Problem Overview

Tally is a cornerstone for many businesses managing their accounts and GST compliance. While powerful, users often encounter specific hurdles when filing GST returns (like GSTR-1 or GSTR-3B) directly from Tally. Common issues include data mismatch between Tally and the GST portal, HSN/SAC code discrepancies, incorrect tax calculations, negative values appearing in returns, validation failures during JSON upload, and reconciliation challenges. These problems can lead to delayed filings, penalties, incorrect tax liabilities, and significant compliance risks, requiring time-consuming manual corrections.

Solution

Addressing Tally-related GST filing issues requires a systematic approach:

  1. Data Validation in Tally: Before generating the GST return file, meticulously review all transactions in Tally. Utilize Tally's in-built GST reports (e.g., GSTR-1 Outward Supply, GSTR-3B Summary) to identify errors like incorrect GSTINs, HSN/SAC codes, tax rates, or transaction types (B2B, B2C).
  2. Reconciliation: Regularly reconcile your Tally data with GSTR-2A/2B from the GST portal to ensure input tax credit claims are accurate and to spot supplier-side discrepancies.
  3. Error Correction: Promptly correct any identified errors within Tally itself. This includes ensuring no negative values appear in taxable amounts or tax components, and verifying that all required fields are correctly populated.
  4. JSON Generation and Upload: Ensure you are using the correct version of Tally and the latest GST update. Generate the JSON file from Tally and use the GST portal's offline tool to validate it before uploading. This step often catches formatting or data structure issues.
  5. Portal Review: Even after uploading, thoroughly review the generated summary on the GST portal before submission. Cross-check key figures like total taxable value, total tax, and number of invoices with your Tally reports.
  6. Tally Updates: Keep your Tally software updated to the latest release to benefit from bug fixes and compliance enhancements released by Tally Solutions.

Conclusion

Accurate and timely GST return filing is crucial for compliance and avoiding penalties. While Tally offers robust features, manual checks for data validation and error correction can be time-consuming and prone to human error. Leveraging automation tools like Behold can significantly streamline this process, ensuring data accuracy, facilitating reconciliation, and providing an audit trail, thereby simplifying GST compliance and reducing the likelihood of filing errors from Tally data.