Step-by-Step Guide for GSTR-2A Reconciliation in TallyPrime for GST Compliance

Keeping track of Input Tax Credit (ITC) is crucial for every GST-registered business. But, large number of suppliers and hundreds of invoices every month make it difficult for your team to match vendor-filed GST with your books. That’s where GSTR-2A helps by providing an auto-drafted statement of your inward supplies.

It is important to note that while GSTR-2A helps in reconciliation, you still need a good accounting system to match and verify it. TallyPrime, one of India’s most widely used accounting and GST software, can help your team in making the process simpler.

This blog explains in simple terms how GSTR-2A reconciliation in TallyPrime works.

What is GSTR-2A?

GSTR-2A is a read-only, auto-generated return created by the GST portal. It reflects all the purchases made by a taxpayer from GST-registered suppliers based on their GSTR-1, GSTR-5, and GSTR-6 returns.

The return includes:

• Supplier GSTIN
• Invoice number and date
• Taxable value and tax breakup
• Credit/debit note details

The purpose? To allow the recipient (you) to reconcile your inward supply entries with what your suppliers have declared. Any mismatch could lead to the denial of ITC.

Suggested Read: Know More About GSTR-2A

Why Use TallyPrime for GSTR-2A Reconciliation?

Below are the reasons discussed why you should choose TallyPrime for GSTR-2A filing:

• Offers assured compliance: No need to manually sort or map your GST data. TallyPrime’s GSTR-2A Reconciliation report automatically aligns your inward supplies with the right tables, so your details reflect seamlessly in the portal.
• It has an intuitive design: Pending items are highlighted in amber; portal values appear in blue for quick review. The report also adapts dynamically, for instance, showing a separate Available Only on Portal section when needed. You can even set a GST Return Effective Date if you decide to upload a transaction in a later month.
• Offers fast performance: Even with thousands of transactions, the report loads instantly after importing your GSTR-2A file. Navigate across sections and drill down effortlessly.
• Has multi-GSTIN support: View and reconcile data for all GSTINs together or focus on one specific registration, based on your business needs.
• Provides extra flexibility: Compare book vs. portal values side-by-side or see only the differences. Filter by specific transaction categories and choose to ignore minor value differences due to rounding.

TallyPrime

4.4

Starting Price

₹ 750.00 excl. GST

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What You Need Before You Begin?

Before you start the process of filing GSTR-2A in TallyPrime, make sure you have everything mentioned below:

1. Make sure you have the updated version of TallyPrime that supports GSTR-2A reconciliation.
2. Your business GSTIN must be added under Company Features.
3. All purchase voucher entries must have correct GST details, including the supplier GSTIN.
4. A good internet connection is a must before you start any online activity. The same is required to download the JSON file from the GST portal.
5. You must have your GST portal credentials, like login ID and password.

GSTR-2A Reconciliation in TallyPrime for GST Compliance – Step-by-Step

Lets see in the simple terms how GSTR-2A reconciliation in TallyPrime:

Step 1: Download the GSTR-2A JSON File from the GST Portal

You’ll need to manually download the JSON file.

Here’s how:

• Visit www.gst.gov.in and log in using your GST credentials.
• Go to ‘Returns Dashboard’.
• Select the Financial Year and Month for which you want the data.
• Under GSTR-2A, choose Download.
• Click on the button ‘Generate JSON File’ and wait for some time while it is processing.
• After the file is processed, download and save it on your computer with a new name.

Step 2: Import GSTR-2A JSON into TallyPrime

After the downloading part, you have to import GSTR-2A in Tally.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Open TallyPrime and select the appropriate company.
• Go to ‘Gateway of Tally’, then click on ‘Display More Reports’.
• Under ‘Statutory Reports’, find ‘GST’ and then ‘GSTR-2A Reconciliation’.
• Select the return period, for example, April 2025.
• Press Alt + O to load the GSTR-2A file.
• Browse and select the downloaded JSON file.
• Tally will process and auto-populate supplier invoices based on the JSON.
• You will now see a detailed reconciliation screen.

Step 3: Reconcile GSTR-2A with Your Purchase Books

TallyPrime does a great job of showing clear comparisons:

• Matched Entries – These are invoices that exist in both your books and portal.
• Mismatched Entries – Invoices where details like invoice number, date, or amount differ.
• Missing in Books – Invoices uploaded by suppliers but missing in your records
• Missing in Portal – Invoices in your books that are not uploaded by your suppliers.

You can:

• Press F5 (Show All) to see all entries.
• Use Alt + V to verify mismatched invoices.
• Expand with Ctrl + Enter to see the purchase voucher details.

Step 4: Use Reconciled Data for Filing GSTR-3B

Here’s something important: You don’t file GSTR-2A. It’s a statement, not a return. Instead, you use it to verify the eligible ITC you’ll declare in GSTR-3B, which is a filed return.

Once you’ve reconciled the invoices, you can:

1. Go to ‘Gateway of Tally’, then click on ‘Display More Reports’.
2. Under ‘Statutory Reports’, find ‘GST’ and then ‘GSTR-3B’.
3. View and verify the ITC eligible section.
4. Export the data for filing on the GST portal.
5. You can even generate JSON or Excel formats for external upload.

Tally will ensure that only reconciled and eligible invoices contribute to your ITC claim.

Tip: While all the common shortcut keys remain the same in TallyPrime, it is advised to once verify the shortcuts with the on-screen hints. There could be some changes after new updates or versions.

TallyPrime

4.4

Starting Price

₹ 750.00 excl. GST

Learn More

Why GSTR-2A Reconciliation is Important?

Still wondering why all this effort is needed? Here’s why:

• Wrong ITC = Penalty – If you claim ITC on an invoice that’s not uploaded by a vendor, you’re at risk during GST audits.
• Vendor Accountability – Helps you keep a check on suppliers who delay or skip GSTR-1 filing.
• Accurate Cash Flow – You only claim ITC that is actually available, helping avoid a mismatch in tax liability.
• Quarterly Reconciliation – Even if your returns are monthly, reconciling GSTR-2A quarterly gives a clearer picture.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Impact
Not downloading latest GSTR-2A JSON	May miss recent invoices
Skipping reconciliation	Can lead to wrong ITC claims
Not downloading the latest GSTR-2A JSON	Tally won’t match entries
Relying on emails or PDFs	JSON is the only accurate source

Summary Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist you can bookmark:

• Download GSTR-2A JSON from the GST Portal
• Import it into TallyPrime
• Reconcile invoice data
• Mark mismatches and follow up with suppliers
• Use accurate ITC data while filing GSTR-3B

Final Thoughts

TallyPrime simplifies the complicated GSTR-2A reconciliation process. Though GSTR-2A cannot be filed, it forms the core of ITC validation. Automation, in-built tools, and intuitive design of Tally save your precious time and eliminate compliance risks.

Be consistent, reconcile at the end of each month, and create a good connection with your vendors.

That’s the real secret to hassle-free GST filing.