Exporters to get GST refund in bank A/CS filed with Customs

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to give GST refund to exporters in the bank accounts they have filed with the customs department and not in those they have mentioned in the GST registration forms.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said it has asked exporters to align their bank account details declared to the customs with that of GST regime. Under the GST rules, refund is to be credited in the bank account mentioned in the registration particulars. Besides, exporters have been declaring details of bank account to customs authorities for the purpose of drawback etc.

The CBEC said that there is a possibility that bank account details available with the customs department do not match with those declared in the GST registration form.

"In order to ensure smooth processing and payment of refund of IGST paid on exported goods, it has been decided that said refund amount shall be credited to the bank account of the exporter registered with customs even if it is different from the bank account of the applicant mentioned in his registration particulars," the CBEC said.

It also advised exporters to either change the bank account declared to customs to align it with their GST registration particulars or add the account declared with Customs in their GST registration details for smooth transfer of refund.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia had earlier this week said that the government will clear pending GST refunds of exporters by November-end. Over July-august, an estimated Rs 67,000 crore has accumulated as the Integrated GST (IGST), of which only about Rs 5,000-10,000 crore will be due as refunds to exporters.