Sale of input at cost by manufacturer is it trading?

CA PRASAD KSHIRSAGAR (CA Practice ) (148 Points)

04 August 2016  

A manufacturer of goods sold the input raw material at cost to vendor. Considering the same as trading activity, the Central Excise department disallows input service tax CENVAT. The department's contention is that there was trading activity. However, manufacturer has contended that it was sale of inputs as such without incurring any profit as the vendor was going to manufacture some part and in turn, the vendor was to supply the same to manufacturer. The department has taken sale of goods as such as "Trading" activity and slapped SCN to the manufacturer. Manufacturer argues that it was sale of inputs at cost and without any profit. Is the department justified in disallowing input credit of service tax?