Will export of goods to Nepal and Bhutan treated as zero rated and thereby qualify for all the benefits available to zero rated supplies under the GST regime?

Export of goods to Nepal or Bhutan fulfils the condition of GST Law regarding taking goods out of India. Hence, export of goods to Nepal and Bhutan will be treated as zero rated and consequently will also qualify for all the benefits available to zero rated supplies under the GST regime. However, the definition of ‘export of services’ in the GST Law requires that the payment for such services should have been received by the supplier of services in convertible
foreign exchange.

(FAQ-8 : Exports)

How soon will refund in respect of export of goods or services be granted during the GST regime?

  1. In case of refund of tax on inputs used in exports:
    • Refund of 90% will be granted provisionally within seven days of acknowledgement of refund application.
    • Remaining 10% will be paid within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of receipt of application complete in all respects.
    • Interest @ 6% is payable if full refund is not granted within 60 days.
  2. In the case of refund of IGST paid on exports: Upon receipt of information regarding furnishing of valid return in Form GSTR-3 by the exporter from the common portal, the Customs shall process the claim for refund and an amount equal to the IGST paid in respect of each shipping bill shall be credited to the bank account of the exporter.

(FAQ-7 : Exports)

When a SEZ unit or SEZ developer procures any goods or services from an unregistered supplier, whether the SEZ unit or SEZ developer needs to pay IGST under reverse charge or these will be zero rated supplies?

Supplies to SEZ unit or SEZ developer have been accorded the status of inter-State supplies under the IGST Act. Under the GST Law, any supplier making inter-State supplies has to compulsorily get registered under GST. Thus anyone making a supply to a SEZ unit or SEZ developer has to necessarily
obtain GST registration.

(FAQ-6 : Exports)

The supplies to a SEZ unit or SEZ developer are treated as zero rated supplies in the GST Law. Then why there is no specific mention in the GST Law about not charging of tax in respect of supplies from DTA unit to a SEZ unit or SEZ developer?

Yes, supplies made to an SEZ unit or a SEZ developer are zero rated. The supplies made to an SEZ unit or a SEZ developer can be made in the same manner as supplies made for export:
• either on payment of IGST under claim of refund;
• or under bond or LUT without payment of any IGST.

(FAQ-5 : Exports)

Have the procedures relating to exports by manufacturer exporters been simplified in GST regime?

Yes. The procedures relating to export have been simplified so as to do away with the paper work and intervention of the department at various stages of export. The salient features of the scheme of export under GST regime are as follows:
• The goods and services can be exported either on payment of IGST which can be claimed as refund after the goods have been exported, or under bond or Letter of Undertaking (LUT) without payment of IGST.
• In case of goods and services exported under bond or LUT, the exporter can claim refund of accumulated ITC on account of export.
• In case of goods the shipping bill is the only document required to be filed with the Customs for making exports. Requirement of filing the ARE 1/ARE 2 has been done away with.

(FAQ-3 : Exports)

How are exports treated under the GST Law?

Under the GST Law, export of goods or services has been treated as:
• inter-State supply and covered under the IGST Act.
• ‘zero rated supply’ i.e. the goods or services exported shall be relieved of GST levied upon them either at the input stage or at the final product stage.

(FAQ-1 : EXPORTS)

 

Analysis of E WAY BILL RULES

 

1 E-Way Bill Rules notified vide Rule 138 through Notification 27/2017 dated 30-08-2017.

 

2 The date of implementation has not been spelt. And it shall be notified later.

 

3 Exemption from E Way Bill

E- Way Bill is not applicable to

Ø Movement of goods between two unregistered persons

Ø Where Consignment value of goods is lesser than Rs. 50,000. Consignment value shall include tax also (in the opinion of the author) [R.138(1)}

Ø Transportation of goods by a non motorized conveyance [Rule 138(14)(b)] [Motorized two wheeler, three wheeler not excluded]

Ø Postal baggages transported by Department of Posts [R.138(14)(a)]

Ø Goods for personal use [R.138(14)(a)]

Ø House hold effects [R.138(14)(a)]

Ø Jewellery and Jewellery articles, Precious or Semi Precious Stones,  under Chapter 71 [R.138(14)(a)]

Ø Corals [R.138(14)(a)]

Ø  Currency [R.138(14)(a)]

Ø LPG for supply to Household and non domestic exempted category and Kerosene oil [R.138(14)(a)]

