Got a GST Notice? What to Do Next — Notices, Audits, Appeals & Refunds
GST demand notice, audit, appeal, or refund stuck? A curated guide to exactly what to do next, organized by situation, with CA help if you need it.
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Introduction
Most of Dhanaay's GST content is written for sellers trying to stay compliant. This page is for the sellers who are already past that — a notice landed in the GST portal, an audit is underway, a refund is stuck, or you're deciding whether to appeal a decision you disagree with.
None of these situations are rare. GST notices, scrutiny, and demand orders are a routine part of running a compliant business at scale — they don't automatically mean you did something wrong. What matters is responding correctly and on time. This page organizes the relevant guides by situation, so you can find the right one in under a minute instead of searching.
If you'd rather have a CA handle it directly, the form below connects you with an ICAI-registered CA who works notices and appeals regularly.
"I received a GST notice or demand order"
The single most important thing: reply before the deadline stated on the notice. An unanswered notice typically escalates to a best-judgment assessment decided without your input.
- GSTAT: How to File a GST Appeal at the New Tribunal — if you've already been through the first Appellate Authority and disagree with the outcome, this covers the GSTAT process end to end: pre-deposit, portal steps, fees, and the phased filing schedule.
- Underpaid GST: Why It Happens, What It Costs, and How to Fix It — if the notice relates to a rate error, unclaimed ITC, or missed TCS credit, this walks through the five most common causes and how to correct each before it compounds.
"I'm being audited, or want to prepare before I'm selected"
- How to Prepare for a GST Audit — a practical checklist: documents to keep on hand, the errors auditors flag most often, and how to walk in prepared rather than reactive.
- Explained Simply: GST Audit — what a GST audit actually involves, in plain language, if this is your first one.
- GSTR-9C Reconciliation Guide — table-by-table mechanics for the annual reconciliation statement, which is where most audit-trigger mismatches originate.
"I missed a deadline or underpaid — how bad is it, and what now?"
- GST Late Fee & Penalty Calculator — know your exact exposure (late fee + 18% p.a. interest) before you file the overdue return.
- Underpaid GST: Why It Happens, What It Costs, and How to Fix It — the fix is almost always the same: file, correct, and stop the interest clock, not wait it out.
- GST Return Filing (CA-assisted service) — if returns have piled up and you'd rather hand it off than untangle it yourself.
"I'm owed a refund and it's stuck"
- GST's New 90% Provisional Refund: How It Works — CBIC's risk-based scheme that pays low-risk claimants (exporters especially) 90% of a refund in days instead of months, under Rule 91(2).
- How to Claim TCS Refund on Amazon and Flipkart Sales — different from a GST refund: this is the 1% TCS marketplaces deduct from your payouts, claimed back as a credit in GSTR-3B, not a standalone refund application.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I ignore a GST notice?+
Ignoring a GST notice doesn't make it go away — it escalates. An unanswered notice typically leads to a best-judgment assessment (the officer decides your tax liability without your input, usually unfavourably), followed by a formal demand order. Once a demand order is issued, you lose the chance to contest the underlying facts and are left appealing a decision already made against you. Always reply within the stated deadline, even if it's a short, documented request for more time.
How long do I have to reply to a GST demand notice?+
It depends on the notice type — a show-cause notice under Section 73/74 typically gives 30 days to respond before a decision is made, though exact timelines are stated on the notice itself. Don't assume a standard window; read the specific deadline on your notice and reply before it lapses, or request an extension in writing if you need more time to gather documents.
What is GSTAT and when do I need it?+
GSTAT (GST Appellate Tribunal) is the second level of appeal for GST disputes, sitting above the first Appellate Authority. It began accepting e-filed appeals on 24 September 2025 through a Principal Bench in New Delhi and 31 State Benches. You need GSTAT if you've already appealed to the first Appellate Authority and disagree with that outcome — filing requires a pre-deposit of 20% of the disputed tax (on top of the 10% already paid at the first appeal stage, for 30% total).
Can GST late fees or penalties be reduced or waived?+
Late fees for GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B are largely fixed by law (₹50/day for non-nil returns, ₹20/day for nil, both capped at ₹5,000) and rarely waived case-by-case, though the government has issued blanket amnesty waivers for specific periods in the past via notification. A 18% p.a. interest charge on unpaid tax applies separately and is not waivable. The only real lever is fixing the underlying issue — filing overdue returns and correcting rate errors — before interest compounds further.
Is a GST refund the same as a TCS refund?+
No — they're different mechanisms. A GST refund (e.g. the 90% provisional refund scheme) applies to excess tax paid or unutilised ITC, most commonly claimed by exporters. A TCS refund is specific to marketplace sellers: Amazon/Flipkart/Meesho collect 1% TCS on your sales and deposit it against your GSTIN, and you claim it back as a credit in GSTR-3B — it isn't a separate refund application, it's an offset against your monthly tax liability.