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Under CST Act 1956 there are lot of Forms and declarations which help in saving CST on the interstate transactions. C form is an important and foremost common among dealers registered under CST Act 1956 engaged in interstate sales or purchases.

Although the CST Act 1956 is on the verge of its end with the advent of GST knocking at the doors, waiting to change the whole picture of indirect taxation in India. But still I feel its worth to discuss some issues relating to C forms under CST Act as lot of Assessments are pending under VAT and CST Acts and many dealers are facing problems in getting and producing the C forms for finalization of their assessments. Some important issues relating to the C forms are discussed as below for the benefit of dealers all around India:

What is C form: As per section 8(1) (b) of CST Act 1956 sales tax on interstate sales is 2% or state rate whichever is lower, if the sale is to a registered dealer and goods are covered in the registration certificate of the purchasing dealer. Otherwise the tax applicable is the state rate applicable on the goods sold.

If the selling dealer pays CST @ 2% i.e @ concessional rate then he has to produce proof to his sales tax assessing authorities that the purchasing dealer is eligible to get these goods at concessional rate. Otherwise the selling dealer will be asked to pay balance tax payable plus penalty as applicable. Therefore section 8(4)(a) provides that concessional rate is applicable only if purchasing dealer submits a declaration in prescribed form C.

Where from to get the C forms: The blank C forms are issued by the sales tax authorities to the purchasing dealer who has made interstate purchases on concessional rate of CST.  A dealer is entitled to obtain blank C forms from the sales tax authorities. If the registration is wrong, authorities can amend or cancel the same. However, as long as his registration is in force, blank C forms must be issued to him– Colourgraphs v. STO-(1993) 88 STC 347 (Ker HC).

Similarly it was held in Quality Enterprises v. ADCTO(2002) 127 STC 504 (Mad HC) that issue of blank C forms cannot be denied on the ground that transaction of dealer is taxable only as local purchases. Once a dealer pays necessary charges for C forms, the blank C forms must be issued. If he misuses C forms, he is liable to penalties contemplated in the Act.

However the CST rules may provide for  non issue of  blank C forms to a defaulting dealer in which case no blank forms may be issued. Similar rule was upheld as valid in S.N.E (India) P Ltd v. CST (2003) 131 STC 417 (Del HC DB).

Number of Transactions per C forms: One declaration in C form can cover all transactions in one quarter, irrespective of total amount/value of transactions during the quarter. (Quarter means period of three months). If a transaction covers more than one quarter, separate C form is required to be issued for each quarter.

Original, Duplicate and Counterfoil copy of C forms: The C form has been prescribed in three parts Original, Duplicate and Counterfoil. All three parts are identical in contents.
Section 8(4) of and Rule 12(1) do not specify which part of C form should be produced before the assessing authority.

Hence, in Manganese Ore (India)Ltd. v. CST MP (1991)TC (MP HC DB), it has been held that filing of copy marked Duplicate is enough compliance of the law and concessional sales tax rate will be available even if copy marked Original is not produced.

However, if CST rules as amended by states require submission of original copy, then only that copy will have to be submitted.

Therefore one need to check the relevant CST state rules if any, amended to this effect before furnishing the duplicate copy of C form.

If the buyer sends both the copies of C form marked as Original and Duplicate to seller and if both are lost, then the following procedure should be followed:

If duly completed C form is lost when it was in the custody of purchasing dealer or when the form was in transit to selling dealer, the purchasing dealer will have to furnish Indemnity Bond to sales tax authorities from whom the blank C form was obtained. If the duly completed C form is lost by the seller, then he has to submit indemnity bond to sales tax authorities of his state. The prescribed form of Indemnity bond is in Form G.

If C form is lost(both original and Duplicate copies), the purchasing dealer can issue duplicate declaration in C form with clear declaration in red ink that this is a duplicate declaration being submitted. Details of earlier lost certificate number and of selling dealer has to be given.

It may be noted that there is no provision to submit certified Xerox copy of earlier certificate and Xerox copy is not acceptable– J N Jetiwa v. state of Maharashtra- (1995) 11 MTJ 491 (Mah Trib).

Selling dealer is not liable for false declaration by buyer: The purchasing dealer can issue C form for purchase of only those goods which are mentioned in his registration certificate, for other goods no C form can be issued by the buyer, if the buyer so issues C form for goods not mentioned in his R.C. then it will be misuse of C form and the penalty can be imposed on buyer.

But the selling dealer has only the obligation to satisfy himself that the purchasing dealer is a registered dealer for this he can rely upon the representation made by the buyer in the C form. If the purchaser misapplies the goods, the penalty can be imposed on the buyer, but selling dealer, who has relied upon C form issued to him, cannot be held liable.

