Goods and Services Tax

Opportunity of hearing in GST first appeals requires restoration where dismissal for default followed inadequate hearing intimation.
Case-Laws
GST
Dismissal of a duly constituted GST first appeal for non-prosecution, despite pre-deposit and alleged inadequate notice of hearing, should not leave the appellant remediless or compel a second appeal. Statutory procedure permits the Appellate Tribunal to dismiss an appeal for default and set aside that dismissal. High Court set aside the dismissal where there was no apparent reason for the appellant to abandon its appeal after making the pre-deposit, and remanded the matter to the Appellate Authority for fresh adjudication after due opportunity of hearing.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Net ITC treatment protects zero-rated supply refunds from unrelated earlier-period compensation cess reversals under the statutory formula.
Case-Laws
GST
Net ITC for refunds of unutilised compensation cess on zero-rated supplies comprises credit actually availed and attributable to the relevant refund period. A reversal recorded in that period reduces Net ITC only where the reversed credit was availed during the same period. Residual credit from earlier periods, not included in the claimed Net ITC for the refund period, cannot reduce the eligible refund. Departmental clarification must operate consistently with the statutory refund formula and cannot require deduction of every reversal irrespective of when the underlying credit arose. The refund sanction was therefore upheld and the Revenue challenge rejected.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Net ITC under the statutory refund formula excludes prior-period reversals, preserving refund of unutilised cess credit.
Case-Laws
GST
Rule 89(4) confines Net ITC for refund of unutilised cess credit on zero-rated supplies to credit actually availed during the relevant refund period. An ITC reversal recorded in GSTR-3B reduces Net ITC only where the reversed credit was availed in that same period; reversals relating to earlier tax periods do not affect the refund computation. Paragraph 43(c) of the departmental circular cannot require deduction of all reversals made during the refund period irrespective of the underlying credit period, as a circular cannot override or expand the statutory refund formula. The accumulated cess-credit refund was consequently sustained.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Net ITC computation excludes reversals of earlier-period credit unrelated to the refund period under the statutory formula.
Case-Laws
GST
Net ITC for refund of unutilised Compensation Cess credit on zero-rated supplies is confined to input tax credit actually availed and attributable to the relevant refund period. A reversal recorded in that period need not reduce Net ITC where records establish that it relates to residual unutilised credit from earlier tax periods and was not included in the credit supporting the refund claim. Paragraph 43(c) of the departmental circular must operate consistently with the statutory refund formula and cannot require deduction of every reversal reported during the period, thereby curtailing a statutory refund entitlement.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Statutory appellate-admission discretion permits refusal where the penalty falls within the prescribed monetary threshold for discretionary admission.
Case-Laws
GST
Statutory discretion governing appellate admission applies where a penalty does not exceed the prescribed monetary threshold. In an appeal by a managing director against a penalty order issued under section 107, the penalty fell within the threshold for discretion under section 112(2). The Tribunal exercised that discretion to refuse admission, so the appeal was not admitted.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Procedural defect non-compliance can lead to appeal rejection after repeated opportunities to cure filing defects remain unused.
Case-Laws
GST
Rule 24(4) of the GSTAT (Procedure) Rules, 2025 permits rejection of an appeal where filing defects remain unrectified despite adequate opportunities. The appellant received six hearing opportunities, including three before the Bench and three before the Registrar, but neither appeared nor sought adjournment. No additional material was uploaded to cure the notified defects. Persistent non-attendance and failure to rectify defects support treating the appeal as not being actively pursued and considering rejection under the procedural rule.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Agricultural warehousing exemption does not cover separately rented godowns; rent remains taxable, with reverse charge for unregistered lessors.
Case-Laws
GST
Storage and warehousing of agricultural produce is exempt, but that exemption does not extend to separately hired godowns used exclusively for the exempt outward service. Renting such godowns constitutes an independent supply of rental or leasing of non-residential property and attracts GST at 18%. Where the lessor is registered, tax is payable under forward charge. Where an unregistered person rents a godown to a registered recipient, the amended reverse-charge entry applies, making the recipient liable to pay GST at 18% from 10.10.2024.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

