GST input credit, also called ITC (Input Tax Credit), is the GST amount you've already paid on purchases that you can set off against the GST you need to pay on sales. This prevents double taxation - you don't pay GST on GST. For example, if you're a manufacturer who bought raw materials with ₹10,000 GST, and you sell the finished product charging ₹20,000 GST, you can pay only ₹10,000 GST to the government because you claim credit for the ₹10,000 already paid on purchases.
For FY 2025-26, you can claim input credit only if you have proper GST invoices from suppliers, the supplier has actually paid GST to government (you can check this in GSTR-2A), and goods or services are used for business purposes. You can't claim credit for certain items like motor vehicles (unless you're in transport business), restaurant services, club membership, etc. Also, personal expenses (like buying something for home use) don't qualify for credit even if you paid GST on it.
The key benefit is reduced GST liability. If your sales GST is ₹1 lakh and your purchase GST is ₹70,000, you pay only ₹30,000 to government. This is crucial for businesses to manage cash flow and pricing. However, you need to reconcile this monthly through GSTR-1 (your sales), GSTR-2A (purchase invoices uploaded by suppliers), and GSTR-3B (monthly return where you claim credit and pay balance GST).
If you're running a business, understanding your net GST liability after input credit affects your pricing and profitability. Use our GST calculator first to calculate GST on your sales and purchases, then our input credit calculator shows how much credit you can claim and what your final GST payment will be. For businesses dealing with imports, GST with customs duty applies - use our export import calculator for those transactions.
For detailed ITC rules and limitations, check the GST portal at GST official website which explains conditions for claiming credit, blocked credits, credit reversal rules, and how to check supplier's GST payment status in GSTR-2A.
Input tax credit becomes meaningful only when applied to real business situations. In day to day operations, businesses usually make multiple purchases and sales in a single month, each with different GST rates.
For example, if you purchase raw material worth ₹5,00,000 with 18 percent GST and sell finished goods worth ₹8,00,000 with 18 percent GST, your output GST is ₹1,44,000. If your purchase GST is ₹90,000, you pay only the balance ₹54,000 to the government.
This adjustment happens automatically only if invoices are correct, suppliers have filed their returns, and the credit appears in your GSTR-2A or GSTR-2B. Otherwise, credit may be temporarily blocked.
Most GST notices are issued due to incorrect ITC claims. Regular reconciliation and correct classification help avoid penalties and interest.
Following this checklist every month reduces compliance risk and ensures smooth GST filings. It also protects your business during departmental scrutiny.
GST Input Credit (ITC) is the credit of GST paid on purchases that can be set off against GST liability on sales. It helps avoid double taxation in the supply chain.
ITC is not available for personal use, exempt supplies, composition scheme dealers, and certain specified goods and services as per GST law.
Common credit is the ITC that cannot be directly attributed to either taxable or exempt supplies. It needs to be apportioned based on the ratio of taxable to total supplies.
Reversal is calculated as: Common credit × (Exempt supplies / Total supplies). This amount needs to be reversed and paid back to the government.
Yes, unutilized ITC can be carried forward to the next month. However, it must be utilized within 2 years from the date of invoice.