Business cannot be treated transferred as going concern if liabilities not transferred

In re SCV Sky Vision (GST AAR Andhra Pradesh)

Whether Sl.No.2 of the Notification No. 12/2017–Central Tax (Rate) dated June 28^th, 2017 (‘Service Exemption Notification’) granting exemption to ‘Services by way of transfer of a going concern as a whole or an independent part thereof’ is applicable on the business transfer undertaken in the present instance?

it is noticed that the applicant’s Business as MSO sought to be sold is in functioning state and the transaction by virtue of the Business Transfer Agreement contemplates the sale of business to the purchaser, except any of the employees or liabilities and the purchaser intends to continue the same business.

The term ‘going concern’ is defined nowhere in the CGST Act. Hence, the term is taken in its common parlance as used in trade. The running business, when sold in its entirety or a branch of the business, it is considered a going concern in lock, stock and barrel.

Going concern is not included in the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) but included in the GAAS (Generally Accepted Auditing Standards). Accounting standards determine what a company disclose on its financial statements if there are doubts about it’s ability to continue as a going concern. Conditions that lead to substantial doubt about going concern include the following like negative trends in operating results, continuous losses from one period to next, loan defaults, lawsuit against a company, and denial of credit by suppliers. Moreover, transfer of a going concern means transfer of a running business which is capable of being carried on by the purchaser as an independent business. Such transfer of business as a whole will comprise comprehensive transfer of immovable property, goods and transfer of unexecuted orders, employees, goodwill etc.,

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