05 March 2012
Income tax payable, excise duty payable are liabilities becuase the assessee has to PAY these amounts in the future. These liabilities will result in OUTFLOW of money.
On the other hand, CENVAT receivable & income tax refund are assets becuase they provide a BENEFIT to the assessee.
In the case of CENVAT receivable, it will REDUCE the outflow of money towards excise duty/service tax.