GST Consultancy
Advice on classification, rates, place of supply and input credit, before a wrong decision becomes a demand.
Who needs it
Businesses launching products, changing supply chains or unsure how GST applies to a transaction.
Most businesses can file a GST return. Fewer manage GST well: credit blocked because a supplier didn't upload an invoice, reconciliation differences that build up month after month, and notices that arrive long after the return was filed. Filing is a mechanical task; managing GST is a different job. It also changes constantly, with rate notifications, circulars and changes to return formats through the year. A change missed today usually shows up months later as blocked credit or a notice. We advise on GST, keep compliance on track and represent you when the department asks questions.
What GST consultancy covers
Businesses need different help at different stages: new businesses need registration and the right structure, established ones need monthly discipline, exporters need refunds.
| Area | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Registration and structure | Whether to register, regular or composition scheme, documents, filing and Aadhaar authentication, additional places of business |
| Returns and reconciliation | GSTR-1, GSTR-3B and GSTR-9; matching GSTR-2A / 2B with purchase records; input tax credit reconciliation |
| Refunds | Export refunds, inverted duty refunds, excess cash balance, replies to deficiency memos |
| Audit and representation | GSTR-9C, departmental audits, special audits under sections 65 and 66, replies to notices and appeals |
| Advice | Classification and rates, place of supply, valuation, reverse charge, exports and imports, sector-specific questions |
Who needs ongoing GST support
- Exporters supplying under a letter of undertaking (LUT), where refund eligibility and documents change with each shipment
- E-commerce sellers dealing with TCS, registrations in several states and platform reports
- Manufacturers and traders with an inverted duty structure, where tax on inputs is higher than on outputs
- Service businesses billing across states, where place of supply rules decide whether IGST or CGST and SGST apply
- Businesses that have received a notice and need a structured reply
Smaller businesses benefit too. A retailer with one GSTIN may need only a filing calendar and occasional advice; scope varies even between businesses of similar size.
Registration
Advice usually starts at registration. The two most common causes of delay are mismatched premises documents and differences between the names on Aadhaar and PAN, which push an application into manual verification. Catching these before filing saves weeks. See GST registration and returns.
Returns and reconciliation
Returns are due from the month of registration, even without sales: GSTR-1 by the 11th and GSTR-3B by the 20th. Most of the ongoing work is reconciliation: matching GSTR-2A and 2B with purchase records, following up suppliers who have not uploaded invoices, and protecting credit from being blocked by someone else's delay. See GST compliance management.
Refunds
Refunds are not automatic after filing. Claims stall over mismatched documents, LUT problems or a deficiency memo that must be answered quickly and accurately. Common situations are exports under LUT, accumulated credit from an inverted duty structure, and balances left when registration is cancelled. See GST refunds.
Audits and notices
When an audit notice under section 65 arrives, or a reconciliation statement is required, we reconcile GSTR-1, GSTR-3B and GSTR-9 with the books, check credit against documents, and prepare the reports the audit needs. See GST audit and GST litigation.
Choosing a GST adviser
- Experience with the returns you file: monthly, QRMP or composition
- A named person who handles your account and answers your questions
- Familiarity with your sector: exports, e-commerce, real estate, services
- A clear process for notices and queries, not just registration and filing
When in-house handling stops being enough
| Situation | How we help |
|---|---|
| Turnover crosses the threshold | Eligibility check, documents and registration |
| Credit differences every month | GSTR-2A / 2B reconciliation and supplier follow-up |
| First export order | LUT filing and refund planning |
| Departmental audit notice | Documents, reconciliation and representation |
| Registrations in several states | Central tracking of returns and cross-state reconciliation |
Common questions
What does a GST consultant do day to day?
After registration: monthly returns, reconciliation and answering the department's queries, plus advice whenever a new kind of transaction comes up.
Do we only need advice when there is a problem?
No. Most of the value is in routine work done on time: monthly reconciliation and early warning of supplier mismatches. Problems usually build up over several months.
How often should our GST records be reviewed?
Monthly, alongside filing, is usually enough. Exporters and businesses claiming regular refunds benefit from closer checks.
Does a small business really need this?
Late fees on missed nil returns and lost credit weigh more heavily on a small business, so a simple, reliable calendar is worth having.
Documents to keep ready
- GST registration certificate and recent returns
- Sales and purchase registers
- Contracts or invoices for the transactions to be reviewed
- Any notices or correspondence from the department