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Chapter V - Input tax credit

Section 16

Section 16: Eligibility and conditions for taking input tax credit

Section 16 is the gateway to input tax credit (ITC). A registered person may claim tax on business inputs, but possession of an invoice alone is not enough: the statutory conditions, restrictions and time limit must all be checked.

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Need advice on Section 16?

This article is for general information. Refer to the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.

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Statutory text

Bare law

(1) Every registered person shall, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed and in the manner specified in section 49, be entitled to take credit of input tax charged on any supply of goods or services or both to him which are used or intended to be used in the course or furtherance of his business and the said amount shall be credited to the electronic credit ledger of such person.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no registered person shall be entitled to the credit of any input tax in respect of any supply of goods or services or both to him unless,–– (a) he is in possession of a tax invoice or debit note issued by a supplier registered under this Act, or such other tax paying documents as may be prescribed; (aa) the details of the invoice or debit note referred to in clause (a) has been furnished by the supplier in the statement of outward supplies and such details have been communicated to the recipient of such invoice or debit note in the manner specified under section 37; (b) he has received the goods or services or both.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, it shall be deemed that the registered person has received the goods or, as the case may be, services–– (i) where the goods are delivered by the supplier to a recipient or any other person on the direction of such registered person, whether acting as an agent or otherwise, before or during movement of goods, either by way of transfer of documents of title to goods or otherwise; (ii) where the services are provided by the supplier to any person on the direction of and on account of such registered person. (ba) the details of input tax credit in respect of the said supply communicated to such registered person under section 38 has not been restricted; (c) subject to the provisions of section 41 , the tax charged in respect of such supply has been actually paid to the Government, either in cash or through utilisation of input tax credit admissible in respect of the said supply; and (d) he has furnished the return under section 39: Provided that where the goods against an invoice are received in lots or instalments, the registered person shall be entitled to take credit upon receipt of the last lot or instalment: Provided further that where a recipient fails to pay to the supplier of goods or services or both, other than the supplies on which tax is payable on reverse charge basis, the amount towards the value of supply along with tax payable thereon within a period of one hundred and eighty days from the date of issue of invoice by the supplier, an amount equal to the input tax credit availed by the recipient shall be paid by him along with interest payable under section 50, in such manner as may be prescribed: Provided also that the recipient shall be entitled to avail of the credit of input tax on payment made by him to the supplier of the amount towards the value of supply of goods or services or both along with tax payable thereon.

(3) Where the registered person has claimed depreciation on the tax component of the cost of capital goods and plant and machinery under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961(43 of 1961), the input tax credit on the said tax component shall not be allowed.

(4) A registered person shall not be entitled to take input tax credit in respect of any invoice or debit note for supply of goods or services or both after the thirtieth day of November following the end of financial year to which such invoice or debit note pertains or furnishing of the relevant annual return, whichever is earlier. Provided that the registered person shall be entitled to take input tax credit after the due date of furnishing of the return under section 39 for the month of September, 2018 till the due date of furnishing of the return under the said section for the month of March, 2019 in respect of any invoice or invoice relating to such debit note for supply of goods or services or both made during the financial year 2017-18, the details of which have been uploaded by the supplier under sub-section (1) of section 37 till the due date for furnishing the details under sub-section (1) of said section for the month of March, 2019.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (4), in respect of an invoice or debit note for supply of goods or services or both pertaining to the Financial Years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the registered person shall be entitled to take input tax credit in any return under section 39 which is filed up to the thirtieth day of November, 2021.

(6) Where registration of a registered person is cancelled under section 29 and subsequently the cancellation of registration is revoked by any order, either under section 30 or pursuant to any order made by the Appellate Authority or the Appellate Tribunal or court and where availment of input tax credit in respect of an invoice or debit note was not restricted under sub-section (4) on the date of order of cancellation of registration, the said person shall be entitled to take the input tax credit in respect of such invoice or debit note for supply of goods or services or both, in a return under section 39,–– (i) filed up to thirtieth day of November following the financial year to which such invoice or debit note pertains or furnishing of the relevant annual return, whichever is earlier; or (ii) for the period from the date of cancellation of registration or the effective date of cancellation of registration, as the case may be, till the date of order of revocation of cancellation of registration, where such return is filed within thirty days from the date of order of revocation of cancellation of registration, whichever is later.

