Reversal of service tax credit on receipt of completion certificate by a developer in GST Regime – A Controversy
Table of Contents
Reversal of service tax credit on receipt of completion certificate by a developer in GST Regime – A Controversy
Background
Once a booming industry, the current phase through which the real estate industry is passing through can be at least said to be a slow-down phase if not exactly the recession phase.
The lack of clarity in the tax treatment of various transactions also adds to the distress of the industry going through a slow-down phase. One such transaction is the reversal of service tax credit (availed till inception of the project till completion) on unsold inventory on receipt of completion certificate by a developer. The department has been sending Notices to reverse the Cenvat Credit pertaining to unsold units at the time of receipt of completion certificate which was availed in the pre-GST regime.
The controversy arises in the backdrop of the intention of the Government to not allow any tax credit in respect of unsold units on which no tax is payable and the way in which the law has been drafted.
Provision related to the reversal of credit in GST
Before dwelling on this issue, it is also imperative to note the provisions related to the reversal of GST credit. The provisions under the CGST Act, 2017 and the CGST Rules, 2017 have made it abundantly clear that the credit which pertains to non-taxable supplies has to be reversed.
Related Topic:
Reversal of Input Tax related to Unsold Inventory on the Date of Completion Certificate or First Occupation
Rules 42 and 43 provide detailed, extensive and unambiguous rules for reversal of input tax credit and they should be strictly followed. Further, vide amendments in Rule 42 and 43, the provisions for reversal of ITC pertaining to unsold inventory have been specifically introduced.
The specific rules under the GST regime have not left much scope of any arguments regarding non-reversal of credit pertaining to unsold inventory.
Whether service tax credit is required to be reversed?
Unlike the specific provisions related to real estate under rule 42 and 43 of the CGST Rules, 2017, the erstwhile Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 had not any specific provision requiring reversal of credit which pertains to unsold inventories.
In the Authors view, the entitlement to Cenvat credit is determined at the time of receipt of service and not on the basis of what transpires subsequently. The developer was lawfully entitled to take the credit at the time the same was availed. The immediate consequence of such lawful availment of credit is that the same becomes an indefeasible right at the hands of the developer. Hence, the same cannot be denied later on the ground of subsequent developments (albeit with retrospective effect) in the absence of a specific provision that authorizes such an action. In support of the above proposition that Cenvat credit rightly availed is an indefeasible right in the hands of the assessee, the author places reliance on the following case laws:
A. CCE, Pune v. Dai-Ichi Karkaria Ltd. 1999 (112) E.L.T. 353(S.C.)
B. H.M.T. V. CCE, Panchkula 2008 (232) ELT 217 (Tri-LB) affirmed by the P&H HC in CCE, Panchkula v. HMT Ltd 2010 TIOL 316 HC P&H.
C. Hindustan Zinc Ltd. V. UOI 2008 (223) ELT 149 (Raj)
D. CCE & Cus, Cochini v. Premier Tyres Ltd 2008 (223) ELT 149 (Raj)
Further, in M/s Alembic Ltd 2018-VIL-708-CESTATAT-AHM-ST and M/s Shreno Limited Vs C.C.E & ST, the issue involved was whether the appellant was required to reverse proportionate credit out of the valid input service credits availed by them during the period till obtaining completion certificate, i.e. availing during the time when the whole of output service of construction of the residential complex was taxable. The Hon’ble Tribunal held that the appellant was not required to reverse the proportionate credit for the past period when at the time of availing of such credit, output services of the developer were taxable. The relevant extract of the judgment is as under:
“13. We agree with such plea raised by the Appellant. While the law does not intend to allow any undue benefit to a service provider in terms of Cenvat Credit of Service Tax paid on input services used in providing non-taxable output activity, however, as held by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Dai IchiKarkaria 1999(112) ELT 516(SC) – 1999-VIL-02-SC-CE, Modvat / Cenvat Credit is a vested right. Once it is legally and validly availed, the same cannot be denied and/or recovered unless specific provisions exist for the same. The Appellants have also correctly relied upon the decisions/judgments in the case of HMT Ltd., TAFE, Ashok Iron & Steel Fabricators (supra) wherein an identical situation qua “inputs” used in the production of dutiable finished goods was involved, where on a particular date, the said Finished goods became exempt and the issue involved was as regards credits availed at a time when such Finished goods were otherwise dutiable.
14. It has been a consistent judicial view, including that of the Hon’ble Apex Court in such cases, that credit entitlement is on the date of receipt of inputs when the output activity was wholly dutiable. Merely because the finished goods eventually became exempt later on, the credit availed on inputs that were contained in semi-finished / finished goods state was held as not deniable. The present case is squarely covered vide such ratio laid down by higher courts. …………………………
16. This being the case, a harmonious reading of Rule 3 of the CCR, 04 read with Rule 6 and Rule 11 of the said Rules will suggest that eligibility/entitlement to credit has to be examined only at the time of receipt of input service and once it is found to be availed at a time when output service is wholly taxable, and the said credit is availed legitimately, the same cannot be denied and/or recovered unless specific machinery provisions are made in this regard. As per above TRU clarification dt.28.2.07, even if one assumed sale of the immovable property after Completion Certificate to be “exempt service” even going by the findings in the impugned order, even then there is no legal requirement to reverse any credit availed on “input services” in the past (prior to obtaining Completion Certificate) at all.”
On appeal by the department, the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court upheld the decision of the tribunal in Principal Commissioner Vs. M/s Alembic Ltd 2019-TIOL-1495-Ahm-ST.
In Prajapati Developers vs CCT 2019-TIOL-806-CESTAT-Hyd, the assessee was issued SCN for reversal of Cenvat credit under rule 6 holding that the input services were used both for provision of taxable services and also for activities which do not amount to service.
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