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TIOL-DDT 1183
26.08.2009
Wednesday
THIS is an oft repeated question by many manufacturers who are at the receiving end of the Departmental Authorities and is also the subject of many audit objections resulting in show cause notices against the manufacturers.
Kindly enlighten us as to whether CENVAT Credit of Basic Excise Duty can be used for payment of Education Cess / Secondary Higher Education Cess?
This question was posed to us by a leading manufacturer and we decided to explain the relevant provisions in this regard to clear the air.
In terms of sub clauses (i), (ii), and (via) of Rule 3(1) of the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 a manufacturer is allowed to avail CENVAT Credit of duty of excise, education cess (‘ ECess ') and secondary & higher education cess (‘SHE Cess') and Rule 3(4) (a) thereof allows the same to be utilized for payment of ‘any duty of excise' on any final product. It may be noted that ECess and SHE Cess are also duties of excise.
However, in terms of Rule 3(7) (b) (iii) & (iiia) and the two provisos to sub clause (b) therein, the credit of ECess and SHE Cess can be utilized only towards ECess and SHE Cess respectively and cannot be utilized to pay any duty of excise other than those for which it is permitted under the said provisions. So if there is any excess credit of ECess and SHE Cess is lying in the CENVAT Credit account, the same cannot be utilized for payment of basic excise duty on the final products (or output services as the case may be).
Incidentally, sub-rule (7) of Rule 3 starts with a non-obstante clause which states that the provisions therein are applicable notwithstanding anything contained in sub rules (1) and (4) of Rule 3. This non-obstante clause is probably the reason for all the confusion in the field.
While the provisions of Rule 3(7) (b) (iii) & (iiia) restricts utilization of ECess and SHE Cess for payment of ECess and SHE Cess only [while allowing for cross utilization for goods and services as per the two provisos under sub clause (b)], there is no such specific restriction on utilization of credit of duty of excise (or basic excise duty) which is governed by Rule 3(4)( a).
Hence, in terms of Rule 3(4) (a), credit of duty of excise may be utilized for payment of ‘any duty of excise' on any final product and as mentioned above ‘duties of excise' includes both ECess and SHE Cess as well.
And fortunately, we have a few decided cases on this issue –in
Commissioner of Central Excise, VAPI v BALAJI INDUSTRIES - 2008-TIOL-2629-CESTAT- AHM.
CCE , Shillong Vs Godrej Consumer Products Ltd - 2007-TIOL-1174 CESTAT- Kol , and
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Vs CCE , Jammu - 2006-TIOL-1444-CESTAT-Del which support the above view.