Reconciling your purchase register with GSTR-2B is a mandatory monthly task before claiming input tax credit. Under Section 16(2)(aa) of the CGST Act and Rule 36(4) of the CGST Rules, taxpayers cannot claim ITC unless the supplier has furnished invoice details in GSTR-1 or IFF and those details are communicated to the recipient in Form GSTR-2B. If your Tally export is missing supplier GSTINs or separates taxes incorrectly, reconciliation takes hours of manual clean-up.
Step-by-step path to export purchase register in Tally Prime
Follow these exact menu paths in Tally Prime to access the purchase register for any tax period:
- From the Gateway of Tally, select Display More Reports (press D).
- Select Account Books (press A) and choose Purchase Register (press P).
- Select the specific month or press Alt+F2 (Period) to set the custom date range (for example, 01-Sep-2026 to 30-Sep-2026).
- Press Enter to open the voucher list for that period.
Common mistake: Exporting directly from the standard voucher screen without configuring columnar columns. The default screen groups voucher totals and omits the supplier GSTIN and tax breakouts, making automated GSTR-2B matching impossible.
Configuring F8 Columnar view for GSTR-2B reconciliation
Before pressing export, you must configure the columnar view so that every required GST field appears in separate Excel columns.
- On the voucher register screen, press F8 (Columnar) on the right-hand panel.
- Set Show Party GSTIN/UIN to Yes.
- Set Show Voucher Reference Number to Yes (this captures the supplier invoice number).
- Set Show Supplier Invoice Date to Yes.
- Set Show Gross Value to Yes.
- Under Tax details, ensure separate columns are enabled for Central Tax (CGST), State Tax (SGST), and Integrated Tax (IGST).
- Press Ctrl+A to accept the columnar configuration screen.
Learn more about aligning your accounting workflow with our guide on GSTR-2B reconciliation in Tally Prime.
Mandatory columns needed for GSTR-2B matching
A successful reconciliation requires specific data points from your purchase register to match the GSTR-2B statement generated by the GST portal. Verify that your exported Excel file contains the following fields:
| Column Name | Tally Field Source | Why It Is Required |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier GSTIN | Party GSTIN/UIN | Identifies the vendor against GSTR-2B Table B2B |
| Supplier Invoice No. | Supplier Invoice No. / Ref No. | Key matching identifier across books and portal data |
| Invoice Date | Supplier Invoice Date | Determines the applicable tax period and financial year |
| Taxable Value | Net Item/Voucher Value | Verifies assessment base and taxable base consistency |
| IGST Amount | Integrated Tax Ledger Column | Matches interstate input tax credit claimed in books |
| CGST & SGST Amount | Central & State Tax Ledger Columns | Matches intrastate input tax credit claimed in books |
| Total Invoice Value | Gross Total | Cross-verifies invoice sum against vendor statement |
Exporting the columnar register to Excel
Once your screen displays the columnar format with all required columns, export the file using Tally Prime export options:
- Press Ctrl+E (or click Export > Current from the top navigation bar).
- Click Configure (C) to verify export settings:
- File Format: Select Excel (Spreadsheet).
- Folder Path: Specify your local directory where the file should be saved.
- File Name: Set a distinct name, such as Purchase_Register_Sep_2026.xlsx.
- Update existing file: Set to No to avoid overwriting previous records.
- Press Esc to return to the export dialog.
- Press Send (E) to generate and open the Excel spreadsheet.
Worked example: matching Tally export with GSTR-2B
Consider Om Enterprises, a trading firm in Maharashtra. For September 2026, the accountant exports the purchase register from Tally Prime with 3 vendor vouchers and reconciles them against the monthly GSTR-2B downloaded from the GST portal.
| Vendor Name | Supplier GSTIN | Invoice No. | Taxable Value (₹) | CGST (₹) | SGST (₹) | GSTR-2B Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Traders | 27AAACA1234A1Z1 | INV-101 | 1,00,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | Present in GSTR-2B | Eligible ITC: ₹18,000 |
| Bharat Supplies | 27AAACB5678B1Z2 | INV-452 | 50,000 | 4,500 | 4,500 | Present in GSTR-2B | Eligible ITC: ₹9,000 |
| Creative Works | 27AAACC9012C1Z3 | INV-889 | 25,000 | 2,250 | 2,250 | Missing in GSTR-2B | Hold ITC: ₹4,500 |
| Total Books | - | - | 1,75,000 | 15,750 | 15,750 | Total ITC in Books: | ₹31,500 |
Calculation of eligible ITC for Form GSTR-3B:
Eligible CGST = ₹9,000 + ₹4,500 = ₹13,500.
Eligible SGST = ₹9,000 + ₹4,500 = ₹13,500.
Total Eligible ITC claimable in GSTR-3B Table 4(A)(5) = ₹13,500 + ₹13,500 = ₹27,000.
Under Rule 88D and Form DRC-01C, claiming the unreflected ₹4,500 from Creative Works would create an ITC mismatch intimation between GSTR-3B and GSTR-2B. By exporting the columnar purchase register and reconciling upfront, Om Enterprises safely claims ₹27,000 and follows up with Creative Works to file their GSTR-1.
Frequently asked questions
Which shortcut opens the columnar configuration in Tally Prime?
Press F8 (Columnar) while viewing the monthly voucher list in Purchase Register to open the columnar report settings.
Why is supplier GSTIN missing from the default Tally export?
The standard Tally purchase register only exports basic voucher details. You must enable Show Party GSTIN/UIN in F8 Columnar view to include it in your Excel export.
Why must books match GSTR-2B before filing GSTR-3B?
Under Section 16(2)(aa) of the CGST Act and Rule 36(4), input tax credit can only be claimed if invoice details are furnished by the supplier in GSTR-1 and communicated to the recipient in GSTR-2B.
Reconcile your Tally purchase register with GSTR-2B
Drop your exported Tally Excel file and GSTR-2B download into our browser tool to spot missing invoices and rate mismatches in seconds. Your GSTR-2B and purchase register files are read in your browser and never uploaded to any server.
Last checked: 26 October 2026. Sources: CBIC Tax Information - Section 16 CGST Act, GST Portal Tutorials - ITC Comparison.