Ø Exempted Goods [R.138(14)(a)] like a) live animals (b) unfrozen meat, fish ( c) Fresh Milk, curd, lassi, (d) unbranded paneer, (e)fresh fruits, (f) vegetables, (g) Unbranded rice,flour etc., (h)  salt (i)  bread (j) plastic  and glass bangles, (k) firewood,( l) newspaper, books( m)  Mannnually operated or Animal driven agri implements, (n)puja samagri

 

Ø Transportation of goods from  port, airport, air cargo complex and land customs station to an inland container depot or a container freight station for clearance by Customs [R. 138(14)(c)]

 

 

Ø Movement of goods with in notified area. [R.138(14)(d)]

 

 

4

Exempted/Non GST Supplies not exempted from E Way Bill

Following items though exempted from GST have not been exempted form E-Way Bill Rules

Ø Prasadam supplied by religious places like temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, dargahs, etc.

Ø Electrical Energy

Ø Supply of Lottery that has already suffered tax in the hands of state , Union territory or local authority when supplied to distributor or selling agent

 

Following items though not leviable to GST have not been exempted from E-Way bill rules:

a)     Alcohlic liquor for human consumption

b)    Petroleum Products

 

5 Persons covered by E Way Bill

E-Way Bill Rules are applicable to a registered person who causes movement of goods. It means the E-Way Bill Rules are not applicable to:

Ø Unregistered Person

Ø Where no movement is involved.

 

Comments:

1.     As per Explanation 1 to Rule 138(3), where the goods are supplied by an unregistered supplier to a recipient who is registered, the movement shall be said to be caused by such recipient if the recipient is known at the time of commencement of the movement of goods.

 

2.     Further where supply takes place between two registered person and recipient undertakes to collect the goods from the supplier through his conveyance, it is the recipient and not the supplier who causes movement of goods and hence  E Way bill should be generated by recipient and not the supplier.

 

 

6 Quantum Limit

E- Way Bill Rules are applicable where consignment value exceeds Rs. 50,000/- .

 

7 Movements Covered by E-Way Bills

E- Way Bill is applicable for movement of goods:

i)       In relation to Supply

ii)     For reasons other than supply

iii)   Due to Inward Supply from Unregistered Person

 

 

Hence E-Way bill is applicable to movement caused by registered person  of consignment value exceeding Rs. 50,000 through motorized conveyance for

Ø Movement of goods between branches of same concern.

Ø Movement of  goods for Job Work

Ø Goods Sent for Repair and sent back

Ø Purchase Return

Ø Sale on approval basis

Ø Door to door movement

 

8 Exemption for Movements with transporter up to 10 Kms

v As per 3rd Proviso to Rule 138(3) Where the goods are transported

a)     for a distance of less than ten kilometres

b)     within the State or Union territory

c)     from the place of business of the consignor to the place of business of the transporter for further transportation

the supplier or transporter may not furnish vehicle number

 

v As per proviso to R. 138(5), where the goods are transported for a distance of less than ten kilometres within the State or Union territory from the place of business of the transporter finally to the place of business of the consignee, the details of conveyance may not be updated in the e-way bill

 

Comments:

It means that there is no exemption from providing vehicle details where:

a)     Place of business of  transporter is more than 10Kms away from consignor or consignee

b)    Place of business of transporter is in some other state or union territory e.g. in case of

i)                    Chd, Mohali, Panchkula or

ii)                  Gurgaon, Delhi, Noida

Ø If goods do not finally reach the consignee’s place of business, there is no exemption from providing conveyance details.

9 Furnishing of Information for E- Way Bill

 

Following information in Part A of E- Way Bills to be compulsorily furnished before commencement of movement of goods :

 

A.1 GSTIN of Recipient

 

A.2 Place of Delivery (PIN Code of place of delivery)

 

A.3 Invoice or Challan Number

 

A.4 Invoice or Challan Date

 

A.5 Value of Goods

 

A.6 HSN Code

 

A.7 Reason for Transportation (Supply,  Export or Import,  Job Work,  SKD or CKD ,  Recipient not known ,   Line Sales ,  Sales Return ,  Exhibition or fairs ,   For own use , Others)

A.8 Transport Document Number (Transport Document number indicates Goods Receipt Number or Railway Receipt Number or Airway Bill Number or Bill of Lading Number)

10 Generation of E-Way Bill

1.     As per Rule 138(2), Where goods are transported by registered person as:

a)     consignor or

b)    the recipient of supply as the consignee

In

a)     His Own Conveyance

b)    Hired Conveyance [i.e. GTO]

c)     By railways

d)    By Air Any transporter transferring goods from one conveyance to another in the course of transit shall, before such transfer and further movement of goods, update the details of conveyance in the e-way bill on the common portal in FORM GST EWB-01 By Vessel