GST taxability of domestic aircraft supplies confirms taxable ex-works transfers require registration in the supplying State.
Case-Laws
GST
Domestic ex-works supply of aircraft manufactured in Gujarat to the Ministry of Defence constitutes a taxable supply of goods where title passes for consideration in the course or furtherance of business. The aircraft are not covered by the GST exemption examined, and GST is payable at the applicable rate. Where the outward supply is made from Gujarat and the registration threshold is exceeded, the supplier must obtain GST registration in Gujarat under the applicable registration provisions.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Advance-ruling admission bar requires threshold rejection where the same supply-characterisation question is already pending or decided.
Case-Laws
GST
The statutory bar on admission of an advance-ruling application applies where the same question concerning the applicant is already pending or has been decided in proceedings. A transporter's supply-characterisation question-whether making vehicles available to another goods transport agency is exempt or taxable-formed the basis of a pending input-tax-credit reversal proceeding and had been decided for an earlier tax period. Both grounds precluded examination of classification, exemption, or taxability on the merits, and the application was rejected as not maintainable.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Mineral extraction rights granted by government make royalty licensing-service consideration, with permit holders bearing reverse-charge GST.
Case-Laws
GST
Royalty payable for a State Government grant of mineral extraction rights under a Short-Term Permit is contractual consideration for licensing services involving the right to use minerals, rather than a tax. The permit holder, as recipient of a Government-to-business supply, must discharge GST under reverse charge at 18%. The shorter duration and restricted area of a Short-Term Permit do not change the nature of the supply where the grantor, extraction rights and royalty basis correspond to those for quarry and mining leases. Short-Term Permit holders therefore receive the same reverse-charge GST treatment as quarry and mining lease holders.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Government water works contract GST concession applied before its withdrawal, while contractual tax reimbursement claims lay outside advance-ruling scope.
Case-Laws
GST
Specified composite works contract services supplied to the Government or a local authority for pipelines, conduits or plants for water supply, water treatment, or sewerage treatment or disposal attracted GST at 12% (6% CGST and 6% SGST) on 1 June 2022 under the concessional entry then in force. Omission of that entry from 18 July 2022 did not alter the rate on the queried date. A contractual entitlement to recover additional tax caused by a GST-rate increase falls outside advance-ruling jurisdiction because it is not among the exhaustively listed matters on which a ruling may be sought; the reimbursement question was therefore not answered.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

GST Council to take a view on GST on UPI MDR: Sources
GST
Dated:- 24-9-2026
PTI
New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) The GST Council, chaired by the Union Finance Minister, will take a view on GST levy on merchant fees for UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, government sources said on Thursday.

Effective October 15, UPI payments to merchants (P2M) above Rs 2,000 will attract a 0.4 per cent merchant discount rate (MDR) with an overall cap of Rs 300.

Sources said services attract GST, decided by the Goods and Services Tax Council, chaired by the Finance Minister and comprising state counterparts.

“We are hopeful that the GST Council will take a view on the 18 per cent GST on merchant fee on UPI transactions in the larger interest of cons

