GST: Advance Rulings

Post globalization and in its first attempt, the Central Government vide Finance Act 1999, a scheme of Advance Rulings (Central Excise, Customs & Service Tax) was been incorporated in the Customs Act, 1962, the Central Excise Act, 1944 and in the Finance Act, 1994 by the Finance Act, 1999 to provide to issue binding Rulings, in advance, on Customs, Central Excise and by the Finance Act, 2003, same concept was introduced for Service Tax matters. In general, the scheme is intended to provide certainty or clarity to intending investors. However, the Authority became functional only during the financial year 2002-03.

Concept of Advance Ruling under GST Laws

The similar concept has been brought in under the new Indirect Tax Regime. Chapter XVII of the Central Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 (equivalent provisions also provided in the State Goods & Services Tax Acts) deals with the said aspects. Relevant provisions spread over 12 sections i.e. Section 95 to 106. Applicable Rules on Advance Ruling has been provided in Chapter XII of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Rules, 2017. Rule 103 to 107A deals with procedural aspects such as Appointment of Members, Application to the Authority, manner to move Appellate Authority, etc.

Section 95(a) of the Central GST Act, defined the term ‘Advance Ruling’ as a decision provided by the Authority or the Appellate Authority to an applicant on matters or on questions specified in sub-section (2) of Section 97 or sub-Section (1) of Section 100, in relation to the supply of goods or services or both being undertaken or proposed to be undertaken by the applicant.

Key objectives of setting up of the Authority

1. To provide certainty in tax liability in advance in relation to an activity.
2. To attract Foreign Direct Investment.
3. To reduce prolonged litigation.
4. To pronounce ruling expeditiously in a transparent and inexpensive manner, etc.

Issues may be raised with the Authority

Sub-section (2) of Section 97 & Sub-Section (1) of Section 100 of the Central GST Act, 2017 deals with certain definite questions which are eligible to raise with the Authority. They are -

1. Whether an applicant is required to be registered or not.
2. Classification of any goods or services or both.
3. Applicability of a notification issued under the Central GST Act, 2017.
4. Determination of time and value of supply of goods or services or both.
5. Admissibility of Input Tax Credit (ITC).
6. Determination of the tax liability on any goods or services or both, etc.

Procedural aspects

Rule 104 of Central GST Rules prescribed a FORM GST ARA-01 and shall be accompanied by a fee of Rs. 5,000 rupees, to be deposited in a specified manner. Due to the absence of an online mechanism, for the time being, an application for advance ruling can be made manually, in quadruplicate.

Rectification of Mistakes

The Central GST Act provides due powers to both Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) and Appellate Authority (AAAR) to amend their own order to rectify any mistake within a period of six months from the date of the order. A mistake may be noticed by the authority suo motu, by the applicant or the jurisdictional officer. If a rectification has the effect of enhancing the tax liability or reducing the quantum of Input Tax Credit (ITC), the applicant must be heard before the order is passed.

Advance Rulings and Its Binding

An advance ruling pronounced by the AAR shall be binding on the applicant who raised the question, the jurisdictional Officer and the authorities subordinate to him, in respect of the applicant subject to change in law or facts as the case may be. The Hon’ble High Court of Delhi High in UAE Exchange Ltd. v. UOI 236 ELT 223 affirmed the above-stated position. However, an applicant or interested person may challenge an advance ruling by filing a writ petition under Articles 226 with the jurisdictional High Court or under Article 32 with the Supreme Court of India.

Appeals against the Order of AAR

Any aggrieved party can file an appeal with the AAAR. An appeal must be filed within thirty days from the date of the receipt of the advance ruling. The appeal has to be in prescribed form and has to be verified in a prescribed manner. The AAAR must pass an order after hearing the parties to the appeal within a period of ninety days of the filing of an appeal. In case of difference of opinion among members of AAAR, it is presumed that no such advance ruling is issued in respect of the question under appeal.

States & Its Appellate Authority

The all-powerful GST Council recently pushed both Central and State Governments to set up appellate authorities under Section 99(2) of the CGST, Act, 2017 to appeal against orders of the AARs. According to State GST laws, all States are required to set up at least one AAR for seeking advance ruling over GST levy and one AAAR to hear appeals against the AAR Order.

About 13 states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, have issued notifications for setting up of AAARs.  State GST laws mandate that the appellate authority shall have two members such as the Chief Commissioner of Central Tax as designated by Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) and the Commissioner of State Tax. For instance, Karnataka – Appellate Authority will be headed by,

1. The Principal Chief Commissioner, Bengaluru, GST & CX Zone, and
2. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Karnataka), Bengaluru.

Constitutionality of Advance Ruling Authority - Challenged

The Hon’ble Gujarat High Court in last February admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions relating the Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) and the Appellate Authority of Advance Ruling (AAAR) under the Central GST Ac, 2017.