E- Way bill may be generated by consignor or above  recipient after furnishing Vehicle Number in Part B of EWB-01

 

2.     If due to vehicle number not being known to consignor or consignee, it is not generated by him  and as per Rule 138(3) goods are handed over to a transporter for transportation by road,

Ø the registered person shall furnish the information relating to the transporter in Part B of FORM GST EWB-01 on the common portal and

Ø the e-way bill shall be generated by the transporter on the said portal on the basis of the information furnished by the registered person in Part A of FORM GST EWB-01 (it should be Part A and Part B, in the opinion of the author)

3.     As per Explanation 2 to Rule 138(3), The information in Part A of FORM GST EWB-01 shall be furnished by the consignor or the recipient of the supply as consignee where the goods are transported by railways or by air or by vessel.

 

Comments: There is no requirement to generate E-Way bill in such cases

 

4.     As per Rule 138(4), Upon generation of the e-way bill on the common portal, a unique e-way bill number (EBN) shall be made available to the supplier, the recipient and the transporter on the common portal.

11 Updation of EWB in case of Transshipment

As per Rule 138(5),

Ø Any transporter transferring goods from one conveyance to another

Ø  in the course of transit

Ø  shall,

Ø before such transfer and further movement of goods,

Ø update the details of conveyance in the e-way bill on the common portal in FORM GST EWB-01

 

Comments: Since the movement of goods commences from the place of business of consignor, the goods can be said to be in course of transit even while they are lying at the store of transporter.

12 Transporter to generate Consolidated EWB for Multiple Consignments

 

1.             Optional Generation of Consolidated bill under R. 138(6)]

Ø After e-way bill has been generated in accordance with the provisions of sub-rule (1),

Ø Where multiple consignments are intended to be transported in one conveyance,

Ø the transporter may indicate the serial number of e-way bills generated in respect of each such consignment electronically on the common portal and

Ø a consolidated e-way bill in FORM GST EWB-02 maybe generated by him on the said common portal prior to the movement of goods

[Comments: E Way Bill is  generated under Rule 138(1), only where bill is consignment value is more than Rs. 50,000. Generation of Consolidated E- Way bill in such cases is optional]

 

2.     Compulsory Generation of E Way Bill under Rule 138(7)

Ø Where the consignor or the consignee has not generated FORM GST EWB-01 in accordance with the provisions of sub-rule (1) and

 

Ø  the value of goods carried in the conveyance is more than fifty thousand rupees,

 

Ø the transporter shall generate FORM GST EWB-01 on the basis of invoice or bill of supply or delivery challan, as the case may be, and

 

Ø may also generate a consolidated e-way bill in FORM GST EWB-02 on the common portal prior to the movement of goods

13 Optional filing of EWB

1.     As per Ist proviso to Rule 138(3) ,the registered person or, as the case may be, the transporter may, at his option, generate and carry the e-way bill even if the value of the consignment is less than fifty thousand rupees

2.     As per 2nd Proviso to Rule 138(3), Where the movement is caused by an unregistered person either in his own conveyance or a hired one or through a transporter, he or the transporter may, at their option, generate the e-way bill in FORM GST EWB-01 on the common portal in the manner specified in this rule:

 

As per Proviso to Rule 138(8), when the information has been furnished by an unregistered supplier in FORM GST EWB-01, he shall be informed electronically, if the mobile number or the email is available

 

Comments: Such Information shall be available where a person has applied for registration

14 Validity Period of E-Way Bill

As per Rule 138(10), read with explanation there to,

a)     For distance up to 100 Kms.,  EWB shall be valid for 24 hours from the time E-Way bill has been generated.

b)    For distance more than 100 Kms, EWB shall be valid for 48 hours from the time EWB was generated.

Ø For certain categories of goods, period of validity may be extended by Commissioner

Ø Under circumstances of an exceptional nature, the goods cannot be transported within the validity period of the e-way bill, the transporter may generate another e-way bill after updating the details in Part B of FORM GST EWB-01.

Comments: It means vehicle number may be changed

15 Auto Population

1.     As per Rule 138A(2), A registered person may obtain an Invoice Reference Number from the common portal by uploading, on the said portal, a tax invoice issued by him in FORM GST INV-1

2.     As per Rule 138A(3), Where the registered person uploads the invoice under sub-rule (2), the information in Part A of FORM GST EWB-01 shall be auto-populated by the common portal on the basis of the information furnished in FORM GST INV-1

3.     As per Rule 138(8), The information furnished in Part A of FORM GST EWB-01 shall be made available to the registered supplier on the common portal who may utilize the same for furnishing details in FORM GSTR-1

16 Cancellation of E-Way Bill [R. 138(9)]

Ø Where an e-way bill has been generated under this rule,

Ø but goods are either not transported or

Ø are not transported as per the details furnished in the e-way bill,

Ø  the e-way bill may be cancelled electronically on the common portal, either directly or through a Facilitation Centre notified by the Commissioner,

Ø  within 24 hours of generation of the e-way bill

 

Provided that an e-way bill cannot be cancelled if it has been verified in transit in accordance with the provisions of rule 138B.

