Question 1

Which GST office handles Kottivakkam businesses?

Accepted Answer

Businesses in Kottivakkam (PIN 600041) 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 2

Are there any hidden charges for GST refund RFD-01?

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 3

I received a deficiency memo RFD-03 against my refund claim. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

A deficiency memo in RFD-03 means the officer found your application incomplete, and the application is treated as not filed. You cannot reply to an RFD-03; you must file a fresh RFD-01 after curing the defects, and the debited ITC or cash is re-credited to your ledger. Importantly, the fresh application must still fall within the original two-year limitation, so act quickly. Read the memo carefully, fix every listed deficiency, and refile with a covering note. Businesses in Kottivakkam that receive repeated memos usually have invoice statement formatting issues that are easy to correct professionally.

Question 4

Can I include ITC on input services in my inverted duty refund claim?

Accepted Answer

No. Under Rule 89(5) of the CGST Rules, the refund formula for inverted duty structure considers only the net input tax credit availed on inputs, meaning goods used in making the outward supply. ITC on input services and capital goods is excluded from the computation, a position upheld by the Supreme Court in the VKC Footsteps case. That excluded credit is not lost; it remains in your electronic credit ledger for set-off against future output tax. A proper working of eligible versus ineligible credit prevents deficiency memos and partial rejections.

Question 5

I charged CGST and SGST on an invoice that should have carried IGST. How do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

The law provides a clean remedy without interest. Under Section 77 of the CGST Act and Section 19 of the IGST Act, where a supply was wrongly treated as intra-state instead of inter-state or vice versa, you pay the tax under the correct head and claim refund of the tax paid under the wrong head; no interest is charged on the correct payment. Rule 89(1A) allows the refund application within two years from the date the correct tax is paid. Issue a credit note and corrected invoice, amend GSTR-1, and file RFD-01 under the appropriate category. Our Kottivakkam team handles these head-swap corrections regularly; call +91 - 9600 606 444 before the limitation runs.

Question 6

What is an inverted duty structure refund and does my business qualify?

Accepted Answer

An inverted duty structure arises when the GST rate on your inputs is higher than the rate on your outward supplies, causing input tax credit to accumulate. For example, a manufacturer buying raw material at 18 percent and selling finished goods at 5 percent will qualify. Refund of the accumulated ITC is claimed through RFD-01 using the formula prescribed in Rule 89(5), filed within two years of the due date of the relevant return. Certain notified goods are excluded from this refund, so eligibility should be checked against current CBIC notifications before applying.

Question 7

I export under LUT without charging tax. Can I get a refund of my input tax credit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Exports made under a Letter of Undertaking are zero-rated, so the input tax credit accumulated on your purchases can be claimed as a refund by filing RFD-01 under the category refund of unutilised ITC on export without payment of tax. The refund is computed proportionately using the formula in Rule 89(4), based on your export turnover versus total turnover. You must upload a statement of export invoices along with shipping bills or, for services, FIRC or BRC evidencing foreign exchange receipt. Exporters in Kottivakkam can call +91 - 9600 606 444 for end-to-end filing support.

Question 8

What are deemed exports and who claims the refund, the supplier or the buyer?

Accepted Answer

Deemed exports are notified domestic supplies treated like exports even though goods do not leave India, such as supplies to Export Oriented Units, supplies against Advance Authorisation, and supplies of capital goods against EPCG authorisation. Tax is paid on these supplies, and the refund of that tax can be claimed through RFD-01 by either the recipient or, where the recipient furnishes an undertaking that it will not claim the refund and will not avail ITC, by the supplier. The claim must be filed within two years and supported by the prescribed acknowledgements and undertakings.

Question 9

Why is the portal not letting me file GSTR-1?

Accepted Answer

Under Rule 59(6) of the CGST Rules, the portal blocks GSTR-1 filing if the GSTR-3B of the preceding tax period has not been filed. GST returns are sequential, so a single skipped GSTR-3B stops the entire chain. The fix is to file the pending GSTR-3B along with its late fee and interest, after which GSTR-1 opens up again. If you are unsure which period is pending, we can check your dashboard and clear the sequence for you the same day from our office near Kottivakkam.

Question 10

Why should I reconcile GSTR-2B with my purchase books every month?

Accepted Answer

Because your input tax credit in GSTR-3B is legally restricted to invoices appearing in GSTR-2B. Under Section 16(2)(aa) and Rule 36(4), credit is available only when the supplier has reported the invoice in their GSTR-1 and it flows into your GSTR-2B. Monthly reconciliation catches suppliers who have not filed, invoices reported with wrong GSTINs, duplicate entries and rate differences, before they become mismatch notices. It also protects working capital, since missed credits sit unclaimed. A disciplined monthly reconciliation, matched invoice by invoice, is the single most effective protection against ITC disputes for businesses in Kottivakkam.

Question 11

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 12

What is the difference between ISD and cross-charge, and when is each used?