W. P. - Nipun Praveen Singhvi v. UoI& Ors.

In one more instance, the Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court in last April admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions relating the Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) and the Appellate Authority of Advance Ruling (AAAR) under the Central GST Ac, 2017. D. B. Civil W. P. – Abhishek Chopra v. UoI& Ors.         

Hon’ble High Courts outcome is awaited.

Latest Advance Rulings

Taxability of High Sea Sales

High Seas Sales are the sales taking place prior to the imported goods crossing the Customs frontier. The Authority for Advance Ruling, Gujarat, held that the taxability of High Sea Sale falls under the domain of Customs and not under the Goods and Services Tax Laws. 94 taxmann.com 155 (AAR-GUJARAT)

Krishi Kalyan Cess paid prior to GST Regime

Whether accumulated credit by way of Krishi Kalyan Cess as appeared in the Service tax return of Input Service Distributor (ISD) on June 30, 2017, which is carried in the electronic credit ledger maintained by the Company under CGST Act 2017 will be considered as admissible input tax credit? No. The Authority for Advance Ruling, Mumbai, held that accumulated credit by way of Krishi Kalyan Cess as on June 30, 2017, cannot be considered as admissible Input Tax Credit (ITC). Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited, Mumbai, Order No. GST –ARA-18/2017-18/B-25 dated 05.04.2018 

GST on ‘Duty-Free’ shops at Airports

The Authority for Advance Ruling, New Delhi recently held that the GST can be levied on Duty-Free Shops stating such outlets at the Delhi International Airport are not free duties under the GST regime. However, Ministry of Finance, GoI, recently clarified that international passengers are not subject to GST for buying goods at the airport ‘Duty-Free shops. Official Circular is awaited.

Taxability of Dried Tobacco Leaves

The Authority for Advance Ruling, New Delhi recently held that the GST on dried Tobacco can be taxable at the rate of 14 per cent Central GST and 14 per cent State GST or 28 per cent Integrated GST. In the instant case, the applicant claimed that the Dried Tobacco Leaves shall be taxable at the rate of 5 per cent. However, Dried Tobacco leaves undergone the process of curing after harvesting of Tobacco leaves are unmanufactured tobacco. Sri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Advance Ruling No. 04/DAAR /2018 dated 06.04.2018

Canteen Services to Employees

The Authority for Advance Ruling, Kerala, recentlyheld that recovery of food expenses from the employees for the canteen services provided by the company is nothing but an ‘outward supply’ under Central GST Act, 2017 and taxable accordingly. Caltech Polymers Private Limited, Malappuram, Order No. CT/531/18-C3 dated 26.03.2018

Coaching Centres for Entrance Exams

The Authority for Advance Ruling, Maharashtra, recently held that the coaching centres providing tuition to prepare students for entrance examination are subject to liable to pay GST at rate of 18 percent. An application was filed to seek whether the services related to providing the coaching for entrance examination will come under the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax regime. Sri. Simple Rajendra Shukla, Order No. GST-ARA-06/2017/B-05 dated 09.03.2018

Hotel or Restaurant services provided to SEZ units

The Authority for Advance Ruling, Karnataka, held that Hotel or restaurant services provided to SEZ developers or SEZ Units will not be treated as ‘zero-rated’ supplies, hence taxable under the Goods and Services Tax regime. M/s. Gogte Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. Advance Ruling No. Kar /ADRG 2/2018 dated 21.03.2018

GST Registration & Reverse Charge Mechanism

The Authority for Advance Ruling, New Delhi, recently held that the registration under GST is mandatory if there is GST liability under Reverse Charge Mechanism. M/s. Sonka Publications (India) Private Limited, Advance Ruling No. 05/DAAR/ 2018 dated 06.04.2018

Classification of skin care preparation as medicament

The Authority for Advance Ruling, West Bengal, recently held that merely manufacturing a skin care preparation using an Ayurvedic authoritative text book does not imply that the product is a medicament. May classified them as and when it is used for cure from treatment or for prevention of specific skin disease. In the given case, the skin care preparation products were classified as medicaments or cosmetic products post consideration of various factors. M/s. Akansha Hair & Skin Care Herbal Unit Private Limited AAR Case No. 01 of 201809.04.2018

Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC)

The Authority for Advance Ruling, Uttar Pradesh, recently held that ‘AMC’ is a composite part of supply and can be taxed at the rate of 18 percent under the GST regime. M/s. GE Diesel Locomotive Private Limited, made an application questioning with regard to classification of the comprehensive annual maintenance service. Official copy of the Order awaited.

Conclusion

To conclude, it can be stated that the GST Laws brought in a comprehensive provision for advance rulings to ensure that disputes are minimal. The aim is to provide certainty to the tax payer with respect to his obligations under the GST Laws and go a long way to avoid protracted litigation.