Introduction

The basic entitlement in section 16(1) is credit of input tax on goods or services used or intended to be used in the course or furtherance of business, subject to prescribed conditions and restrictions. The credit is posted to the electronic credit ledger.

Section 16(2) adds documentary, supplier-reporting, receipt, payment-of-tax and return-filing conditions. The section also addresses goods received in instalments, payment to suppliers within 180 days, depreciation on the tax component of capital assets, and the outer deadline for claiming credit.

Key takeaways

1

Business use is the starting point

The inward supply must be used or intended for use in the course or furtherance of business, and credit remains subject to the Act and Rules.

2

Match the invoice and receipt

Hold a valid tax invoice, debit note or prescribed document, ensure supplier reporting and communication of details, and retain evidence of receipt of goods or services.

3

Check restricted ITC

Credit details communicated under section 38 must not be restricted. Section 17 may independently apportion or block credit.

4

Watch the claim deadline

For the ordinary case, section 16(4) cuts off credit after 30 November following the financial year of the invoice or debit note, or filing of the relevant annual return, whichever is earlier. Historical exceptions in subsections (5)–(6) need separate review when relevant.

5

Supplier payment matters

The 180-day non-payment rule can require repayment of availed credit with interest, except for reverse-charge supplies, with re-availment after payment to the supplier.

Eligibility and documents

Confirm GST registration, business purpose and the type of tax-paying document. Section 16(2)(a) requires a tax invoice, debit note or prescribed substitute. The supplier must furnish invoice or debit-note details in outward supplies so they are communicated to the recipient.

Receipt, restricted credit and returns

Evidence of receiving the goods or services is required, subject to the statutory deemed-receipt explanation. Communicated ITC must not be restricted under section 38. The tax on the supply must actually reach government subject to section 41, and the recipient must furnish the section 39 return.

Instalments and supplier payment

Where goods under an invoice arrive in lots or instalments, credit arises when the last lot arrives. If the recipient does not pay value plus tax to the supplier within 180 days of invoice date, the availed credit is payable back with interest under the prescribed process; after payment, the recipient may avail the credit again.

Time limit and special cases

Track the earlier of the 30 November cut-off following the financial year and filing of the relevant annual return. Section 16(5) grants a specific historic relaxation for FY 2017–18 to 2020–21; section 16(6) addresses certain cancellation-and-revocation situations. These are not a general extension for current invoices.

Practical checklist

Do

  • Reconcile purchase invoices with supplier-reported details and the section 38 communication.
  • Retain proof of receipt, including final-lot receipt for staggered delivery.
  • Monitor unpaid supplier invoices before 180 days and the annual ITC cut-off.

Avoid

  • Claim ITC only because an invoice exists.
  • Claim the tax component as both income-tax depreciation and GST ITC.
  • Treat a historical statutory relaxation as the current general deadline.

Glossary

ITC
Input tax credit: credit of eligible tax charged on inward supplies.
Electronic credit ledger
The GST portal ledger to which eligible input tax credit is credited.
Reverse charge
A notified arrangement under which the recipient, instead of the supplier, pays GST on a supply.

Frequently asked questions

When can ITC on goods received in instalments be taken?

Section 16(2) allows credit on receipt of the last lot or instalment.

Does a valid invoice by itself secure ITC?

No. Supplier reporting, receipt, unrestricted credit, tax payment and return filing conditions also apply, together with other restrictions.

What happens if the supplier is not paid within 180 days?

The recipient generally has to pay back an amount equal to availed ITC with interest under the prescribed manner, except for reverse-charge supplies; the credit can be availed after the supplier is paid.

Need help applying this provision to your situation?

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Last updated 10 October 2026