GST Act was first introduced in India w.e.f. 01st July, 2017 for the purpose of uniform indirect tax mechanism all over India. Main purpose of Goods and Service Tax, 2017 is “One Nation One Tax”. From the very first day there is controversy that “whether interest on delayed payments of GST need to pay on Gross Tax Liability or Net Tax Liability i.e. Liability paid through cash ledger”.
The taxpayers contended that interest on delayed payment of GST should be levied on the net tax payable i.e. amount debited from electronic Cash Ledger whereas the department contended that interest should be levied on the gross amount of tax payable. A number of litigations came over the legal domain on this issue and many are still pending. However, this controversy has now been settled after the much awaited Notification No. 63/2020- Central tax dated 25th August, 2020 by CBIC.
The Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs (CBIC) has notified the Proviso to Section 50(1) of CGST Act, 2017 vide Notification No. 63/2020- Central tax dated 25th August, 2020.
Text of Notification No. 63/2020- Central tax dated 25th August, 2020 is as follows:-
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)
New Delhi
Notification No. 63/2020–Central Tax
Dated: 25th August, 2020
G.S.R. 527(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (23 of 2019), the Central Government hereby appoints the 1st day of September, 2020, as the date on which the provisions of section 100 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (23 of 2019), shall come into force.
[F. No. 20/06/09/2019-GST]
PRAMOD KUMAR, Director
Provisions of section 100 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (23 of 2019):-
Through this provision Section 50 of CGST Act, 2017 was amended by inserting the proviso to section 50(1) of CGST Act, 2017 from the date on which government notify in this regard. Section 50 of CGST Act,2017 talks about in case of late payment of GST the Interest is charged on gross amount instead of net amount. Now the government has notified vide Notification No. 63/2020- Central tax dated 25th August, 2020 that with effect from 01st September, 2020 interest will be charged on the net tax liability i.e. tax paid through debiting the electronic cash ledger.
Extract of Provision to Section 50(1) as inserted vide section 100 of Finance (No. 2) Act, 2019 (23 of 2019) and as notified by CBIC with effect from 1st day of September, 2020 vide Notification No. 63/2020-Central Tax, dated 25th August, 2020–
Amendment of section 50
100. In section 50 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, in sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely :––
“Provided that the interest on tax payable in respect of supplies made during a tax period and declared in the return for the said period furnished after the due date in accordance with the provisions of section 39, except where such return is furnished after commencement of any proceedings under section 73 or section 74 in respect of the said period, shall be levied on that portion of the tax that is paid by debiting the electronic cash ledger.”
Press Release of CBIC after 39th Meeting of GST Council dated 14th March 2020:-
- Press Release of 39th Meeting of GST Council stated that “Interest for delay in payment of GST to be charged on the net tax liability w.e.f. 01-07-2017” i.e. retrospective effect. But now the Government notified the provision form prospective effect i.e. 01st September, 2020 which is against the decision of GST Council.
- Further on 21st August, 2020 Hon’ble Orrisa High Court in the case of Prasanna Kumar Bisoi Vs Union of India directed GST department to dispose of the representation filed by the petitioner keeping in view the decision taken in the 39th meeting of GST Council, as expeditiously as possible.
- The Government should look in to the matter and provide the suitable clarifications.
Must Read- Interest on delayed payment of GST on net liability wef 01.07.2017: CBIC
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