Article explains Amendment Proposed vide Union Budget 2021 in CGST Act, 2017 and IGST Act, 2017 which included Abolition of GST Audit Levy of GST on Net Interest etc.
I. AMENDMENTS IN THE CGST ACT, 2017:
1. A new clause (aa) in sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the CGST Act is being inserted, retrospectively with effect from the 1st July, 2017, so as to ensure levy of tax on activities or transactions involving supply of goods or services by any person, other than an individual, to its members or constituents or vice-versa, for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration. [Clause 99]
Clause 99 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 7 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, with retrospective effect from the 1st July, 2017, by inserting a new clause (aa) in sub-section (1) thereof, so as to ensure levy of tax on activities or transactions involving supply of goods or services by any person, other than an individual, to its members or constituents or vice-versa, for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration.
It is also proposed to insert an Explanation therein, to clarify that the person or its members or constituents shall be deemed to be two separate persons and the supply of activities or transactions inter se shall be deemed to take place from one person to another.
2. A new clause (aa) to sub-section (2) of the section 16 of the CGST Act is being inserted to provide that input tax credit on invoice or debit note may be availed only when the details of such invoice or debit note have been furnished by the supplier in the statement of outward supplies and such details have been communicated to the recipient of such invoice or debit note. [Clause 100]
Clause 100 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 16 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act by inserting a new clause (aa) in sub-section (2) thereof, so as to provide that input tax credit on invoice or debit note may be availed only when the details of such invoice or debit note has been furnished by the supplier in the statement of outward supplies and such details have been communicated to the recipient of such invoice or debit note.
3. Sub-section (5) of section 35 of the CGST Act is being omitted so as to remove the mandatory requirement of getting annual accounts audited and reconciliation statement submitted by specified professional. [Clause 101]
Clause 101 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to omit sub-section (5) of section 35 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to remove the mandatory requirement of getting annual accounts audited and the reconciliation statement submitted by specified professional.
4. Section 44 of the CGST Act is being substituted so as to remove the mandatory requirement of furnishing a reconciliation statement duly audited by specified professional and to provide for filing of the annual return on self-certification basis. It further provides for the Commissioner to exempt a class of taxpayers from the requirement of filing the annual return. [Clause 102]
Clause 102 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to substitute a new section for section 44 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to remove the mandatory requirement of furnishing a reconciliation statement duly audited by specified professional and to provide for filing of the annual return on self-certification basis. It further empowers the Commissioner to exempt a class of taxpayers from the requirement of filing the annual return.
5. Section 50 of the CGST Act is being amended, retrospectively, to substitute the proviso to sub-section (1) so as to charge interest on net cash liability with effect from the 1st July, 2017. [Clause 103]
Clause 103 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 50 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act to substitute the proviso to sub-section (1) so as to charge interest on net cash liability retrospectively with effect from the 1st July, 2017.
6. Section 74 of the CGST Act is being amended so as make seizure and confiscation of goods and conveyances in transit a separate proceeding from recovery of tax. [Clause 104].
Clause 104 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 74 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to make seizure and confiscation of goods and conveyances in transit a separate proceeding from the recovery of tax.
7. An explanation to sub-section (12) of section 75 of the CGST Act is being inserted to clarify that “self-assessed tax” shall include the tax payable in respect of outward supplies, the details of which have been furnished under section 37, but not included in the return furnished under section 39. [Clause 105]
Clause 105 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 75 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to insert an Explanation in sub-section (12) to clarify that “self-assessed tax” shall include the tax payable in respect of details of outward supplies furnished under section 37, but not included in the return furnished under section 39.
8. Section 83 of the CGST Act is being amended so as to provide that provisional attachment shall remain valid for the entire period starting from the initiation of any proceeding under Chapter XII, Chapter XIV or Chapter XV till the expiry of a period of one year from the date of order made thereunder. [Clause 106]
Clause 106 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to substitute sub-section (1) of section 83 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to provide that provisional attachment shall remain valid for the entire period starting from the initiation of any proceeding under Chapter XII, Chapter XIV or Chapter XV till the expiry of a period of one year from the date of order made thereunder.
