Frequently Asked Questions related to Insurance Sector Related on Goods & Services Tax (GST) released by CBIC (Updated as on 27.12.2018)
Q.1 What is the location of the supplier of service for fund management charges in ULIP policies?
Ans: The fund management charges are charges towards managing and administering the fund. These funds are managed by the Fund Management team. The location of the supplier of service for fund management charges shall be the location / office which manages the fund.
Q.2 Whether commission paid to insurance agents shall be construed as supplies received under Section 9(3) of CGST Act, 2017? If yes, whether the Life Insurance Company can raise a consolidated invoice for such commission payments?
Ans: Sr. No. 7 of notification No. 13/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated 28th June, 2017 as amended covers supplies received from Insurance Agents and provides for the Insurance Company to pay GST on such supplies under Section 9(3) of the CGST Act, 2017. In such cases, the insurance company may issue agent-wise consolidated invoice at the end of the month for the supply of services received during the month.
Q.3 Whether insurance policies issued to Non-Resident Indians, where the premium is paid through the Non- Resident External Bank account, will be ‘export of services’? Would the insurance premiums be taxable in cases where the same is not received in convertible foreign exchange or from the NRE Accounts?
Ans: No. The amounts paid from the Non-Resident External Accounts are paid in Indian Rupees and are not received in convertible foreign exchange. Therefore, the conditions for export of services as provided under section 2(6) of IGST Act, 2017 are not satisfied. Life Insurance services in such cases would be treated as inter-State supplies and subject to GST.
Q.4 Will the requirements of Letter of Undertaking or Bond be required to be complied with in the case of Life Insurance Premium where the conditions of export of services are satisfied before or at the time of supply of the Life Insurance Service?
Ans: Yes. As per Section 16(3) of the IGST Act, 2017, read with Rule 96A of the CGST Rules, 2017, an exporter is required to submit a Letter of Undertaking or Bond in case the export of service is made without payment of integrated tax.
Q.5 What would be the time of supply of life insurance services?
Ans: Insurance policies are contracts for indemnifying any loss suffered by the policyholder. The policyholder is required to pay a premium at the time of inception of the policy. Renewal premiums are required to be paid on periodical basis during the tenure of the policy. For renewal of the policies the policyholders are allowed grace period ranging from 15 days to 30 days in accordance with the IRDA (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests) Regulation, 2002.
The time of supply of life insurance services to the policy holders would be as under:-
(a) New Policy – At the time of issuance of the policy;
(b) Renewal of Policy – The time of issuance of renewal notice for insurance premium;
(c) Other charges including ULIP charges – At the time of levy or recovery of the charges from the policyholder.
Q.6 When service tax was paid on or before 30th June, 2017 for the services to be provided, but subsequently not provided, whether refund claim can be made under Section 142(5) of the CGST Act?
Ans: Section 142(5) of the CGST Act, 2017 specifically provides for refund of tax paid under the Finance Act, 1994 in respect of services not provided. The same shall be disposed off in accordance with the provisions of the Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1994.
Q.7 Can the input tax credit of Krishi Kalyan Cess be carried forward?
Ans: No. It is not permitted in terms of section 140(1) of the CGST Act, 2017 read with Rule 117(1) of the CGST Rules, 2017.
Q.8 In the case of group insurance policies, a Master Policy is issued; the beneficiaries of the Master Policy may be located in more than one State. In such cases, what will be the place of supply of services?
Ans: In the case of issuance of Master / Group Policy to a registered person where the premium charged is a single premium and not segregated based on the beneficiaries of the insurance policies, the place of supply for such policy will be the location of the registered person paying the premium.
Q.9 What is the time of supply of services for deposits and advances in cases of the recipient issuing a bank guarantee or making a deposit before assumption of risk and issuance of a policy?
Ans: As per the proviso to Section 2(31) of the CGST Act, 2017, a deposit given in respect of the supply of goods or services or both shall not be considered as payment made for such supply unless the supplier applies such deposit as consideration for the said supply. In case of advances, however, the time of supply is the time of receipt of advance as provided in section 13(2)(a) of the CGST Act, 2017.
Q.10 Whether ITC will be allowed on motor garage services used by insurance company for claim settlement?
Ans: Yes, ITC will be allowed on services of motor garage used by an insurance company for claim settlement.
Q.11 Whether the service provided by the re-insurance company to an insurer will be treated as a supply?
Ans: The service of re-insurance falls within the scope of supply, and is chargeable to GST.
Note: Reference to CGST Act, 2017 includes reference to SGST Act, 2017 and UTGST Act, 2017 also. Further reference to CGST Rules, 2017 includes reference to SGST Rules, 2017 / UTGST Rules, 2017 also.
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