How to Check Total Purchase in GST Portal Online: A Step-by-Step Guide
Keeping track of total purchases is a crucial part of managing any business. Accurate purchase records help in reconciling accounts, claiming input tax credits, monitoring supplier performance, and analyzing spending patterns. For businesses registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the GST portal offers a reliable platform to access purchase information online.
In this blog, we’ll explain how to check total purchases in the GST portal, what information is available, and tips to make the process more effective for your business.
Understanding Total Purchases in the GST Context
Total purchases, in GST terminology, generally refer to all inward supplies of goods or services a business has received from its suppliers during a particular period. These purchases are recorded under different categories in the GST portal, including:
Regular Invoices: Standard purchases from registered suppliers.
Credit/Debit Notes: Adjustments to previous purchase invoices.
Reverse Charge Transactions: Purchases where the buyer pays GST instead of the supplier.
Monitoring total purchases is essential for:
Reconciliation with internal accounting records
Accurate calculation of input tax credits
Business analysis and budgeting
By checking purchases on the GST portal, businesses can ensure that all transactions are properly recorded and compliant.
Step-by-Step Guide to Checking Total Purchase in GST Portal
Here’s how businesses can check total purchases online:
Step 1: Log in to the GST Portal
The first step is to access the GST portal using your registered credentials. Only authorized users of a business can view purchase data for that entity.
Enter your username and password.
Complete any additional authentication if required.
Once logged in, you’ll be able to access purchase-related sections.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Returns” or “Inward Supplies” Section
Purchase details are typically available under sections like “Returns”, “GSTR-2B”, or “Inward Supplies” on the portal.
Click on the relevant tab.
Select the period (month or quarter) for which you want to check total purchases.
Tip: Choosing the correct period ensures that you view accurate and relevant purchase data.
Step 3: View Purchase Summary
After selecting the period, the portal usually displays a summary of total purchases, including:
Total taxable value of inward supplies
GST components (CGST, SGST, IGST, and cess)
Supplier-wise breakdown
Invoice counts
This summary gives a quick overview of your total purchases for the selected period.
Step 4: Filter Data by Supplier or Tax Type (Optional)
For more detailed insights, most GST portals allow you to filter purchase data:
By supplier name or GST number
By invoice type (regular, debit note, or credit note)
By tax type (CGST, SGST, IGST)
By inter-state or intra-state transactions
Filtering helps identify specific transactions or suppliers, making it easier to analyze spending.
Step 5: Download Purchase Data
Many GST portals provide an option to download purchase data in formats such as Excel or CSV. Downloading your data allows you to:
Reconcile with your accounting software
Perform detailed analysis of purchase patterns
Maintain historical records for audits or reporting
Tip: Always save a backup of downloaded data for reference.
Step 6: Calculate Total Purchases
While the portal provides a summary, you can calculate total purchases manually by summing the taxable values of all invoices for the period.
Steps:
Export purchase data to Excel or your preferred accounting tool.
Filter invoices for the selected period.
Add up the taxable values to get the total purchases.
This method also allows you to cross-check totals and identify discrepancies.
Additional Tips for Accurate Purchase Tracking
To ensure accuracy and efficiency when checking total purchases online, consider the following tips:
Reconcile Regularly: Check purchase totals monthly to avoid discrepancies at the end of the financial year.
Verify Supplier GST Numbers: Incorrect GST numbers may result in missing purchase records.
Cross-Check with Internal Records: Always compare portal data with your invoices and accounting books.
Monitor Reverse Charge Purchases: These may require special attention as they are recorded differently.
Keep Historical Records: Maintain copies of monthly or quarterly purchase summaries for auditing and reporting purposes.
These practices help maintain accurate records and make GST compliance simpler.
Common Scenarios Where Checking Total Purchases Is Useful
1. Input Tax Credit Verification
Businesses can compare total purchases with eligible input tax credits to ensure they are claiming the correct GST amount.
2. Supplier Performance Analysis
By reviewing supplier-wise purchase totals, businesses can evaluate which suppliers contribute most to procurement and plan negotiations accordingly.
3. Budget and Financial Planning
Monitoring purchase trends helps businesses plan budgets, forecast expenses, and manage cash flows more effectively.
4. Audit Preparation
Regularly checking total purchases ensures that you have up-to-date records for internal and external audits.
Conclusion
Checking total purchases in the GST portal online is a simple yet essential task for business management. By logging into the portal, navigating to the inward supplies section, and viewing or downloading purchase data, businesses can ensure accuracy, claim proper input tax credits, and analyze procurement patterns.
Beyond compliance, tracking total purchases helps with budgeting, supplier evaluation, and overall financial control. Maintaining accurate, regularly updated purchase data gives businesses greater transparency and confidence in their operations.
In essence, the GST portal is not just a regulatory tool—it’s a valuable resource for managing purchases, optimizing procurement, and making informed business decisions.