Selling dealer is not required to hold an enquiry with regard to purpose for which the materials have been purchased by purchasing dealer. Once he furnishes necessary declaration forms from purchasing dealer, nothing more is required to be done.- K G Industries v. STO (1999) 113 STC 49 (MP HC).

Duly filled C form should be issued to seller: Sometimes, C form is obtained in advance and particulars of invoice etc. are filled in later. This is not legally correct, as section 8(4)(a) uses the words ‘to whom goods are sold’. Thus, duly completed C form should be obtained only after sale. Otherwise C form can be rejected.- Salem Magnesite v. State of Tamil Nadu (1999) 116 STC 110 (Mad HC DB)

Issue/receipt of C form against goods used in works contract: Goods used in executing works contract are deemed to be sold and there is sale of material used in the execution of works contract. Hence C form can be issued for materials used in works contract, if the goods are included in the registration certificate of the dealer- United Ltd. v. CTO (1991) 83 STC 207(AP HC)

No C form for rejected goods: It was held in Lakshmi and co. v. State of Kerala ( 2001) 121 STC 423 (Ker HC DB) F form can be issued only in case of completed transactions and not in case of rejection goods. Decision in this case of F forms should also be applicable on C forms. The reason is if goods are rejected, buyer cannot issue a certificate that the goods are for manufacture or for resale.

Declaration in C form cannot be rejected for minor defects: In Rajsthan Pipes v. CTO (2004) 138 STC 383 (Cal HC), it was held that benefit cannot be denied on ground of omission like date of registration and minor variation in amount.

The authorities should allow rectification of defects in declarations: If there are minor defects in the C form submitted (e.g. challan no., date etc. not mentioned, or name of dealer is mis-spelt), the officer should give reasonable opportunity to the dealer to remove the defects- Anil Kumar Dutta v. Addl Member (1967) 20 STC 528 (Cal)

In State of Orrisa v. Orissa Polish Works (1970) 26 STC 480 (Ori HC), it was held that C form should be returned to the selling dealer for rectification. Selling dealer should be allowed reasonable opportunity for this purpose.

When to submit the C form with the authorities by the seller: As per rule 12(7) C form can be submitted to the assessing authority within three months after the end of period to which it relates. STO can allow further time for submission of the form, if there is sufficient cause for not submitting the form in time.

C form can be submitted even at appellate stage if sufficient cause shown: I have already earlier written an article on this topic referring the judgement of Punjab and Haryana High court in R S Cotton Mills v. State of Punjab wherein it was decided that C or D forms could be filled even after the filling of the return or at the appellate stage and same could be taken cognizance of.

Hence the C forms can be submitted even after the filling of annual statement i.e. at the time of assessment or afterwards and the same can be taken cognizance of since no loss is caused to the revenue by not filling the C forms along with annual statement.
C forms generally should be submitted before the first assessing authority. After the assessment, appellate authority can allow submission of C forms if sufficient cause is shown for not submitting the C form before the assessing authority. This is because the appellate authority has powers of reassessment. Appeal in taxation matters is different from power of appellate court in civil matters. The appellate authority is in nature of revising authority. He can revise every process which led to the ultimate computation or assessment- State of AP v Hyderabad Asbestos Cement Products 94 STC 410.

It is advisable that the dealer should maintain proper record of follow up and efforts made with buyer to obtain C forms to prove that he made all possible attempts to obtain C forms within time. In such case it will help proving the sufficient cause for not submitting the C form within time and appellate authority will accept the C forms at appellate stage if obtained after assessment.

If sufficient cause is shown for late submission of C forms, the assessment can be reopened as it was held in Dtate of Tamilnadu v. Arulmurugan and co.- (1982) 51 STC 381(Mad HC DB)

—————-

(Author – Amit Bajaj Advocate, Bajaj & Bajaj Advocates, 128, Sangam complex, Milap chowk, Jalandhar City (Punjab), Email: amit@amitbajajadvocate.com, M +919815243335)

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135 Comments

  1. RAJKUMAR PARAKH says:

    My quarterly return for vat Maharashtra fail to disclose outside state purchase but annual return has been rectified assessing officer deny to issue c form what’s remedies please help

  2. Sachin Kumar Jha says:

    Dear Sir,
    We sale goods against form C @2% from Delhi to west bangal in the f.y 2014-15 but now party gives us Form “F” against goods sale form “C”. In the case what be should do now sir ??

