Now MVAT on non-exclusive and conditional transfer of intangible goods to multiple users?

Hon’ble Supreme Court in its landmark decision in case of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited 2006 (2) STR 161 (SC) had observed that in order to attract levy under “transfer of right to use goods”, the transfer should be at the exclusion of the transferor and once the right to use the goods is transferred, the owner again cannot transfer the right to others.

However, Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Tata Sons Ltd. and Anr. Vs. The State of Maharashtra And Anr. pronounced on 20^th January, 2015 (Bom.), distinguished the remarks of Hon’ble Supreme Court in BSNL (Supra) and held that in absence of any such indication provided in the Act, non-exclusive and conditional transfer of right to use goods to multiple users, would also attract tax under the Transfer of Right to use goods for any purpose Act, 1985.

Accordingly, recently, on 13^th July, 2015, Maharashtra Government has come out with a Trade Circular No. 11T of 2015, clarifying that recent decision of Bombay High Court is comprehensive and it is now well-settled that VAT can be levied on transfer of right to use goods of intangible nature even if it is transferred to multiple users.

(Author is Director of GSC Intime Services Pvt. Ltd. And can be reached at Email: info@gscintime.com , Tel: +91 22 2684 0208, Website: www.gscintime.com)

Click here to Read Other Articles of CA Jayesh Gogri