Service Tax Refund Denied as Total Turnover Exceeded ₹10 Lakh Threshold

Jal Mahal Resorts Pvt. Ltd. Vs Principal Commissioner (CESTAT Delhi)

The appeal concerned rejection of a refund claim of ₹95,01,092 filed by the appellant for service tax paid on legal consultancy services under the reverse charge mechanism. The appellant, a private limited company registered under the Finance Act, 1994, had initially discharged service tax liability on legal services and availed CENVAT credit. Upon audit, it was observed that such tax payment and credit availment were not required, leading the appellant to reverse the credit and subsequently seek a refund. While an earlier refund claim for a smaller amount had been initially sanctioned, it was later rejected by appellate authorities and upheld by the Tribunal. The present appeal challenged rejection of a larger refund claim and denial of exemption under Notification no. 25/2012 – Service Tax dated 20th June, 2012.

The appellant argued that it qualified for exemption under the notification applicable to legal services provided by advocates to business entities with turnover not exceeding ₹10 lakhs in the preceding financial year. It contended that “turnover” was not defined under the Finance Act, 1994, and therefore should not include non-taxable income such as interest or other receipts. The appellant also argued that the definition of turnover under the Companies Act, 2013 could not be imported into service tax law. Further, it claimed that since the tax was paid erroneously, refund should not be barred by limitation, and that it had reversed the CENVAT credit before filing the refund claim. It also contended that due to transition to GST, credit could not be re-availed, making refund the only available remedy.