Services Provided by Tour operators & Travel agents – A GST Perspective

Brief Background

Tour Operator (hereinafter referred as Service Provider) provides services to the ultimate consumers (Recipient) through various counterparts such as the Airline companies, local taxi operators, hotel, embassy issuing visas and many other services. The major sources of Income for Tour Operators are:

1. Domestic/ International Hotel Bookings

2. Air Ticket & Commission from Airlines Companies

3. Sale Tour Packages

4. Travel Related Services like Visa, Passport, etc.

5. Railway Reservations

6. Car Rental Services, Travel Insurance

With reference to the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Act, 2017 (“CGST”) and Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (“IGST”) services made by travel agents are analyzed through the consequent framework:

Definitions

“Tour agents” or “Tour operator” means any person engaged in the business of planning, scheduling, organizing, arranging tours (which may include arrangements for accommodation, sight-seeing or other similar services) by any mode of transport and includes any person engaged in the business of operating tours”.

– Based on the Entry No. 23 of Notification No. 11/2017 – Central Tax (Rate)

An Overview

Service Accounting Code (SAC) for tour operators and travel agents is 9985 IGST will apply when supplier is in one state and the place of supply of service is in another state

1. Domestic/International Hotel Bookings:

A. In case of domestic hotel booking Tour, operator is acting as an intermediary for the purpose of booking tours and hence Place of supply will be the Location of Hotel.

B. In the case of international booking Place of supply shall be location of agent.

Place of supply:

> When Agent receives commission from Hotel/ Cruise:

• • If hotel/cruise is located in India then POS of the agent will be the location of hotel/cruise.
  • If hotel/cruise is located outside India then POS of the agent will be the location of agent.

Location of Agent	Location of Hotel/Cruise	Place of supply of Travel Agent	Tax to be charged
Chennai	Delhi	Delhi	IGST
Chennai	Bangalore	Bangalore	IGST
Chennai	London	Chennai	CGST+IGST

> When Agent receives commission from the recipient:

• • If recipient is registered then the place of supply of the agent will be the location of the recipient.
  • If recipient is unregistered then the place of supply of the agent will be the location of Hotel/Cruise.

Location of the Agent	Recipients’ Regist-ration Status	Location of the recipient	Location of the hotel/ cruise	Place of Supply for the agent	Tax to be charged
Chennai	REG	Mumbai	Delhi	Mumbai	IGST
Chennai	REG	Delhi	Gujarat	Delhi	IGST
Chennai	REG	Kolkata	Thailand	Kolkata	IGST
Chennai	UNREG	Singapore	Pune	Pune	IGST

2. Air Ticket & Commission from Airlines Companies

A. Air travel agents are required to pay 18% GST on commission earned from airlines and also service charges, handling charges etc. (by whatever name called) collected from the customers/ passengers.

B. Air travel agents can avail ITC on input services to support the output services of travel agents.

C. As an alternative to GST payment in the above manner, rule 32 (3) of CGST rules, 2017 permits an air travel agent to discharge GST at fixed percentage of basic fare on which commission is normally paid by the airlines to the agent

Place of supply of service:

> In case travel agent receives processing fees/ service charges from passengers place of supply of Air travel agent Location of recipient weather or not the recipient is registered or not.

Location of the air travel agent	Recipient (whether registered or not)	Location of the recipient	Place of supply of Air travel agent	Tax to be charged
Chennai	REG	Delhi	Delhi	IGST
Chennai	REG	Gujarat	Gujarat	IGST
Chennai	UNREG	Pune	Pune	IGST
Chennai	UNREG	–	Chennai	CGST+SGST

> In case travel agent receives commission from airlines place of supply of Air travel agent Location of airlines.

Location of air travel agent	Location of the airlines	POS for air travel agent	Tax to be charged
Chennai	Delhi	Delhi	IGST
Chennai	Mumbai	Mumbai	IGST
Chennai	London	Chennai	CGST+SGST

3. Sale of Tour Packages 

A. Both Service provider and Recipient in India:

 B. Either of them outside India:

1. Tours organized by the tour operator, within India for the tourist coming from abroad is generally known as inbound tours.

2. Tours organised by the tour operators, outside India for the tourist going abroad is generally known as outbound tours.

4. Travel Related Services like VISA, Passport, etc.

A. VISA processing charges charged by visa statutory authorities will be exempt from GST.

B. If visa/ passport is obtained from Visa Facilitation Centers (VFCs) then the same shall be liable to tax.

C. However, when Air travel agent provides these services to their clients after adding further fees, he shall be liable to pay tax on them as well he can take ITC of the tax paid to VFC.

D. GST will be applicable at 18% for the services provided by Air travel agent.

5. Railway Reservations

A. Rail travel agent are required to pay 18% GST on service charges collected from passengers.

B. SAC for Rail travel agent is 9967.

6. Car Rental Services

GST applicable for renting motor vehicle shall be at 5% without ITC or at 12% with ITC.