In India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) system, timely reporting of invoices is essential for ensuring a smooth and easy flow of input tax credit (ITC) and compliance. For the small businesses registered under the Quarterly Return Filing and Monthly Payment of Taxes (QRMP) scheme, the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) plays an important role in the process of simplifying compliance while ensuring that buyers can claim ITC without delays.
This article explores what IFF is, its objectives, benefits, eligibility, filing process and how it impacts taxpayers under the GST framework.
Overview of the QRMP Scheme
Before understanding IFF, it’s important to know about the QRMP scheme. Introduced by the GST Council effective from January 1, 2021, the QRMP scheme allows small taxpayers—whose aggregate annual turnover is up to ₹5 crore—to:
- File GSTR-3B returns quarterly, instead of monthly.
- Pay taxes monthly, using a fixed sum method or self-assessment method.
While this reduces the frequency of filing returns from 12 to 4 per year, it poses one problem—recipients of goods/services have to wait up to three months to view their supplier’s invoices and claim Input Tax Credit (ITC).
To address this, the Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) was introduced.
What is Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF)?
The Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) is an optional feature available under the GST portal that allows taxpayers under the QRMP scheme to upload and furnish details of their outward supplies (B2B invoices) for the first two months of a quarter.
In simpler terms:
- Taxpayers who file quarterly returns can use IFF to upload their B2B invoices every month (for the first two months of the quarter).
- This enables their customers to view these invoices in their GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B and claim ITC without waiting until the end of the quarter.
Thus, IFF ensures that business transactions between quarterly and monthly filers stay aligned and credit flow remains uninterrupted.
Key Features of IFF
| Feature | Details |
| Eligibility | Available only to taxpayers under the QRMP scheme |
| Applicable Months | First two months of every quarter (e.g., April & May for Apr–Jun quarter) |
| Type of Invoices Allowed | Only B2B invoices, credit notes, and debit notes |
| Filing Deadline | From 1st to 13th of the succeeding month |
| Optional Nature | Taxpayers may choose whether or not to file using IFF |
| Limit on Invoice Value | Maximum invoice value per month allowed is ₹50 lakh |
| Auto-population | Invoices filed in IFF automatically get reflected in GSTR-1 for that quarter |
Objectives of IFF
- Ensuring seamless ITC flow – Buyers (especially those filing monthly) don’t have to wait for the supplier’s quarterly filing to claim ITC.
- Reducing cash flow pressure – Suppliers can maintain business relationships by helping their clients claim ITC faster.
- Enhancing compliance convenience – Small businesses can avoid the monthly filing burden while still sharing data regularly.
- Improving accuracy in return filing – Since invoices are uploaded periodically, errors and omissions can be minimized before quarterly submission.
Benefits of Using IFF
- Timely ITC for Buyers: By uploading invoices monthly, suppliers ensure that their buyers can view these invoices in their GSTR-2A/2B and claim ITC promptly.
- Reduced Compliance Load: Quarterly filers don’t need to file GSTR-1 every month. Instead, they can use IFF for the first two months and file GSTR-1 once at the end of the quarter.
- Better Business Relationships: Since buyers rely on input tax credit for cash flow, timely sharing of invoices through IFF helps maintain trust and smooth business operations.
- Ease of Rectification: Any mistake in invoices uploaded through the IFF can be corrected before quarterly GSTR-1 filing, ensuring accurate reporting.
- Improved GST Network Transparency: By spreading the reporting over months, the GST system becomes more transparent and less congested during quarterly filing periods.
Eligibility for Using IFF
Only taxpayers meeting the following conditions can use IFF:
- Registered under the Regular Taxpayer Category.
- Opted for the QRMP scheme.
- Have an aggregate annual turnover up to ₹5 crore in the preceding financial year.
- Are making B2B outward supplies (business-to-business transactions).
It’s important to note that B2C transactions cannot be uploaded in IFF—they must be reported only in the quarterly GSTR-1 return.
Time Limit for Filing IFF
- IFF can be filed for the first and second months of every quarter.
- The facility remains open from the 1st to the 13th of the next month.
Process to File IFF on GST Portal
The process of filing IFF is simple and can be done online:
- Login to GST Portal at www.gst.gov.in.
- Go to Returns Dashboard → Select Financial Year and Return Filing Period.
- Click on ‘Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF)’.
- Choose the month (1st or 2nd month of the quarter).
- Upload details of:
- B2B Invoices
- Credit Notes
- Debit Notes
- Save and submit the details.
- Once verified, file the IFF using DSC or EVC.
After submission, the details automatically reflect in:
- The recipient’s GSTR-2A and GSTR-2B, and
- The supplier’s GSTR-1 for that quarter.
Important Points to Remember
- Filing IFF is optional, not mandatory.
- The invoice value limit is ₹50 lakh per month.
- IFF filing does not create any additional tax liability—taxes are still paid monthly through GSTR-3B.
- Once IFF is filed, those invoices need not be uploaded again in the quarterly GSTR-1.
- Invoices not uploaded in IFF can still be added in the quarterly GSTR-1.
Difference Between IFF and GSTR-1
| Particulars | Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) | GSTR-1 |
| Applicability | First two months of a quarter | All three months (quarterly or monthly) |
| Nature | Optional | Mandatory |
| Eligible Users | QRMP scheme taxpayers | All regular taxpayers |
| Invoice Limit | ₹50 lakh per month | No such limit |
| Type of Supplies | B2B invoices only | B2B, B2C, export, etc. |
| Filing Window | 1st to 13th of next month | Up to 13th of next month (for monthly) or next quarter (for quarterly) |
Conclusion
The Invoice Furnishing Facility (IFF) is a smart compliance tool under GST designed to balance convenience with continuity. It ensures that small taxpayers under the QRMP scheme enjoy the flexibility of quarterly filing while their customers benefit from timely ITC claims.
By understanding and effectively using IFF, businesses can improve their compliance score, maintain stronger client relationships, and contribute to a more transparent tax ecosystem.
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