  3. Sachin Kumar Jha says:

    We sale goods against form C @2% from Delhi to west bangal in the f.y 2014-15 but now party gives us Form “F” against goods sale form “C”. In the case what be should do

  4. SREENIVASAN k says:

    Hi Sir,
    I am from Karnataka. Our company has made Interstate stock Transfer to Kerala. For that we have issued Form F to Prove it is a Stock Transfer. Karnataka VAT department Cosidering it a Sales under CST Act & asking us to pay 14.5% of Tax on total Stock Transfer made during the year 15-16. we have paid 5% KeralaVAT to the kerala State. Hence ours is a WorksContract, Kinldy give us the legal solution for this problem through mail

  5. Pravin Autade says:

    Dear Sir,

    Please help me.

    Customer sent ‘C’ form Original & Duplicate copy but have loss the ‘C’ form, Can you help me. What to do?
    Please reply urgent basis, because C form submission last date 12.02.2020.

  6. Nagesh R K says:

    Dear Sir, I need clarification on ‘C’ form. One of the customer in Bihar state issued ‘C’ forms to West Bengal state by deducting Freight collected amount shown in the invoice. Delivery on ex-works basis. But freight collected from customer as transportation is arranged by us. CST also charged on Freight amount. Now the West Bengal assessing authority treated the value as short submission of forms and passed order with demand of cst and interest. Kindly clarify is the forms valid or need to obtain revised forms for full value of invoice and submit to appellate authority. Pl. provide relevant case laws which supports ‘c’ forms for value minus freight or case law through which we can put pressure on our customer to arrange fresh forms with full value. Thank you in advance.

  7. S.A.K.AZAD says:

    Interstate Sales effected in 2014-2015. Tamil Nadu government declared assessment deemed to be finalised under TNVAT Act. In 2018-2019 assessing officer asked C forms but purchasers not giving C forms.Assessment order passed order. In these circumstances kindly suggest what can we do ?.

  8. umesh says:

    Dear Sir / Madam,

    We have Sale a material in 2017 June Month, it’s a CST Sale and that party has not accounted the same invoice as well they have not paid us the invoice amount
    due to failure of material result, So in this case what we will do as we are unable to provide the C Form against the same invoice

  9. radha says:

    I am downloading c forms but i have done mistake in
    quantity entry..i have to entered total quantity of all bills but i have entered single bill quantity and website showing forms are downloaded 3 times and website not giving permission for redownlod so what should i do ?

  10. pravin says:

    this is regarding enquiry about c form.i upload the csv file but we are gating the Error PERIOD NOT SHOWN IN TO THE C FORM REQUEST so plz explan the procedure regarding the same

  11. Mool chand says:

    Sir good eveing
    Sir my question is regarding c form
    I have received c form from the party against some taxable sales and some exempted sales
    Now how can I show in GST Tran 1
    Please guide me

  12. Sunil Sawant says:

    Make debit note against C Form not received from Customer of Tax Difference pd for the period 2014-15 to government pl suggest make the debit note in GST

  13. vivekananda says:

    i have question that , we have dispatched material to our site on E1 transaction, but our vendor is telling that he will not give E1 form due to he have sales tax problem. how i can approach them legally to get E1 form

  14. KHAMAR ALKESH says:

    sir

    i am not mention bill detail in monthly vat return
    now party ask c form & i have not 403 copy.

    how can i issue c form for party

  15. Rajeev says:

    can ‘c’ form be issued for purchase of packing of material which is non taxable ?. This means if my company is selling seeds of plants which is an exempt commodity, then can i purchase packing material on C form ??

  16. Bandish says:

    We have purchased the material in March which was received at our warehouse in April, accordingly we have taken entry in our books in the month of April and have issued Form C accordingly.

    While issuing the Form C, the supplier is having an issue as the financial year changes. is there a way out of this.

  17. T S V Diwakar says:

    In the case of M/s Manganese ore (India) Ltd., Vs. CST MP (1991) TC (MP HC DB) clearly states that duplicate ‘C’ can also be filed for getting concessional rate of tax. Please cover this judgement also in your next write up.

  18. Sheela says:

    sir,
    we were requesting C Form from our vendor but there was no response from his side , now our assesment is completed and we have paid the the differential tax along with interest , now our vendor furnished the C form , can we go for the appeal for the resubmission or any other process or how we van recover money from vendor

  19. Anand Gajjar says:

    Dear Sir,

    Im selling goods outside Gujarat with CST(2%).
    Party issued me C Form with my Gujarat Tin Number & not with Gujarat CST Number.
    such C Forms are verified online on TINxys site.
    Please clarify such C Forms with Gujarat TIN Number are legally valid?

  20. dinesh says:

    if will issue a c form to any purchaser then how to deduct the goods returned credit note in c form .suppose
    purcahse april rs 100 goods returned in month may rs 10 then the c form value is ?

    100-10=90 or

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