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

GST registration cancellation for return default requires a hearing, while full compliance can prevent or conditionally reverse cancellation.
Notes
GST
GST registration may be cancelled for continuous non-filing of returns under Section 29, but cancellation does not extinguish pre-cancellation tax liabilities. Rule 22 requires notice and an opportunity to respond; where pending returns are filed and tax, interest and late fee are fully paid before cancellation, the officer must drop proceedings. Post-cancellation revocation under Rule 23 requires compliance with prescribed filing, payment and limitation conditions, while appellate authorities cannot exceed statutory condonation limits. Defective notices, absence of reasons, denial of meaningful hearing, or unexplained retrospective cancellation may invalidate the process. Conditional restoration may be available in appropriate non-fraud cases upon full regularisation of returns, tax, interest, late fee and penalty.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Expired e-way bill alone cannot justify detention where transaction documents are accurate and vehicle breakdown is unrebutted.
Case-Laws
GST
Section 129(3) detention and penalty provisions should not be applied solely because an e-way bill has expired where invoices and transport documents are accurate. An unrebutted vehicle breakdown, coupled with no independent enquiry, does not support an adverse inference that goods were moved to evade tax. In these circumstances, expiry alone does not establish intent to evade tax, and detention, consequential tax and penalty cannot be sustained; deposited amounts are refundable in accordance with law.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Proper-officer assignments to appointed Central Tax Officers remain valid, while GST demand disputes generally require statutory appellate review.
Case-Laws
GST
Proper-officer functions under the CGST Act may be assigned by circular to Central Tax Officers already appointed under a statutory notification, including demand-related functions allocated by monetary limits. Such assignment does not constitute delegation requiring a separate notification. Challenges to the circulars and to the officer's competence on that basis were rejected. A writ challenge to a GST demand order should ordinarily not proceed where an effective statutory appeal is available, unless a recognised exception applies. Where the authority considered the defence, examined documents and granted a personal hearing, reassessment of disputed material lies with the appellate authority. The demand challenge was therefore directed to the statutory appeal, with limitation protection for filing within 30 days.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Unutilised ITC refunds for SEZ units cannot be denied by limiting applications to supplying vendors alone.
Case-Laws
GST
GST refund provisions for unutilised input tax credit do not restrict refund applications to suppliers making supplies to SEZ units. The relevant refund rule identifies suppliers as one category of applicants but does not exclude an SEZ unit from claiming its own refund. Reading such a restriction into the statutory scheme would impermissibly add a limiting condition. SEZ units are therefore entitled to have eligible refund claims processed under the GST refund framework, and orders rejecting the claim on that restrictive basis were set aside.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Interest on loans and advances remains GST-exempt, but State-specific turnover claims require cogent documentary proof.
Case-Laws
GST
Entry 27 exempts services of extending deposits, loans or advances where consideration is represented by interest or discount, except interest in credit-card services; qualifying interest recovery is therefore exempt from GST. A taxpayer claiming that turnover reported in one State actually comprised exempt interest attributable to another State must prove that assertion through cogent documentary evidence. Form GSTR-09C and a Chartered Accountant's certificate without disclosed findings or identifiable documentary support do not discharge that burden. Failure to provide supporting evidence permits an adverse inference, leaving the disputed turnover unestablished as exempt interest and resulting in rejection of the claim.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

GST exemption for written-off housing loan recoveries may be raised at appellate stage, subject to reliable documentary proof.
Case-Laws
GST
GST exemption under Notification No. 12/2017 may apply to recovery of amounts under written-off housing loan accounts. As a statutory notification has force of law, its applicability constitutes a pure question of law capable of being raised at the appellate stage. Entry 27 covers services by way of extending loans, while entitlement to exemption for a particular recovery depends on cogent proof that it arose from a written-off housing loan in the relevant financial year. Certified banker's books are admissible as prima facie evidence, but supporting loan write-off records are required. A cross-objection is unnecessary where the respondent has received complete relief and may operate as a reply. Factual applicability remains for determination after consideration of the records.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Statutory show cause notice under Section 74 is indispensable; GST DRC forms cannot validate suppression-based tax demands.
Case-Laws
GST
Section 74 tax determinations based on suppression of facts require service of a statutory show cause notice and consideration of the taxpayer's representation. The notice must specify the demand, foundational facts and necessary particulars so the taxpayer can respond effectively. GST DRC forms or other communications cannot substitute for the statutory notice. Determining a demand without serving such notice denies the taxpayer knowledge of the allegations and an effective opportunity of representation, vitiating the proceedings; the first appellate order was set aside and the appeal allowed.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

