FAQs and User Manual on Matching Offline Tool of Form GSTR-2B issued by GSTN

GST

GSTN has issued a Frequently Asked Question (“FAQ”) and User Manual for Matching Offline Tool of Form GSTR-2B with the Purchase Register.

Brief Extract of Matching offline tool:

(A) About Matching Offline Tool

Matching Offline Tool is an offline tool to view Form GSTR 2B and match the auto drafted details in Form GSTR-2B with the purchase register. The match results are used to create the matching report in offline mode.

The taxpayer needs to install the Matching Tool from the GST Portal, and then add a profile to match Form GSTR-2B details with the purchase register details. The Form GSTR-2B JSON files are downloaded from the GST Portal and then viewed and opened in the Matching tool to match details.

The details from both the documents are matched on the basis of defined parameters. The taxpayer can filter and sort match results using features provided in the tool. The tool enables the taxpayer to download the matching results in a csv format.

The key feature of the Matching Offline Tool is that the details can be matched offline with no connection to the Internet.

(B) FAQs > Download and Install Matching Offline Tool

B.1. Download Matching Offline Tool

Q. From where can I download and use the Matching Offline Tool in my system?

Ans. To download and open the Matching Tool in your system from the GST Portal, perform the following steps:

  1. Access the GST Portal: www.gst.gov.in.
  2. Go to Downloads > Offline Tools > Matching Offline Tool option and click on it.
  3. Select Download.
  4. Click Proceed.
  5. Unzip the downloaded Zip file which contains Matching Offline Tool.exe.
  6. Open the Matching Offline Tool.exe by double-clicking on it.
  7. Select the folder where you intend to install the Matching Offline Tool.
  8. Click Next.
  9. Click Install.
  10. Click Finish.
  11. Open the Matching Offline Tool by double-clicking on it. Note: Downloading the Matching Offline Tool is a one-time activity. However, the Tool may get updated in the future. So, always use the latest version available on the GST Portal.

Q. Do I need to login to GST Portal to download the Matching Offline Tool?

Ans. No, you can download the Matching Offline Tool under ‘Downloads’ section without logging in to the GST Portal.

(C) FAQs > View Form GSTR-2B Files in Matching Tool

C.1. Download Form GSTR-2B JSON files from GST Portal

Q. Do I need to login to GST Portal to download Form GSTR-2B JSON file?

Ans. Yes, you must login in to the GST Portal to download GSTR-2B JSON file.

Q. From where can I download the Form GSTR-2B JSON file?

Ans. You can download the Form GSTR-2B JSON file from Services → Returns → Returns Dashboard → Select the FY and Return period → GSTR-2B tile (Download) → Download JSON

(D) FAQs > Import Purchase Register in the Matching Tool

Q. From where can I download the Purchase Register in the Matching Tool?

Ans. After the Form GSTR-2B details downloaded, the Purchase Register is imported in the Matching Tool using the IMPORT EXCEL/CSV option under Import Purchase Register section.

Q. Can I maintain my Purchase Register in a format other than provided on GST portal?

Ans. Purchase register maintained in a format other than the template provided as part of Matching offline tool will not get imported into the tool.

(E) FAQs > Match Results

Q. What is the function of the Refine Matching Result option on the Matching Tool?

Ans. The REFINE MATCHING RESULT option enables you to refine the match results by altering the tolerance value for Integrated, Central, State/UT tax or Cess.

You may also apply approximation logic on the document number to match the details of Form GSTR-2B with PR.

Q. How much is the limit of tolerance that I can choose to refine match results?

Ans. The Matching Tool enables you to select the tolerance value from 0 to 10 to refine match results.

(F) Download and Install Matching Offline Tool

To download and install the Matching Offline Tool, perform the following steps:

Downloading the Matching Offline Tool is a one-time activity. However, the tool may get updated in future. Hence, it is advisable to always use the latest version available on the GST Portal.

  1. Access the www.gst.gov.in URL. The GST Home page is displayed.
  2. Click the Downloads > Offline Tools > Matching Offline Tool option. You can download the Matching Offline Tool from the Portal without logging in to the GST Portal (using the Downloads option).
  3. The Matching Tool page is displayed. Click the Download hyperlink. Make sure you carefully read the Important message and System Requirement details displayed on the page.
  4. An Information pop-up opens to confirm the download. Click PROCEED
  5. The Matching Offline Tool gets downloaded in a zip folder.
  6. Extract the files from the downloaded zip folder. You will see GSTR2B_Offline_Matching_Tool_Offline_Tool_v2.0.exe in the unzipped folder.
  7. Right-click the .exe file and click Open to install the Matching Tool.
  8. Select the folder where you want to install the Matching Tool, and click Next.
  9. Select Create a desktop shortcut checkbox to create a shortcut for the Matching Tool on your desktop
  10. Click Next.
  11. Click Install.
  12. Click Finish.
  13. A shortcut icon is created on your desktop for the Matching Tool. Double-click the icon to open the tool.
  14. Click the Help button to display detailed instructions (Contextual to that page) to use the tool.

The Matching Tool installation is a one-time activity.

(G) View Form GSTR-2B Files in Matching Tool
G.1. Download Form GSTR-2B JSON Files From GST Portal
To view Form GSTR-2B in the Matching Tool,various steps as indicated in user manual need to be performed.

G.2. Open JSON Files in the Matching Tool
The next step is to open the Matching Tool and view Form GSTR-2B JSON files in the tool.

(H) Import Purchase Register in the Matching Tool

To import the purchase register, click IMPORT EXCEL/CSV.

In case there appears some error in downloading Purchase Register, an error file is generated, which can be downloaded by clicking the DOWNLOAD ERROR FILE.

By default, the error file gets downloaded in the Downloads folder of your machine. Open
the file to check the error…..

(I) Match Results

To match results of Form GSTR-2B details with the purchase register, click the MATCH
button.

The summary and details of the match result is displayed in different sections.

For ready reference of our readers the FAQs and user manual on Matching offline tool as published by GSTN is given below which can be read as well as downloaded:

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