GST Simplified - Transitional Provisions

This Series will cover the most important Topic- 'Transitional Provisions'. This topic is very much relevant at this stage for all existing assesses who are migrating into GST and wish to have smooth transition.

If, by chance, you didn't come across our previous write-ups in this set of series, those are just one click away on this link GST Simplified.

Update: After a long battle of patience, pursuance and performance, CGST, IGST, UTGST and Compensation Bills have been accorded presidential assent and has become an Act w.e.f. 12th April, 2017. However, its applicability will be notified by Government of India. Now ball is in the States' court who has to legislate their respective SGST Acts.

What 'Transition' is all about ?

Whenever a new levy or new scheme of taxation is introduced, it may completely overwrite the existing tax laws and rewrite rules of the game. That's what will happen when GST is introduced. Entire scheme of Indirect Taxation will undergo radical overhaul. So to cope up with that change, transitional provisions are created in new law to ensure smooth and hassle-free adoption of new scheme of taxation to safeguard interests of existing taxpayers.

Transition can be split into 2 parts:

1. Systemic Transition
2. Regulatory Transition

Systemic Transition is about changes in System, process and business structure. Any existing businesses have to revisit their ongoing contracts, internal procedures and go back to their Board room to adapt to new product & marketing strategies which concurs new scheme of Taxation i.e. GST. A deep analysis needs to be undertaken to accommodate any anticipated changes on account of widening tax base, rationalization of tax rates, phasing out of tax exemptions, integrated credit structure and automated compliance system. This will necessitate redesign of ERP system which is not only an Accounting system but one of efficient ways of managing business. Systemic transition is more of case-to-case process and has to be looked separately for different industry verticals.

Systemic Transition will embrace following key aspects:

Let's now move on to Regulatory Transition ('RT' in short) which is governed by GST Law.  Sections 139-142 of The CGST Act, 2017 read with consequent Draft Rules deal into Transitional provisions which are discussed below

A. Migration of Existing Taxpayers (Section 139)

The migration of existing taxpayers into GST is already undergoing with aggressive push from Government. Provisional IDs have already been issued to taxpayers from State VAT Authorities/ Excise Authorities/Service tax Authorities as the case may be. There would be one Provisional ID for one PAN based registration for each State. That is, if there are multiple locations in single state, only Single Provisional ID is being issued. Not going into much details on migration, below process explains activities post introduction of GST:

Note: There is no provision for migration of registration as Input Service Distributor and the same needs to be applied afresh in GST regime.

B. Transitions- Input Tax Credit (Section- 140)

This is the most important transition because it is where money in form of Credits is involved. This lays down provisions about credits which can be carried forward in different situations subject to conditions thereto. The basic conditions you will find in each situation are as under:

Tax paid on such inputs or input services or capital goods is eligible as Credit in both existing laws as well as GST law'.

Assessee is registered person in GST law. If someone applied for cancellation of registration post-migration, no credits will be allowed.

Which transitional Credits can be availed in GST ?

Application is required to be submitted by Every Registered Person availing credit by way of Carry forward in return or credit on inputs/goods lying in Stock in Form GST TRAN-1, within 60 days of the appointed day.

C. Transition- Job Work

Applicability if:

• Inputs/goods/semi-finished goods are sent to job worker by principal before appointed date.
• Finished goods are sent outside factory for testing purposes
• such goods are lying with job worker or Testing laboratories as on the appointed date.

Provision in Current Laws

As per provision in Central Excise law, Cenvat credit is allowed on such inputs sent to job worker for further processing and not required to be reversed goods returned back within 6 months or removed form premises of job worker if exemption has been claimed under Notification No. 214-86- CE.

Benefit in GST Law

Now existing taxpayers can obtain benefit of transition and as per GST law, those 6 months shall be counted from appointed date. This is big relief for Principal Manufacturer who gets job work done on their inputs.

D. Misc. Transitional Provisions

Other key provisions are discussed below:

*Appointed Day/Date: It means the day or date when GST Law comes into force.

The author can also be reached at nmjhanwar@gmail.com.