GST route deviation alone cannot justify detention or penalties where goods travel with valid documents and no evasion evidence.
Case-Laws
GST
GST law does not require a transporter to declare or follow a particular route. Transporting goods by a longer route for logistical safety reasons, while carrying valid documents, does not establish mala fide intent to evade tax without material showing an intended diversion or other tax evasion. Route-based obligations under earlier VAT regimes do not apply under the GST Acts or Rules. Accordingly, detention of goods and penalty under section 129 were unsustainable solely because a longer route was used; the detention-penalty orders were quashed and refund of the penalty paid under protest was directed in accordance with law.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Statutory pre-deposit applies to surviving disputed tax, eliminating further deposit where the existing amount meets the prescribed threshold.
Case-Laws
GST
Statutory pre-deposit for a Tribunal appeal must be assessed against the disputed tax remaining after the first appellate authority reduces the tax demand. The deposit made at the first appellate stage represents a prescribed portion of the dispute, not payment of a separate liability. No further pre-deposit under section 112(8) is required where the amount already deposited equals or exceeds the aggregate prescribed percentage of the surviving disputed tax. Requiring an additional deposit in those circumstances would mechanically duplicate the pre-deposit obligation and produce an anomalous, unworkable result.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Fresh e-way bills after expiry risk tax penalties when duplicate invoice details lack credible explanation.
Case-Laws
GST
Rule 138 permits extension of an e-way bill only within eight hours after expiry and does not authorise a fresh e-way bill on the same invoice. A second bill generated after expiry may be treated as fraudulent where the claimed vehicle breakdown, repair, and subsequent goods movement lack reliable evidence. Unexplained delay, a different loading location, and modification of invoice details to generate another bill are indicators supporting an inference of intent to evade tax on a preponderance of probabilities. Such transportation may attract penalty under section 129.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Intermediary student recruitment services gain export treatment when the recipient-location place-of-supply rule applies to overseas universities.
Case-Laws
GST
Student-enrolment services supplied to overseas universities are intermediary services where the Indian representative facilitates the university's educational supply to prospective students rather than providing courses or instruction on its own account. Representative status, restricted authority, commission disclosure, and remuneration linked to enrolment and fee receipt support that classification. Until 29 March 2026, the special intermediary place-of-supply rule placed the supply in India, preventing export treatment. From 30 March 2026, omission of that rule applies the general recipient-location rule, causing the services to satisfy the export requirement.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Government-funded health insurance qualifies for GST exemption when the State Government alone pays the entire scheme premium.
Case-Laws
GST
Health insurance services supplied under MEDISEP Phase-II to Clause A beneficiaries qualify for GST exemption where the State Government pays the entire premium under the insurance scheme. The State Government is the recipient of the insurance service because it alone bears the premium liability; employees, pensioners and family members remain insured beneficiaries without changing that status. The exemption under Sl. No. 40 of Notification No. 12/2017-Central Tax (Rate) is not conditional on the Government being the insured person or receiving insurance benefits. Premium received for this exempt supply is not taxable, subject to continued full Government payment. The position excludes Clause B beneficiaries.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =

Common-parlance and primary-use classification places turmeric wellness supplements under Heading 2106; MRP does not affect their GST rate.
Case-Laws
GST
Turmeric Extract / Curcuma Elixir, sold for direct human consumption as a general wellness nutraceutical or dietary supplement, falls under Heading 2106 as a food preparation. Classification follows primary function, essential character, common parlance and consumer perception, rather than medicinal qualities of ingredients; products intended for general well-being without specific therapeutic claims or drug recognition are not medicaments. The water-based product was also outside Chapter 33 because it contained no extracted essential oil and was not aromatic or intended for perfumery, cosmetics or flavouring. GST applied at 18% until revision and 5% from 22 September 2025. MRP does not affect classification or rate unless a rate notification makes it conditional on a value threshold.
TMI Updates – Highlights, quick notes, marquee, annotation, news, alerts

= = = = = = = =

Plain text (Extract) only
For full text:-Visit the Source

= = = = = = = =