Scope of Principal-Agent relationship in the context of Schedule I of the CGST Act

Definition of supply:-

Supply is defined in sec7 of CGST act Supply includes all forms of supply of goods or services or both such as sales, transfer, barter, exchange, license, rental, lease or disposal by a person for consideration in the course or furtherance of business.

In terms of Schedule I of the CGST 2017 the supply of goods by an agent on behalf of the principal without consideration has been deemed to be a supply. (Sec 7(1)(c)

• Further, the two limbs of any supply under GST are ' consideration ' and ' in the course or furtherance of business'. Where the consideration is not extant in a transaction, such a transaction does not fall within the ambit of supply.

But, in certain scenarios, as elucidated in Schedule I of the CGST Act, the key element of consideration is not required to be present for treating certain activities as supply. One such activity which has been detailed in Para 3 of Schedule I (hereinafter referred to as 'the said entry') is reproduced hereunder:

• Supply of goods-

• by a principal to his agent where the agent undertakes to supply such goods on behalf of the principal; or.
• by an agent to his principal where the agent undertakes to receive such goods on behalf of the principal.

Note: The supply of services between agent and principal is outside the ambit of above entry and would therefore require 'consideration' to consider it as supply and thus, be liable to GST.

Definition of Agent:-

The term 'agent' has been defined under sub-section (5) of section 2 of the CGST Act as follows: 'agent' means a person, including a factor, broker, commission agent, arhatia, del credere agent, an auctioneer or any other mercantile agent, by whatever name called, who carries on the business of supply or receipt of goods or services or both on behalf of another

a) the term 'agent' is defined in terms of the various activities being carried out by the person concerned in the principal-agent relationship; and

 b) the supply or receipt of goods or services has to be undertaken by the agent on behalf of the principal.

Registration Provisions:

As per Sec 24(vii) persons who make taxable supply of goods or services or both on behalf of other taxable persons whether asana agent or otherwise Aggregate turnover includes own supplies or made on behalf of all principals.

E.g. Mohini enterprises has appointed ABC as its agent. All the supply of goods made by ABC as an agent of Mohini enterprises will also be included in aggregate turnover of ABC.

CBEC has clarified by way of Circular No. 57/31/2018-GST Scope of Principal-agent relationship in the context of Schedule I of the CGST Act

In that given four scenarios explaining which is given as follows. Thus, the key ingredient for determining relationship under GST would be whether the invoice for the further supply of goods on behalf of the principal is being issued by the agent or not. Where the invoice for further supply is being issued by the agent in his name then, any provision of goods from the principal to the agent would fall within the fold of the said entry. However, it may be noted that in cases where the invoice is issued by the agent to the customer in the name of the principal, such agent shall not fall within the ambit of Schedule I of the CGST.

Scenario 1: Mr. A appoints Mr. B to procure certain goods from the market. Mr. B identifies various suppliers who can provide the goods as desired by Mr. A, and asks the supplier (Mr. C) to send the goods and issue the invoice directly to Mr. A. In this scenario, Mr. B is only acting as the procurement agent, and has in no way involved himself in the supply or receipt of the goods. Hence, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, Mr.B is not an agent of Mr. A for supply of goods in terms of Schedule I.

Scenario 2 : M/s XYZ, a banking company, appoints Mr. B (auctioneer) to auction certain goods. The auctioneer arranges for the auction and identifies the potential bidders. The highest bid is accepted and the goods are sold to the highest bidder by M/s XYZ. The invoice for the supply of the goods is issued by M/s XYZ to the successful bidder. In this scenario, the auctioneer is merely providing the auctioneering services with no role played in the supply of the goods. Even in this scenario, Mr. B is not an agent of M/s XYZ for the supply of goods in terms of Schedule I.

Scenario 3: Mr. A, an artist, appoints M/s B (auctioneer) to auction his painting. M/s B arranges for the auction and identifies the potential bidders. The highest bid is accepted and the painting is sold to the highest bidder. The invoice for the supply of the painting is issued by M/s B on the behalf of Mr. A but in his own name and the painting is delivered to the successful bidder.

In this scenario, M/s B is not merely providing auctioneering services, but is also supplying the painting on behalf of Mr. A to the bidder, and has the authority to transfer the title of the painting on behalf of Mr. A. This scenario is covered under Schedule I.

Scenario 4: Mr. A sells agricultural produce by utilizing the services of Mr. B who is a commission agent as per the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act (APMC Act) of the State. Mr. B identifies the buyers and sells the agricultural produce on behalf of Mr. A for which he charges a commission from Mr. A. As per the APMC Act, the commission agent is a person who buys or sells the agricultural produce on behalf of his principal, or facilitates buying and selling of agricultural produce on behalf of his principal and receives, by way of remuneration, a commission or percentage upon the amount involved in such transaction. In cases where the invoice is issued by Mr. B to the buyer, the former is an agent covered under Schedule I. However, in cases where the invoice is issued directly by Mr. A to the buyer, the commission agent (Mr. B) doesn't fall under the category of agent covered under Schedule I.

From the above scenarios, we can conclude that in case Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 Mr. B is not liable to obtain compulsory registration u/s sec24(vii) of CGST act provided his aggregate turnover does not exceed 20 lakhs u/s sec22(1) of CGST act.

In case of scenario 3 MR.B is liable to obtain compulsory registration u/s 24 of CGST act. In case of scenario 4 in respect of commission agents it has been exempted by notification no 12/2017 dated 28-06-2017 under entry no 54.

Services provided by APMC or Board or services provided by commission agent for sale or purchase of agricultural produce.

Such commission agent is not liable to obtain registration under sec23 of CGST act. (Even though they qualify as agents under schedule I)

Sec 23 says persons engaged exclusively in goods/services wholly exempt from tax is not liable to obtain registration.