Data Import
How to check the validity of HSN codes?
Use HSN Lookup Search available in “More Options” to find the right HSN code. You can also use this link
Data import failures and how to correct them?
How to resolve mismatch in data post data deletion checks
Explaining the Purchase Delete page:
Current delete page:
Financial year filter represents the Document date and not the return period. Selecting one FY doesn’t delete the invoices with return periods which are outside of that FY in the document date.
This request doesn’t include Bill of Supply in deletion. We are working on it.
2. Deletion time is present in the Delete History page. (Check Delete History in the above page). This opens the below screen which shows return periods selected while deletion.
Current Delete History page
Deletion of linked invoices to a CDN is not allowed. You will need to manually delink or delete those CDNs first to enable this request.
Post delete success, you must refresh the invoicing page where these invoices might not be refreshed sometimes to show the correct summary.
Note: Doing fresh import will solve for updating erroneous documents with the unique combination of (Invoice number + Supplier GSTIN + Supplier name) rather than deleting them.
Error Correction
Error Bucket: "This field cannot be empty"
Root Cause
The required fields for each document type (B2B,CDN etc) may not be filled
Recommendations
Certain fields cannot be left blank due to their dependencies on other fields. Eg: Taxable value is a mandatory field used to complete a normal B2B invoice, Bill of entry number becomes mandatory for an Import Invoice. These have to be added manually.
These fields need to be filled with the respective data points
Key Errors
invoice_date - This field cannot be empty
Reason: Invoice date is a mandatory field, so this cannot be left blank
Action to be taken: You need to input an invoice date for the particular invoice in the permissible format. All the blank dates need to be filled
2. Item_taxable_val : This field cannot be empty
Reason: Item taxable value is a mandatory field, so this cannot be left blank
Action to be taken: You need to input item taxable value for the particular transaction on web page/excel and revalidate/ re-ingest
Error Bucket: "SGST/CGST not applicable for inter state transaction"
Root cause
Mismatch of CGST/SGST vs IGST for Intra vs Inter state transactions.
Human errors in copy pasting data
Recommendation
If POS is not equal to supplier state (MY GSTIN state) , IGST rate= CGST+SGST should be added
For SEZ & Exports (except Deemed exports) IGST rate always = CGST+SGST should be added
If POS is equal to supplier state(MY GSTIN state), SGST/CGST rate = IGST /2 should be added
Provide users definition of "POS" as per the policy
The error message also covers the aspect of what needs to be done, in addition to the error. Eg: SGST is not applicable for inter state transactions. Please input the IGST rate instead of SGST and CGST
Key Errors
Item_cgst_value : GGST is not applicable for interstate transactions
Reason: Incase of interstate transactions, CGST & SGST is not applicable. Only IGST is applicable. So IGST rate needs to be added, instead of CGST & SGST
Action to be taken:
CGST & SGST data need to be deleted from the respective cells (either on the page/ Excel)
IGST rate needs to be added in the IGST cell on the page/ Excel (IGST rate = CGST+SGST rates)
2. Item_sgst_value: SGST is not applicable for interstate transactions
Reason: Incase of interstate transactions, CGST & SGST is not applicable. Only IGST is applicable. So IGST rate needs to be added, instead of CGST & SGST
Action to be taken:
CGST & SGST data need to be deleted from the respective cells (either on the web page/ Excel)
IGST rate needs to be added in the IGST cell on the web page/ Excel (IGST rate = CGST+SGST rates)
Item_igst_value : IGST is applicable only in inter-state transactions
Reason: IGST is applicable only in inter-state transactions. So, the state of supply should be different from the state. In the data, the first two digits in the customer billing GSTIN and state place of supply cannot be the same.
Action to be taken:
The first two digits of the customer billing GSTIN should be different from state code of place of supply (Ex: First two digits in customer billing GSTIN - 27AAMCA9862B1ZG are “27”, should be different from state code in place of supply column)
Change the state code of place of supply on the Web Page/ Excel so that it isn’t the same as the first two digits of the customer billing GSTIN
Error Bucket: Date should be valid format
Root cause
ERP report/dump giving out strings
While copy pasting of data- date format gets converted.
