Input Tax Credit
The credit mechanism that keeps GST from cascading.
What ITC is
Input Tax Credit lets a registered business reduce the tax it owes on outputs by the tax it already paid on inputs — raw materials, services, or capital goods used for business purposes.
Conditions to claim ITC
You need a valid tax invoice, the goods or services must actually have been received, the supplier must have filed their return and paid the tax, and you must file your own return within the prescribed time.
Common reasons ITC gets rejected
Mismatches between your claim and your supplier's GSTR-1, invoices missing required fields, or claiming credit on blocked categories like personal-use vehicles or employee welfare expenses.
Blocked credits
Certain categories are explicitly blocked under Section 17(5), including motor vehicles for personal use, food and beverages (unless part of your core business), and club memberships.
Reconciliation matters
Because ITC depends on your supplier's compliance, regularly reconciling your purchase register against GSTR-2B is the single best way to avoid credit reversals later.