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Whether persons other than assessee could also be prosecuted under the CGST Act, 2017

Yes. In terms of the Section 133 the following persons would be liable for prosecution for the offences specified below:

Persons liable for prosecution Nature of offence Prosecution
1.Person engaged in connection with the collection of statistics under section 151

2.Person engaged in compilation or computerisation thereof or if any officer of central tax having access to information specified under sub-section (1) of section 150,

3.If any person engaged in connection with the provision of service on the common portal or the agent of common portal,

 wilfully discloses any information or the contents of any return furnished under this Act or rules made thereunder otherwise than in execution of his duties under the said sections or for the purposes of prosecution for an offence under this Act or under any other Act for the time being in force, The guilty person shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees, or with both

(ICAI FAQ PUBLICATIONS 06-09-2017 Punishment for Certain Offences: FAQ NO. 30)

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Whether tax evaded under State GST Act or IGST Act would also be taken in to account for the purpose of the prosecution

Yes. In terms of explanation to Section 132 the term tax has been defined to include amount of tax evaded or the amount of input tax credit wrongly availed or utilised or refund wrongly taken under the provisions of this Act, the State Goods and Services Tax Act, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act or the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act and cess levied under the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act.

(ICAI FAQ PUBLICATIONS 06-09-2017 Punishment for Certain Offences: FAQ NO. 29)

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What are cognizable and non-cognizable offences

Cognizable and Non-bailable Non-cognizable`
Following offences which attract imprisonment which may extend to 5 years would be cognizable and non bailable in terms of Section 132(5):

1) Making a supply without issue of an invoice or grossly mis-declaring the description of the supply on invoice, in contravention of this Act, to intentionally evade tax ;

2) Issues any invoice or bill without supply in violation of the provisions of this Act/rules made thereunder leading to wrongful availment of credit or refund of tax

3) Avails input tax credit using such invoice or bill referred to above;

4) Collects any amount as tax but fails to pay the same to the credit of the Government beyond a period of three months from the date on which such payment becomes due;

 All other offences specified under Sec 132 apart from those mentioned as cognizable/non bailable shall be non-cognizable/ bailable in terms of Section 132(4)

(ICAI FAQ PUBLICATIONS 06-09-2017 Punishment for Certain Offences: FAQ NO. 27)

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What is the punishment prescribed on commission of offences which warrant prosecution

Offences Punishment
Tax evaded / Wrong availment or utilisation of input tax credit / Amount of Refund wrongly taken exceeding ` 500 lakh Five years imprisonment with Fine
Tax evaded / Wrong availment or utilisation of input tax credit / Amount of Refund wrongly taken exceeding ` 250 lakh but does not exceed ` 500 lakh Three years imprisonment with Fine
Tax evaded / Wrong availment or utilisation of input tax credit / Amount of Refund wrongly taken exceeding ` 250 lakh but does not exceed `100 lakh. One year imprisonment with Fine
Commits or abets in

· Falsification or substitution of financial records or producing fake accounts, documents or furnishes any false information with an intention to evade payment of tax;

· Obstruction or prevention any officer in the discharge of his duties

· Tampering with or destroying any material evidence or documents;

 Six months imprisonment or Fine or both

(ICAI FAQ PUBLICATIONS 06-09-2017 Punishment for Certain Offences: FAQ NO. 25)

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Which are the offences which warrant prosecution

Following are the offences which attract prosecution:
(a) Supply of goods or services or both without the cover of invoice with an intent to evade tax;
(b) If any person issues any invoice or bill without actual supply of goods or services or both leading to wrongful input tax credit or refund of tax;
(c) Any person who avails input tax credit using invoice referred in point (b) above;
(d) Collection of taxes without payment to the government for a period beyond 3 months of due date;
(e) Evasion of tax, availment of credit or obtaining refund with an intent of fraud where such offence is not covered in clause (a) to (d) above.
(f) Falsifying financial records or production of false records/ accounts/ documents/ information with an intent to evade tax;
(g) Obstructs or prevents any officer from doing his duties under the act;
(h) Acquires or transports or in any manner or deals with any goods which he knows or has reasons to believe are liable for confiscation under this Act or rules made there under;
(i) Receives or in any way, deals with any supply of services which he knows or has reason to believe are in contravention of any provisions of this law;
(j) Tampers with or destroys any material evidence or documents;
(k) Fails to supply any information which he is required to supply under this law or supply false information;
(l) Attempts or abets the commission of any of the offences mention above

(ICAI FAQ PUBLICATIONS 06-09-2017 Punishment for Certain Offences: FAQ NO. 24)

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Whether prosecution or other punishments could also be initiated along with confiscation or penalty

In terms of section 131 confiscation made or penalty imposed under the provisions of this Act or the rules made there under shall not prevent the infliction of any other punishment to which the person affected thereby is liable under the provisions of this Act or under any other law.

(ICAI FAQ PUBLICATIONS 06-09-2017 Confiscation of goods and/or conveyances and levy of penalty: FAQ NO. 23)