COST ACCOUNTANT
111 Points
Joined July 2010
As per the Vat Act of my state, which should be more or less similar to other states, in case of a trader input tax credit is available for tax paid on purchases of goods inside the state if such goods are for export sales. However, in case of manufacturer, input tax credit is available for tax paid inside the state on purchases of goods for use as a) raw materials b) packing materials and c) capital goods in the manufacture of taxable goods for the purpose of export sales.
It appears from the above that ITC (Input Tax Credit) on packing materials is available only to manufacturer and that too for manufacturing taxable goods that is meant for Export Sales.
Now since, no tax is levied on Export sales, the question of setting off the ITC with the tax liability on export sales does not arise. Now regarding availing the ITC and adjusting the same with other products, it appears that the packing materials should be used to manufacture taxable goods and not tax free goods. In addition, our Vat Act clearly says that ITC can not be availed on tax free goods.
Under the circumstances, in my opinion, since no input tax credit is allowed on sales of tax free goods, the tax paid on purchases of packing materials for exporting tax free goods should not be available as ITC.