Key errors
1. Invoice_date : Date should be in valid format
dd-MMM-yyyy
d-MMM-yyyy
dd-MMM-yy
d-MMM-yy
dd-MM-yyyy
d-M-yyyy
yyyy-M-d[ H:m:s-S]
yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss
yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss
dd-MM-yyyy'T'HH:mm:ss
dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss
dd-MM-yy
d-M-yy H:m
d-M-yyyy H:m
M-d-yy H:m
M-d-yyyy H:m
dd MMM yy
dd MMM yyyy
d MMM yy
d MMM yyyy
Reason: Only valid date formats can be used. If invoice dates are entered in any other format, then the error occurs.
[Date should be in valid format dd-MMM-yyyy or d-MMM-yyyy or dd-MMM-yy or d-MMM-yy or dd-MM-yyyy or d-M-yyyy or yyyy-M-d[ H:m:s-S] or yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss or yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss or dd-MM-yyyy'T'HH:mm:ss or dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss or dd-MM-yy or d-M-yy H:m or d-M-yyyy H:m or M-d-yy H:m or M-d-yyyy H:m or dd MMM yy or dd MMM yyyy or d MMM yy or d MMM yyyy]
Action to be taken:
User has to input date in the accepted formats either on the web page/ Excel and revalidate or re-import the data (Ex: 5-8-21 will have to be corrected to 05/08/2021 - DD/MM/YYYY)
Note: To solve for bulk correction, excel functions can be used
For text to date change use DATEVALUE() functions to correct in that case
If the date is in the format in string and in DD-MM-YYYY format we can use this formula for text to date conversion - date(RIGHT(L17,4),mid(L17,SEARCH("/",L17)+1,len(L17)-find("/",L17)-5),left(L17,2))
Format changes made in one cell, can be copy pasted to the subsequent cells
Error Bucket: “Should not be negative”
Invoice_total_value: Should not be negative
Root cause
ERP data for invoice being returned or deleted are reversed and saved as negative rows. This needs be changed in the ERP reports
CDN data is mapped as negative for calculation purposes but GSTN requests positive figures only. This leads to errors
Action to be taken
Better filtering of data before uploads. No negative values are accepted in accounting like GSTN & EINV. CDN negative figures are transformed considering this unstructured data issue across Indian ERPs
Transform to positive values in the excel before uploads. Can be done using ABS() function
Error Bucket: HSN starting with 99 (i.e. SAC code) should have UQC = 'NA'
Root cause
All HSNs starting with 99 are Service HSN codes called SAC codes. GSTN requests for N/A tag wherever service is added in HSN code
This is a recent change from GSTN, which wasn't a requirement earlier.
Tally hasn't added this in EPR-09 yet. Only Tally Prime has this validation
Error Bucket: Invalid HSN/SAC Code
Root cause
GSTN didn't mandate it till May'21. Hence there wasn’t a major push to add correct HSN in their invoices
List of HSN to consume is not easily available. Due to which, incorrect HSNs may be filled
Invalid length: HSNs should be either of 2,4,6,8 digits only
Invalid Code: Use HSN Lookup Search available in “More Options” to find the right HSN. Use keywords related to your product to find the right HSN code.
Recommendations & action to be taken
Invalid Code: Use HSN Lookup Search available in “More Options” to find the right HSN. Use keywords related to your product to find the right HSN code.
Step 1:
Step 2:
If you don't want the HSN validation to run, use the check box to ignore HSN validations
Invalid length: You would need to change the HSN code which is 2,4,6,8 digits only
Other prominent errors
1. item_cgst_rate: Taxes are not allowed when item is marked as NIL Rated, Exempted or Non GST Supply
Reason: In case of Nil rated, Exempted, non GST supply, the goods and services aren’t taxed under GST, so they would not be taxed. In these transactions, the tax rates must be 0.
Action to be taken:
If the entry in the “is this NIL rated/ Exempted/ Non GST Supply” column is either Non-rated / Exempt/ NonGST, the tax rates need to be made 0 in the CGST, SGST, IGST columns
Change the tax rate to 0 in CGST & SGST/ IGST columns
2. item_sgst_rate: Please use a GST compliant tax rate - [0, 0.05, 0.125, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2.5, 3.75, 6, 9, 14]
Reason: Only compliant GST rates need to be used - 0, 0.05, 0.125, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2.5, 3.75, 6, 9, 14. Any rate apart from these wouldn’t be applicable.
