency.

Question 6

Can a compliance review actually prevent GST notices?

Accepted Answer

Largely, yes. Most notices arise from mismatches the portal detects automatically: GSTR-1 versus GSTR-3B tax differences, ITC claimed beyond GSTR-2B, e-way bill turnover gaps and unfiled returns. A periodic review catches these before the system does, so you can correct them through amendments in subsequent returns or a voluntary DRC-03 payment with interest, which under Section 73 attracts no penalty and no notice for the amount paid. What a review cannot prevent are genuine interpretation disputes, but even there it prepares your documentation in advance. ChennaiGST runs structured health checks for Kovilambakkam businesses before each annual return season; call +91 - 9600 606 444 to schedule one.

Question 7

What is the GST rate on footwear after the September 2025 rate changes?

Accepted Answer

From 22 September 2025, footwear with a sale value up to Rs.2,500 per pair attracts 5% GST, and footwear priced above Rs.2,500 attracts 18%. This replaced the earlier structure where pairs up to Rs.1,000 were taxed at 12% and costlier pairs at 18%, giving mass-market footwear a genuine rate cut. The threshold works pair-wise on the actual sale value, so the entire value of a pair above Rs.2,500 is taxed at 18%, not just the excess, and a discounted price at or below Rs.2,500 earns the 5% rate. Footwear showrooms should verify their POS slabs; call +91 - 9600 606 444 for help.

Question 8

I have a day job plus freelance income and a small rental. What counts towards my GST turnover?

Accepted Answer

Salary is excluded entirely, because services by an employee to an employer in the course of employment are outside GST under Schedule III. Everything else you supply counts in aggregate turnover: freelance fees, export receipts, and even exempt income such as rent from a residential dwelling let out for residence. So a person earning Rs.15 lakh from freelancing and Rs.6 lakh from rent has crossed Rs.20 lakh and must register, even though the rent itself remains exempt. This clubbing rule surprises many moonlighting professionals; a short call on +91 - 9600 606 444 can confirm exactly where you stand.

Question 9

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 Kovilambakkam businesses; call +91 - 9600 606 444 early.

Question 10

What happened to the old 12 percent and 28 percent GST slabs?

Accepted Answer

Both slabs were abolished with effect from 22 September 2025. Nearly all goods that were at 12 percent moved down to 5 percent, and the bulk of the 28 percent items moved to 18 percent, with only a small set of luxury and demerit goods shifted up to the special 40 percent rate. This means old rate charts, printed price lists and software masters created before September 2025 are unreliable. Before quoting or billing, confirm the current rate against the CBIC rate notifications for your exact HSN code, or call +91 - 9600 606 444 and we will verify it for your product list.

Question 11

Can one invoice contain items taxed at different GST rates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is no requirement to issue separate invoices per rate. A single tax invoice can carry multiple line items, each with its own HSN code, taxable value, rate and tax amount, and the totals section simply aggregates the tax rate-wise. A hardware store in Kovilambakkam can bill cement at 18 percent and certain tools at 5 percent on one document. What matters is that each line is classified and taxed correctly, and that mixed baskets are not collapsed into one rate. Be careful with genuine composite supplies, where one principal supply drives a single rate; that is a classification question, not an invoicing one.

Question 12

Can one document cover both taxable and exempt items sold together?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in one specific situation. Rule 46A permits a registered person supplying both taxable and exempt goods or services to an unregistered recipient to issue a single invoice-cum-bill of supply covering the entire transaction. This saves retail counters from splitting every mixed basket into two documents. The concession applies only when the buyer is unregistered; for a registered buyer, you must still issue a tax invoice for the taxable items and a separate bill of supply for the exempt items. Supermarkets and pharmacies with mixed inventories use this format daily, and billing software handles the split automatically once configured.

Question 13

How do I choose a good GST consultant near me in Kovilambakkam?

Accepted Answer

Look for four things: familiarity with the GST portal's actual workflows rather than just theory, responsiveness around due dates such as the 11th for GSTR-1 and the 20th for GSTR-3B, transparent fixed pricing instead of vague estimates, and the ability to handle departmental work like clarification notices, amendments and revocations, not just routine filing. Ask how they track your ARNs and deadlines, and whether they share acknowledgements after every filing. ChennaiGST serves businesses across Kovilambakkam with fixed-fee packages starting at Rs.2,999, and every filing is confirmed back to you with the portal acknowledgement. Call +91 - 9600 606 444 for a free initial consultation.

Question 14

What is self-invoicing under RCM and is there a time limit for it?

Accepted Answer

When you receive supplies liable to reverse charge from an unregistered supplier, Section 31(3)(f) requires you, the recipient, to issue an invoice on yourself, because the supplier cannot issue a tax invoice. You must also issue a payment voucher when paying the supplier. From 1 November 2024, Rule 47A prescribes a firm deadline: the self-invoice must be issued within thirty days of receiving the supply. This document is not a formality; the time limit for claiming the RCM credit is reckoned from the self-invoice, and its absence can cost you the credit besides inviting penalty. Maintain a monthly self-invoice series covering rent, freight, legal fees and similar unregistered-supplier heads.

