Service Tax Refund FAQ
Can any adjustment of tax liability be made by an assessee on his own, in cases when Service Tax has been paid in excess?
- Yes. Where an assessee has issued an invoice, or received any payment, against a service to be provided which is not so provided by him either wholly or partially for any reason (or when the invoice amount is renegotiated due to deficient provision of service, or any terms contained in a contract) the assessee may take the credit of such excess service tax paid by him, if the assesse has refunded the payment or part received fr the service provided or has issued a credit note for the value of the service not so provided to the person to whom an invoice had been issued. (Rule 6(3) of the STR, 1994).
- Further, assesses having centralised registration who paid excess amount of Service Tax, on account of non-receipt of details regarding the receipt of gross amount for the services at his other premises or offices, may adjust such excess amount against the Service Tax liability for the subsequent period and furnish the details of such adjustment to the Jurisdictional Superintendent of Central Excise/Service Tax within 15 days from the date of such adjustment (Rule 6(4A) of the STR, 1994).
- In all other cases of excess payment, refund claims have to be filed with the Department. The refund claims would be dealt as per the provisions of Section 11B of the Central Excise Act, 1944, which is made applicable to Service Tax vide Section 83 of the Finance Act 1994.
- It is important to note that any amount of Service Tax paid in excess of the actual liability, is refundable, only if it is proved that the claimant of refund had already refunded such amount to the person from whom it was received or had not collected at all (Section 11 B of the Central Excise Act, 1944 which is applicable to Service Tax matters under Section 83 of the Act).
What is the procedure for claiming refund?
- Application in the prescribed form (Form - R) is to be filed in triplicate with the jurisdictional Asst./Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise/Service Tax.
- The application should be filed within one year from the relevant date as prescribed in Section 11B of the Central Excise Act, 1944 which has been made applicable to Service Tax refund matters also.
- Application should be accompanied by documentary evidence to the effect that the amount claimed as refund is the amount actually paid by him in excess of the Service Tax due and the incidence of such tax claimed as refund has not been passed on to any other person.
What is relevant date for calculation of limitation period in respect of filing refund claims relating to Service Tax?
The "relevant date" for the purpose of refund as per section 11B of the Central Excise Act, 1944 which is applicable to Service Tax also, is the date of payment of Service Tax. Thus, the limitation period of one year is to be calculated from the date of payment of the Service Tax.
Is there any provision for interest for delayed payment of refunds?
If any duty/tax ordered to be refunded under section 11B(2) of Central Excise Act, 1944, to any applicant is not refunded within three months from the date of receipt of application, interest at the applicable rate shall be paid, subject to conditions laid down under section 11BB of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
Also where an amount deposited by an appellant in pursuance of an order passed by the Commissioner (Appeals) or the Appellate Tribunal, under the first proviso to section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944, is required to be refunded consequent upon the order of the appellate authority and such amount is not refunded within three months from the date of communication of such order to the adjudicating authority unless the operation of the order of appellate authority is stayed by a superior court or tribunal, interest shall be paid at the applicable rate after the expiry of three months, under the provisions made in section 35FF of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
Provisions of Sections 11B, 11BB, 35F and 35FF of the Central Excise Act, 1944 are made applicable to Service Tax vide section 83 of the Finance Act, 1994.
To claim the refund arising out of service tax paid under section 66A, no proforma is prescribed in the notification; how to claim it?
In the notification, there is no difference in treatment of service tax paid under section 66 and section 66A of Finance Act, 1994. Where refund arises, Table A, in Form A-2 can be used for making a refund claim.
Meaning of the expression who does not own or carry on any business other than operations in the SEZ appearing in paragraph 2(a)(iii) of the notification, which creates a difference between standalone and non standalone SEZ Unit/developer, may be clarified?
The expression refers to an entity which is carrying out business operations in SEZ and also DTA. Merely having an office in the DTA for purpose of liaison/business promotion, does not restrict a SEZ Unit from availing benefit extended to a standalone unit.
Whether Approval by UAC is necessary, to claim benefit under the Notification?
Yes. Unit Approval Committee (UC) of the SEZ determines goods and services required for the authorised operations of a Unit/Developer, under the SEZ law. Hence approval of the UAC is necessary for availing the notification benefit, on the taxable services.
(i) Does condition (c) prescribed in paragraph 2 of the notification, 17/2011-ST dated 01. 03. 2011, restrict the non-standalone Units/Developers, from availing upfront exemption for wholly consumed services, which fall under category (i) and (ii) of para 2(a) of the notification?
(ii) For whom and for what purpose, Declaration in A-1 is required?
In respect of category (i) and (ii) services listed in paragraph 2(a), upfront exemption is made available to all SEZ Units/Developers, who fulfill the conditions of notification; only in the case of category (iii), difference is created between standalone and non-standalone SEZ Units/Developers.
Declaration in Form A-1 is required to be produced, to a service provider, to claim upfront exemption (after striking out the inapplicable portion). This is a one-time Declaration. Original Declaration can be retained with the SEZ Unit/Developer for business record or for production to the jurisdictional Central Excise/Service Tax authorities, if need be, for any verification; a copy has to be retained by SEZ Specified Officer; self-attested photocopies of the Declaration can be submitted to service provider to avail upfront exemption, subject to fulfillment of other conditions mentioned in the notification.
Meaning of the expression "total turnover " found in the paragraph 2(d) of the notification 17/2011 is not clear: whether it refers to turnover of SEZ Unit or the entity (including DTA and SEZ Unit). This may be clarified?
Total turnover includes turnover of DTA Unit and also export turnover of SEZ Unit. This is the way to calculate proportionate refund. Table-C in Form A-2, illustrates this aspect.
A Developer may not have export turnover; therefore, he cannot get refund of service tax based on the formula provided for shared services in paragraph 2(d) of the notification 17/2011: therefore, it may be explained how a Developer can claim exemption under this notification?Generally, SEZ Developers will be using category (i) services listed in paragraph 2(a), relating to immovable property located within SEZ; upfront exemption is available for these services, and category (ii) services, irrespective of whether the Developer is standalone or not. As another option, refund route is also available. In the case of category (iii) services if Developer is standalone, upfront exemption is available. If Developer is not standalone, on service tax paid on category (iii) services, which are exclusively used for the authorised operations in SEZ, he can avail exemption through refund route.
Whether proportionate amount of service tax paid on shared services that have not been refunded after applying the formula, shall be available to the DTA Units of the entity as cenvat credit?
Yes. Available
Whether consolidated refund claim under 17/2011-ST can be filed by an entity having more than one SEZ unit and a centralized service tax registration.?
If an entity is having multiple SEZ Units with a centralized service tax registration, consolidated refund claim can be filed, provided separate accounts are maintained for receipt and use of services for the authorised operations in SEZ Unit.
Whether certified copies of invoices can be used for claiming refund, if originals are needed for other statutory purpose; Whether on the basis of single invoice, one can claim proportionate refund for SEZ Unit and balance as cenvat credit?
In terms of the notification, original invoices are needed for claiming refund; after receiving the refund, originals can be taken back on submission of copies certified by Chartered Accountant. On a single invoice, if proportionate refund (by SEZ Unit) and cenvat credit (by DTA Unit) needs to be obtained, then also similar system shall be followed.
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