Action to be taken: Edit the CGST, SGST rates to complaint or permissible rates, based on what is applicable for the particular transaction on the web page/ Excel
3. item_cgst_rate: CGST rate should be 0 for Export invoice
Reason: Incase of interstate transactions, CGST & SGST is not applicable. Only IGST is applicable. So IGST rate needs to be added, instead of CGST & SGST
Action to be taken:
CGST & SGST data need to be deleted from the respective cells (either on the web page/ Excel)
IGST rate needs to be added in the IGST cell on the web page/ Excel (IGST rate = CGST+SGST rates)
4. item_cgst_rate: CGST and SGST rates should be equal
Reason: CGST and SGST rates need to be equal as per the GST policy
Action to be taken:
Delete the unequal CGST, SGST rates on the web page/ Excel
Enter the correct and equal CGST and SGST rates, as per the rates applicable for the transaction
5. item_sgst_rate: SGST rate should be 0 for export invoice
Reason: In case of export invoices, GST is not applicable. So the CGST and SGST have to be zero.
Action to be taken: SGST rate needs to be changed to 0 in the UI/ Excel
6. item_invoice_date: 4~~3Invoice date cannot be later than return period 032021, please fix return period
Reason: Invoice date beyond the filing return period would not be accepted. Only invoice dates within the filing period have to be input.
Action to be taken: Future dates aren’t accepted. Invoice dates need to be corrected so that they fall within the return period (Ex: If return period is August, Invoice dates should be on or before August, and can’t be from September)
Mandatory Fields in Templates
Sales Templates
Cleartax Template Name | Fields |
Sales Simple - Invoice & credit notes |
|
Sales Lite - Invoice & credit notes |
|
Sales Invoices & Bill of Supply |
|
Sales Credit Debit Notes |
|
Sales Advance Receipts |
|
Purchase Templates
Cleartax Template Name | Mandatory Fields |
Purchase Simple - Invoice & credit notes |
|
Purchase Lite - Invoice & credit notes |
|
Purchase Invoices & Bill of Supply |
|
Purchase Credit Debit Notes |
|
Purchase Advance Payments |
|
Sales Data Import
What are the import options offered by ClearTax to import Sales Data?
GSTR-1 Govt format Excel template
ClearTax Templates
Standard Sales Excel template
Sales Lite Excel template
Sales Simple Excel Template
Tally
Government Excel for GSTR-1
Tally Connector
ClearTax Excel Grid (Manual Entry of data)
GSTR-1 JSON File / Tally JSON
Custom Excel Template - Create your own template
ECommerce format - For Amazon, Flipkart and PayTM
When should you use GSTR-1 Govt Excel Template to import Sales Data?
Use this option if you have data prepared in Govt GSTR-1 Excel template
Available for download with GST Offline tool
Can be directly imported into ClearTax without any modifications
Option to import section-wise data in CSV format as well
When should you use ClearTax Standard Sales Excel Template to import Sales Data?
Use this option to import all your sales data in a single Excel file
You can import all your -
Invoices & Bills of Supply
Credit/Debit Notes
Advances
Supports all types of documents including B2B, B2C, amendments, reverse charge, exports & SEZ
Multiple line items also supported
Most powerful Excel format to help you prepare your data
When should you use ClearTax Lite Sales Excel Template to import Sales Data?
Use this option to import all your ‘Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes’ in a single Excel file with minor details
Does not import 'Advances’
Supports B2B/B2C Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes
Multiple line items also supported
Does not support amendments, reverse charge, exports or SEZ
Quick way to prepare your data with support for HSN summary
When should you use ClearTax Simple Sales Excel Template to import Sales Data?
Use this option to import all your ‘Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes’ in a single Excel file with minimal details
Does not import 'Advances’
Supports B2B/B2C Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes
Multiple line items also supported
Does not support amendments, HSN, reverse charge, exports or SEZ
Simplest and easy to understand template for quick data preparation
When should you use Tally Government Excel Template to import Sales Data?
Use this option if you have data prepared in Tally and exported in Govt GSTR1 Excel template
Can be directly imported into ClearTax without any modifications
Option to import section-wise data in CSV format as well
When should you use ClearTax Tally Connector to import Sales Data?