Question 15

Do I have to issue an invoice for every small cash sale in my shop?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Where the value of a supply is less than Rs.200, the buyer is unregistered, and the buyer does not ask for an invoice, you may skip issuing an individual tax invoice. Instead, you must prepare one consolidated tax invoice at the close of each day covering all such small sales. The moment a customer demands an invoice, or the sale is Rs.200 or more, a proper invoice is required. Retail counters typically issue system receipts to every customer anyway, which is cleaner practice, but the daily consolidated invoice is the legal minimum for petty sales.

Question 16

How is interest calculated on a GST demand or late payment?

Accepted Answer

Interest runs at 18 percent per annum under Section 50 on tax paid after the due date, computed day-wise from the day following the due date until payment. Following amendments, interest on delayed GSTR-3B liability applies on the portion paid through the electronic cash ledger, and interest on wrongly availed ITC arises where the credit has been both availed and utilised. Interest is payable even where no penalty applies, and it cannot be waived by the officer. Because interest compounds silently over long disputes, paying the admitted tax early through DRC-03, even while contesting the rest, often saves a substantial amount.

Question 17

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 Kovilambakkam commonly need help splitting mixed billing correctly.

Question 18

What is the GST rate on a works contract for a commercial building?

Accepted Answer

Under GST, a works contract relating to immovable property is treated wholly as a supply of services, and the standard rate is 18 percent on the contract value, with the contractor eligible for input tax credit on cement, steel and other inputs. This applies to construction, fabrication, erection, repair and renovation contracts for factories, offices and commercial buildings. The old VAT-plus-service-tax splitting of material and labour is gone; one rate applies to the whole consideration. Contractors should also note that free-issue materials supplied by the client can affect valuation, so contract drafting deserves attention before quoting.

Question 19

Which GST office handles Kovilambakkam businesses?

Accepted Answer

Businesses in Kovilambakkam (PIN 600129) generally fall under the CGST Chennai South Commissionerate, with state-jurisdiction cases handled by the Tamil Nadu Commercial Taxes Department. Your exact division and range can be confirmed from your GSTIN on the GST portal. We regularly appear before this jurisdiction for registrations, clarifications and hearings, so we know the local practice and documentation preferences.

Question 20

Is there a GST consultant near Kovilambakkam for gst health check?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We serve Kovilambakkam and the surrounding areas from our office at Porur, Chennai - 600 116, Tamil Nadu, and most health check work is completed online — you send documents on WhatsApp and we handle the portal work. If you prefer in-person help, we offer doorstep document pickup across Kovilambakkam and you are welcome to visit our office. Reach us on +91 - 9600 606 444 between 9 AM and 8 PM, Monday to Saturday.

Question 21

Are there any hidden charges for GST health check?

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.

Aspect	With ChennaiGST	DIY / Unattended
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.
Due-date tracking	A maintained compliance calendar with internal cut-offs days before the 11th and the 20th; we chase you for data, not the other way around.	Deadlines remembered from memory or phone alarms; one busy week and the return slips past the due date.
Registration and amendments	Query-resistant applications prepared correctly the first time, with supporting documents matched to what proper officers actually verify.	Repeated clarification memos and resubmissions, with weeks lost because a rent agreement or premises photograph did not meet expectations.
Supplier defaults	Suppliers who stop uploading invoices are identified within the period and pursued before their default becomes your blocked credit.	Missing supplier invoices surface only when credit is denied, by which time recovering the amount from the vendor is difficult.
Input tax credit	Purchase register matched against GSTR-2B each period, with defaulting suppliers chased so eligible credit is actually captured.	Credit claimed from books alone; mismatches with GSTR-2B mean lost credit or excess claims that invite departmental queries.
Portal credentials and data	Logins handled by a small engaged team under strict confidentiality, with credentials stored securely and never passed onward.	Passwords circulating on chats with freelancers and part-timers, and no accountability for who has accessed your business data.

Expert GST Health Check for Kovilambakkam Businesses

Get a Free GST Consultation

Trade Profile and GST Jurisdiction for Kovilambakkam

Why Kovilambakkam Businesses Choose ChennaiGST

Waiver and Amnesty Windows Applied for You

Complete Documentation, Properly Archived

Familiar with Chennai Jurisdictions and Officers' Expectations

A Real Local Office You Can Walk Into

Refund and Export Experience That Shows

Every Return Reviewed by a Senior Consultant

Our Health Check Process

Scope and data collection

Return and turnover testing

ITC and RCM review

Findings and quantification

Report and fix-it plan

Documents Required for GST Health Check

What GST Health Check Costs in Kovilambakkam

What You Get

Export Benefits Fully Utilised

TDS and TCS Credits Converted to Cash

A Professional Face on Every Invoice

Due-Diligence Ready for Investors and Buyers

No Interest Outflows at 18 Percent

Marketplace Accounts That Stay Live

With ChennaiGST vs Doing It Yourself

What the Department and the Courts Have Said — relevant to Kovilambakkam businesses

No GST on loan penal charges and small payment aggregator transactions

E-invoicing liability depends on turnover, not on portal enablement

Agricultural seedling trays are plastic articles taxable at 18 percent

Frequently Asked Questions

Related GST Services & Nearby Areas

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