Tds liability on purchase of gift vouchers from flipkart

Mihir Jhaveri (CA Job) (20 Points)

19 January 2015  

Query on applicability of TDS on Purchase of Flipkart/ Snapdeal Gift Vouchers for distributing to customers as reward/ sales promotion

Background/ Case facts:

-Our company is purchasing Flipkart/ Snapdeal  gift vouchers (GV) and giving to distributors/ customers on achivement of targets

-These GVs are Prepaid Instruments. And companies issuing such GVs has to take RBI approval / purchase GVs through authorised intermediaries having approval from RBI.

-These GVs have fixed validity period. These are non-renewable/ non refundable vouchers. And they have to be redeemed at the time of online purchase of goods/service from the portal. 

-Portals (flipkart/snapdeal) are not charging anything extra as service charge for issuing these GVs. And accepting these vouchers as currency/ money at the time of redemption. 

-Portals are claming that these GVs are neither "goods" nor "services". Hence they do not apply VAT/ ST while selling these GVs.

-Furhter, sellers of GV also claim that TDS will not be applicable at all.

Query:

-Whether TDS has to be deducted at the time of making payments for purhcase of such GV.

-Is there any circular/ clarification issued by CBDT in this regard?

Thanks in anticipation.