Seamless import of data from Tally in a single-click .
No requirement of Excel exports from Tally and import again in ClearTax/Government portal.
GST rules validations are applied while importing of data. Vouchers that doesn’t meet GST validations will be excluded and presented in an error report .
When should you enter your Sales Data manually?
Use this option if you have do not have data prepared
Directly type in or copy-paste your data in an Excel-like grid
Supports only B2B/B2C invoices with minimal details
Does not support amendments, HSN, reverse charge, exports or SEZ
Does not support CDNs, Bills of supply or Advances
Does not support multiple line items or more than 200 rows
Best used for quickly creating invoices
When should you use GSTR-1 Json/Tally JSON to import Sales Data?
Use this option if you have data prepared in a JSON format
Can be directly imported into ClearTax without any modifications
Helpful in cases where you receive a JSON file from your client or export from Government in JSON GSTR-1 format
When should you use Custom Excel Template to import Sales Data?
Use this option if you have a custom or non-standard template used by your organisation/client
Create an Excel Template of your choice
One-time activity to create an Excel template and use as many times as you want
You can import all your -
Invoices & Bills of Supply
Credit/Debit Notes
Advances
Supports all types of documents including B2B, B2C, amendments, reverse charge, exports & SEZ depending on columns created in a custom template
Multiple line items also supported
High flexibility and customisation to create your own template and order columns however you want
When should you use ECommerce template to import Sales Data?
Use this option if you are a seller on Amazon, Flipkart or PayTM
Download MTR report from seller portal and upload on ClearTax
Minimal modifications required for importing data
Purchase Data Import
What are the import options offered by ClearTax to import Purchase Data?
GSTR-2 Govt format Excel template
ClearTax Templates
Purchase Standard Excel template
Purchase Lite Excel template
Purchase Simple Excel Template
Tally
Government Excel for GSTR-2
Tally Connector
Custom Excel Template - Create your own template
When should you use GSTR-2 Govt Template to import Purchase Data?
Use this option if you have data prepared in Government GSTR-2 Excel template
Available for download with GST Offline tool
Can be directly imported into ClearTax without any modifications
Option to import section-wise data in CSV format as well
When should you use ClearTax Standard Purchase to import Purchase Data?
Use this option to import all your purchase data in a single Excel file
You can import all your -
Invoices & Bills of Supply
Credit/Debit Notes
Advances
Supports all types of documents including B2B, B2C, amendments, reverse charge, imports & SEZ
Multiple line items also supported
Most powerful Excel format to help prepare your data
When should you use ClearTax Lite Purchase to import Purchase Data?
Use this option to import all your Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes in a single Excel file with minor details
Supports B2B/B2C Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes with reverse charge also
Multiple line items also supported
Does not support amendments, advances, imports or SEZ
Quick way to prepare your data with support for HSN summary
When should you use ClearTax Simple Purchase to import Purchase Data?
Use this option to import all your Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes in a single Excel file with minimal details
Supports B2B/B2C Invoices and Credit/Debit Notes
Multiple line items also supported
Does not support amendments, HSN, reverse charge, advances, imports or SEZ
Simplest and easy to understand template for quick data preparation
When should you use Tally GSTR2 Excel to import Purchase Data?
Use this option if you have data prepared in Tally and exported in Govt GSTR2 Excel template
Can be directly imported into ClearTax without any modifications
Option to import section wise data in CSV format as well
When should you use Custom Excel Template to import Purchase Data?
Use this option if you have a custom or non-standard template used by your organisation/client
Create an Excel Template of your choice
One-time activity to create an Excel template and use as many times as you want
You can import all your -
Invoices & Bills of Supply
Credit/Debit Notes
Advances
Supports all types of documents including B2B, B2C, amendments, reverse charge, exports & SEZ depending on columns created in a custom template
Multiple line items also supported
High flexibility and customisation to create your own template and order columns however you want
Tally Connector
How to check if the ledger is marked as GST applicable?
Go to Gateway of Tally > Accounts Info > Ledgers > Alter > select the ledger
Under Statutory Information > Is GST Applicable > Should be marked as Applicable
Set/alter GST Details to Yes and specify the details in the GST Details screen and save
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