Subject: Clarification on various issue pertaining to GST- reg.
Various representations have been received from the field formations seeking clarification on certain issues with respect to -
i. refund claimed by the recipients of supplies regarded as deemed export;
ii. interpretation of section 17(5) of the Assam GST Act;
iii. perquisites provided by employer to the employees as per contractual agreement; and
iv. utilisation of the amounts available in the electronic credit ledger and the electronic cash ledger for payment of tax and other liabilities.
2. In order to clarify the issue and to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of law across the field formations, the Commissioner, in exercise of its powers conferred by section 168 of the Assam Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as "Assam GST Act''), hereby clarify the issues as under:
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"'Provided that the input tax credit in respect of such goods or services or both shall be available, where it is obligatory for an employer to provide the same to its employees under any law for the time being in force."
2.The said amendment in sub-section (5) of section 17 of the Assam GST Act was made based on the recommendations of GST Council in its 28th meeting. The intent of the said amendment in subsection (5) of section 17, as recommended by the GST Council in its 28lh meeting, was made known to the trade and industry through the Press Note on Recommendations made during the 28th meeting of the GST Council, dated 21.07.2018. It had been clarified "that scope of input tax credit is being widened, and it would now be made available in respect of Goods or services which are obligatory for an employer to provide to its employees, under any law for the time being in force. "
3. Accordingly, it is clarified that the proviso after sub-clause (iii) of clause (b) of sub-section (5) of section 17 of the Assam GST Act is applicable to the whole of clause (b) of sub-section (5) of section 17 of the Assam GST Act.
4.
"(i) food and beverages, outdoor catering, beauty treatment, health services, cosmetic and plastic surgery, leasing, renting or hiring of motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft referred to in clause (a) or clause (aa) except when used for the purposes specified therein, life insurance and health insurance: Provided that the input tax credit in respect of such goods or services or both shall be available where an inward supply of such goods or services or both is used by a registered person for making an outward taxable supply of the same category of goods or services or both or as an element of a taxable composite or mixed supply"
2. It is clarified that "leasing" referred in sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of sub-section (5) of section 17 refers to leasing of motor vehicles, vessels and aircrafts only and not to leasing of any other items. Accordingly, availment of ITC is not barred under sub-clause (i) of clause
(b) of sub-section (5) of section 17 of the Assam GST Act in case of leasing, other than leasing of motor vehicles, vessels and aircrafts
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3. Further, output tax in relation to a taxable person (i.e. a person who is registered or liable to be registered under section 22 or section 24 of the Assam GST Act) is defined in clause (82) of section 2 of the Assam GST Act as the tax chargeable on taxable supply of goods or services or both but excludes tax payable on reverse charge mechanism.
4.Accordingly, it is clarified that any payment towards output tax, whether self-assessed in the return or payable as a consequence of any proceeding instituted under the provisions of GST Laws, can be made by utilization of the amount available in the electronic credit ledger of a registered person.
5.It is further reiterated that as output tax does not include tax payable under reverse charge mechanism, implying thereby that the electronic credit ledger cannot be used for making payment of any tax which is payable under reverse charge mechanism.
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3. This Circular is clarificatory in nature and not meant for any interpretation of provisions of the Act and rules.
4. Difficulties, if any, in implementation of the above circular may be brought to the notice of the Principal Commissioner at an early date.
5. This Circular shall be deemed to have been issued on 6th July, 2022.
Sd/-
Rakesh Agarwala, IAS,
Principal Commissioner of State tax, Assam,
Dispur, Guwahati