9. A proviso to sub-section (6) of section 107 of the CGST Act is being inserted to provide that no appeal shall be filed against an order made under sub-section (3) of section 129, unless a sum equal to twenty-five per cent. of penalty has been paid by the appellant. [Clause 107]
Clause 107 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to insert a new proviso in sub-section (6) of section 107 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to provide that no appeal shall be filed against an order made under sub-section (3) of section 129, unless a sum equal to twenty-five per cent. of the penalty has been paid by the appellant.
10. Section 129 of the CGST Act is being amended to delink the proceedings under that section relating to detention, seizure and release of goods and conveyances in transit, from the proceedings under section 130 relating to confiscation of goods or conveyances and levy of penalty. [Clause 108]
Clause 108 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 129 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to delink the proceedings under that section relating to detention, seizure and release of goods and conveyances in transit, from the proceedings under section 130 relating to confiscation of goods or conveyances and levy of penalty.
11. Section 130 of the CGST Act is being amended to delink the proceedings under that section relating to confiscation of goods or conveyances and levy of penalty from the proceedings under section 129 relating to detention, seizure and release of goods and conveyances in transit. [Clause 109]
Clause 109 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 130 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, so as to delink the proceedings under that section relating to confiscation of goods or conveyances and levy of penalty from the proceedings under section 129 relating to detention, seizure and release of goods and conveyances in transit.
12. Section 151 of the CGST Act is being substituted to empower the jurisdictional commissioner to call for information from any person relating to any matter dealt with in connection with the Act. [Clause 110]
Clause 110 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to substitute section 151 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to empower the jurisdictional commissioner to call for information from any person relating to any matters dealt with in connection with the Act.
13. Section 152 of the CGST Act is being amended so as to provide that no information obtained under sections 150 and 151 shall be used for the purposes of any proceedings under the Act without giving an opportunity of being heard to the person concerned. [Clause 111]
Clause 111 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend sub-section (1) of section 152 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to provide that no information obtained under sections 150 and 151 shall be used for the purposes of any proceedings under the Act without giving an opportunity of being heard to the person concerned.
14. Section 168 of the CGST Act is being amended to enable the jurisdictional commissioner to exercise powers under section 151 to call for information. [Clause 112]
Clause 112 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 168 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act so as to enable the jurisdictional commissioner to exercise powers under section 151 to call for information.
15. Consequent to the amendment in section 7 of the CGST Act paragraph 7 of Schedule II to the CGST Act is being omitted retrospectively, with effect from the 1st July, 2017. [Clause 113]
Clause 113 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to omit paragraph 7 of Schedule II to the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, with retrospective effect from the 1st day of July, 2017, consequent to the amendments made in section 7.
II. AMENDMENTS IN THE IGST ACT, 2017:
1. Section 16 of the IGST Act is being amended so as to:
(i) zero rate the supply of goods or services to a Special Economic Zone developer or a Special Economic Zone unit only when the said supply is for authorised operations;
(ii) restrict the zero-rated supply on payment of integrated tax only to a notified class of taxpayers or notified supplies of goods or services; and
(iii) link the foreign exchange remittance in case of export of goods with refund. [Clause 114]
Clause 114 of the Finance Bill 2021 seeks to amend section 16 of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 so as to make provisions for restricting the zero rated supply on payment of integrated tax only to specified class of taxpayers or specified supplies of goods or services. It further provides to link the foreign exchange remittance in case of export of goods with refund and further restricting zero rating of supplies made to special economic zone only when such supplies are for authorised operations.
Note:
(a) CGST Act, 2017 means Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
(b) IGST Act, 2017 means Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
Amendments carried out in the Finance Bill, 2021 will come into effect from the date when the same will be notified, as far as possible, concurrently with the corresponding amendments to the similar Acts passed by the States and Union territories with Legislature.