Accepted Answer

They solve different problems. The Input Service Distributor mechanism distributes credit on third-party input services received at the head office but consumed by branches, such as an audit fee or software licence billed centrally; the ISD passes the credit itself through ISD invoices and GSTR-6, without charging tax again. Cross-charge applies where the head office performs a service for branches using its own resources; here the head office makes an outward supply, issues a tax invoice with tax, and the branch claims ITC. With ISD distribution mandatory for common third-party input services from 1 April 2025, businesses must now run both mechanisms side by side, each for its correct category.

Question 13

Is GST still charged on life and health insurance premiums?

Accepted Answer

No. With effect from 22 September 2025, premiums on all individual life insurance policies, including term plans, endowment plans and ULIPs, and all individual health insurance policies, including family floater and senior citizen plans, are exempt from GST. Reinsurance of these policies is also exempt. Earlier these premiums bore 18 percent tax. Note that the exemption applies to policies taken by individuals; certain group covers procured by businesses can still attract GST, and insurers can no longer claim input credit attributable to exempt policies. Policyholders should see the benefit directly in renewal notices.

Question 14

We hire cabs monthly for employee transport in Kottivakkam. Who pays the GST?

Accepted Answer

If the cab operator is not a body corporate, charges 5 percent, and your business is a body corporate, the liability shifts to you under reverse charge. The entry covers renting of motor vehicles designed to carry passengers where the cost of fuel is included in the consideration. If the operator is itself a company, or bills at the higher rate with full ITC, 18 percent since the September 2025 rate rationalisation, forward charge applies and the operator collects the tax. Remember that even after paying RCM, the ITC on employee transport in vehicles seating up to thirteen is blocked under Section 17(5) unless providing the transport is obligatory for the employer under a law.

Question 15

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 Kottivakkam businesses repeated corrections; call +91 - 9600 606 444 for a setup review.

Question 16

How many digits of the HSN code must I print on my tax invoices?

Accepted Answer

Under Notification 78/2020 Central Tax, taxpayers with aggregate turnover up to Rs.5 crore in the preceding financial year must mention a 4-digit HSN code on all B2B tax invoices, though it is optional on B2C invoices. Taxpayers with turnover above Rs.5 crore must mention 6-digit HSN codes on every invoice, including B2C. Eight digits are required for specified goods such as certain chemicals and for export documentation. Services follow the same rule using SAC codes, which begin with 99. Printing truncated or wrong codes on invoices creates mismatches later, so set the codes correctly in your billing software once.

Question 17

I have taken a house on rent and I am GST registered. Does reverse charge hit my house rent?

Accepted Answer

Only in defined situations. From 18 July 2022, renting of a residential dwelling to a registered person attracts 18 percent under reverse charge in the tenant's hands. However, where a registered proprietor rents the dwelling in a personal capacity for use as his own residence, and on his own account rather than for the business, the exemption applies and no tax arises. If a company takes a flat as a guest house or for employee accommodation, RCM applies, and note that ITC on such rent may face challenge as a personal consumption expense. Document the purpose of the tenancy in the rent agreement so the correct treatment is defensible.

Question 18

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 19

How long does GST refund RFD-01 take in Kottivakkam?

Accepted Answer

Application filed in 3-5 working days; sanction typically within 60 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.

Question 20

What documents are required for GST refund RFD-01 in Kottivakkam?

Accepted Answer

For GST refund RFD-01 you will generally need: Export invoices and shipping bills, for export refund claims, FIRC or bank realisation certificates for export proceeds, Copy of LUT filed in RFD-11, for exports without payment of tax, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filed copies for the claim period, GSTR-2B and purchase invoices supporting input tax credit. The exact list depends on your constitution — proprietorship, partnership, LLP or company — and on the specifics of your case. Send what you have on WhatsApp to +91 - 9600 606 444 and we will confirm within the same working day exactly what else is needed, so nothing is rejected later for a missing paper.

Question 21

Can I get GST refund RFD-01 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 Kottivakkam regularly complete GST refund with us without a single office visit. If a physical verification or personal hearing is required by the department, we guide you through it.

Aspect	With ChennaiGST	DIY / Unattended
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.
Keeping up with changes	Rate changes, portal updates and new thresholds such as the Rs.5 crore e-invoice limit are tracked by us and applied to your case proactively.	Changes are discovered after the fact — often through a rejected filing, a blocked e-way bill or a departmental letter.
Late fees and interest	Filings go in ahead of statutory dates, so the Rs.50-per-day late fee and 18 percent interest never arise.	Late fees accumulate silently every delayed day, and interest on unpaid tax runs at 18 percent per annum.
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.
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.

GST Refund RFD-01 near Subramanian Avenue, Kottivakkam, Chennai

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Carbonated fruit drinks classified as carbonated beverages, not fruit juice drinks

Electric vehicles and chargers cut to 5 per cent

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