Scope of Principal-agent relationship in the context of Schedule I of the HGST Act.
Memo No. 3332/GST-2 Dated:- 9-10-2018 Haryana SGST
GST – States
HARYANA GOVERNMENT
EXCISE AND TAXATION DEPARTMENT
From
Excise & Taxation Commissioner,
Haryana, Panchkula.
To
All the Dy. Excise & Taxation Commissioner (ST), in the State of Haryana.
Memo No. 3332/GST-2
Panchkula, date the 09-10-2018
Subject: Scope of Principal-agent relationship in the context of Schedule I of the HGST Act- regarding.
In terms of Schedule I of the Haryana Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as the “HGST Act”), the supply of goods by an agent on behalf of the principal without consideration has been deemed to be a supply. In this connection, various representations have been received regarding the scope and ambit of the principal-agent relationship under GST. In order to clarify some of the issues and to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of the law acros
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other mercantile agent, by whatever name called, who carries on the business of supply or receipt of goods or services or both on behalf of another.
4. The following two key elements emerge from the above definition of agent:
a) the term “agent” is defined in terms of the various activities being carried out by the person concerned in the principal-agent relationship; and
b) the supply or receipt of goods or services has to be undertaken by the agent on behalf of the principal.
From this, it can be deduced that the crucial component for covering a person within the
ambit of the term “agent” under the HGST Act is corresponding to the representative character identified in the definition of “agent” under the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
5. Further, the two limbs of any supply under GST are “consideration” and “in the course or furtherance of business”. Where the consideration is not extant in a transaction, such a transaction does not fall within the ambit of supply. But, in cert
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“supply or receipt of goods on behalf of the principal” has been retained in this entry.
7. It may be noted that the crucial factor is how to determine whether the agent is wearing the representative hat and is supplying or receiving goods on behalf of the principal. Since in the commercial world, there are various factors that might influence this relationship, it would be more prudent that an objective criteria is used to determine whether a particular principal-agent relationship falls within the ambit of the said entry or not. Thus, the key ingredient for determining relationship under GST would be whether the invoice for the further supply of goods on behalf of the principal is being issued by the agent or not. Where the invoice for further supply is being issued by the agent in his name then, any provision of goods from the principal to the agent would fall within the fold of the said entry. However, it may be noted that in cases where the invoice is issued by the agent to the c
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imself in the supply or receipt of the goods. Hence, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, Mr. B is not an agent of Mr. A for supply of goods in terms of Schedule I.
Scenario 2
M/s. XYZ, a banking company, appoints Mr. B (auctioneer) to auction certain goods. The auctioneer arranges for the auction and identifies the potential bidders. The highest bid is accepted and the goods are sold to the highest bidder by M/S XYZ. The invoice for the supply of the goods is issued by M/S XYZ to the successful bidder. In this scenario, the auctioneer is merely providing the auctioneering services with no role played in the supply of the goods. Even in this scenario, Mr. B is not an agent of M/S XYZ for the supply of goods in terms of Schedule I.
Scenario 3
Mr. A, an artist, appoints M/S B (auctioneer) to auction his painting. M/s. B arranges for the auction and identifies the potential bidders. The highest bid is accepted and the painting is sold to the highest bidder. The invoice for
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State. Mr. B dentifies the buyers and sells the agricultural produce on behalf of Mr. A for which he charges a commission from Mr. A. As per the APMC Act, the commission agent is a person who buys or sells the agricultural produce on behalf of his principal, or facilitates buying and selling of agricultural produce on behalf of his principal and receives, by way of remuneration, a commission or percentage upon the amount involved in such transaction.
In cases where the invoice is issued by Mr. B to the buyer, the former is an agent covered under Schedule I. However, in cases where the invoice is issued directly by Mr. A to the buyer, the commission agent (Mr. B) doesn't fall under the category of agent covered under Schedule I.
9. In scenario I and scenario 2, Mr. B shall not be liable to obtain registration in terms of clause (vii) of section 24 of the HGST Act. He, however, would be liable for registration if his aggregate turnover of supply of taxable services exceeds the thr
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