17 Acceptance and Deemed Acceptance by Recipient

1.     As per Rule 138(10), The details of e-way bill generated under sub-rule (1) shall be made available to the recipient, if registered, on the common portal, who shall communicate his acceptance or rejection of the consignment covered by the e-way bill.

2.     As per R. 138(11), Where the recipient referred to in sub-rule (11) does not communicate his acceptance or rejection within seventy two hours of the details being made available to him on the common portal, it shall be deemed that he has accepted the said details.

18 The e-way bill generated under this rule or under rule 138 of the Goods and Services Tax Rules of any State shall be valid in every State and Union territory.[R. 138(13)]

 

Comments: It means that separate E-way need not be generated for passing through each state.

19 Documents to be carried by person in charge of conveyance [R. 138A]

 

As per R. 138A(1),  The person in charge of a conveyance shall carry—

(a) the invoice or bill of supply or delivery challan, as the case may be [or Invoice Reference Number in lieu of tax Invoice (valid for 30 days from date of uploading GST-INV-01]; and

 

(b) a copy of the e-way bill or the e-way bill number, either physically or mapped to a Radio Frequency Identification Device embedded on to the conveyance in such manner as may be notified by the Commissioner.

 

As per R. 138A(4) The Commissioner may, by notification, require a class of transporters to obtain a unique Radio Frequency Identification Device and get the said device embedded on to the conveyance and map the e-way bill to the Radio Frequency Identification Device prior to the movement of goods.

 

Documents in lieu of EWB in notified Cases [R. 138A(5)]

Ø Notwithstanding anything contained clause (b) of sub-rule (1),

Ø  where circumstances so warrant,

Ø  the Commissioner may, by notification,

Ø require the person-in-charge of the conveyance to carry the following documents instead of the e-way bill-

(a)  tax invoice or bill of supply or bill of entry; or

(b)  a delivery challan, where the goods are transported for reasons other than by way of supply

20 Verification of documents and conveyances [R. 138B]

 

Interception of Conveyanvce

(1) The Commissioner or an officer empowered by him in this behalf may authorise the proper officer to intercept any conveyance to verify the e-way bill or the e-way bill number in physical form for all inter-State and intraState movement of goods.

 

(2) The Commissioner shall get Radio Frequency Identification Device readers installed at places where the verification of movement of goods is required to be carried out and verification of movement of vehicles shall be done through such device readers where the eway bill has been mapped with the said device.

 

Physical Verification of Conveyance only by authorized or approved officer

(3) The physical verification of conveyances shall be carried out by the proper officer as authorised by the Commissioner or an officer empowered by him in this behalf:

 

Provided that on receipt of specific information on evasion of tax, physical verification of a specific conveyance can also be carried out by any officer after obtaining necessary approval of the Commissioner or an officer authorised by him in this behalf.

 

 

21 Report of Verification: Rue 138C

 

Ø A summary report of every inspection of goods in transit shall be recorded online by the proper officer in Part A of FORM GST EWB-03 within twenty four hours of inspection and

Ø  the final report in Part B of FORM GST EWB-03 shall be recorded within three days of such inspection

 

No Multiple Verifications

Ø Where the physical verification of goods being transported on any conveyance has been done during transit at one place within the State or in any other State,

Ø no further physical verification of the said conveyance shall be carried out again in the State,

Ø unless a specific information relating to evasion of tax is made available subsequently.

Continue reading “Analysis of E WAY BILL RULES”

For Condonation of Delay word “ sufficient cause” to be construed liberally

 

  1. Section 253(5) The Appellate Tribunal may admit an appeal or permit the filing of a memorandum of cross-objections after the expiry of the relevant period referred to in sub-section (3) or sub-section (4), if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause63for not presenting it within that period.
  2. Section 5 in The Limitation Act, 1963

5 Extension of prescribed period in certain cases. —Any appeal or any application, other than an application under any of the provisions of Order XXI of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), may be admitted after the prescribed period, if the appellant or the applicant satisfies the court that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal or making the application within such period.

Continue reading “For Condonation of Delay word “ sufficient cause” to be construed liberally”