Month: February 2025

IGST availed as CGST and SGST – Order demanding Penalty and Interest, Set Aside

Citation:

Maruthengal Moideen vs. State Tax Officer

High Court of Kerala

[2025] 171 taxmann.com 215 (Kerala)[13-01-2025]

A similar decision was given in the case of Kalleppuram Metals vs. Union of India, summarized as below (Click to Visit):

Claiming IGST as CGST/SGST does not attract Penalty and Interest – Order remanded back for reconsideration

Findings of the Court:

Relying upon the decision in the case of Rejimon Padickapparambil Alex v. Union of India and others 2024 KHC Online 7215 (Summarized in the above Kalleppuram Metals Case), it was observed that:

  1. “Electronic credit ledger has to be treated as a pool of funds, designated for different types of taxes such as IGST, CGST and SGST. The credit ledger represents a wallet with different compartments of funds“.
  2. Since the petitioner had availed credit under the CGST and SGST instead of IGST and utilised the same for payment of GST, the benefit of the decision in Rejimon Padickapparambil’s case is applicable to the petitioner.

Held:

  1. The Impugned Orders to the extent of demanding Interest and Penalty are set aside.
  2. Department is directed to reconsider the matter afresh, bearing in mind the decision in Rejimon Padickapparambil’s case.

No Difference in Taxes as per the Portal – Application for Rectification allowed to be made

Citation:

AAA Impex vs. Commissioner of State GST and VAT, Department of Trade and Taxes

High Court of Delhi

[2025] 171 taxmann.com 144 (Delhi)[15-01-2025]

Facts of the Case:

  1. An Order u/s. 73 dated 18/08/24 was issued demanding tax, stating to be based on failure to reconcile the returns submitted.
  2. Petitioner submitted that no notice was served on them before the Order and the notice might have been placed in the “Additional Notice and Orders” Tab.
  3. Petitioner further submits that perusal of the GST Portal itself would prove that there is no difference in either CGST, SGST or IGST.
  4. Department submits that the same was placed under “Notice and Orders” Tab, afte rectification of Portal.

Held that:

  1. Considering the facts and submissions, the Petitioner is allowed to make an application for rectification, stating the details submitted herein and
  2. The department is suggested to examine the the same and if found correct, it is suggested to take appropriate action.

Relevant Provisions – Section 161 – Application for Rectification:

Below Link contains a summary and Text of Section 161.

Section 161 – Rectification of Error Apparent on the Face of the Record

Claiming IGST as CGST/SGST does not attract Penalty and Interest – Order remanded back for reconsideration

Citation:

Kalleppuram Metals vs. Union of India

High Court of Kerala

[2025] 171 taxmann.com 32 (Kerala)[09-12-2024]

Facts of the Case:

  1. Appellate Authority has confirmed the Order passed confirming penalty and interest on cross availment of ITC.
  2. For the FY 2017-18, it was alleged that the petitioner has availed CGST and SGST credits wrongly, which were actually IGST Credits. A demand of Rs.14,57,108/- along with interest of Rs.12,03,691/- and a penalty of Rs.1,45,710/- was imposed under Section 73(1) of the GST Act vide the impugned Order by the Adjudicating Authority. On an Appeal, the same were confirmed by the appellate Authority.
  3. It was observed that in a recent judgment of this Court in Rejimon Padickapparambil Alex v. Union of India [2024 KHC Online 7215], on an almost similar situation, the ITC available in the electronic credit ledger should be considered as a pool of funds designated for different types of taxes, such as IGST, CGST and SGST. It was further observed that the said credit ledger represents a wallet with compartments for IGST, CGST and SGST funds and the entire wallet has to be taken into consideration, instead of individual compartments.

Findings of the Court:

  1. It was concluded that Section 73 of the GST Act is attracted only when tax has not been paid or when there is a short payment or when any amount has been erroneously refunded, or where any input tax has been wrongly availed or utilised for any reason.
  2. It cannot be said that there is any wrongful availment of ITC, since the GST system treats Credit Ledger as a unified source, and there cannot be any loss of revenue.
  3. The mistake commited by the petitioner was at the most a technical one.

Held that:

  1. The Impugned Order to the extent of imposing penalty and interest, is set aside.
  2. The department is directed to reconsider the appeal in the light of the above mentioned case.

Period of Three Months u/s. 73(2) is mandatory and not directory – SCN is quashed

Citation:

Cotton Corporation of India vs. Assistant Commissioner (ST) (Audit) (FAC) [

High Court of Andhra Pradesh

2025] 171 taxmann.com 326 (Andhra Pradesh)[05-02-2025]

Facts of the Case:

  1. Show Cause Notice dated 30th November 2024 was issued u/s. 73(1) read with Rule 142 for AY 2020-21 was received demanding why assessment should not be carried out for short payment of tax.

Petitioners have submitted that:

  1. As per Section 73(10), Order needs to be issued within 3 years from the due date for Annual Return for the FY.
  2. As per Section 73(2), SCN under Section 73(1) needs to be issued at least 3 months prior to the date of the Order u/s. 73(10).
  3. As per Rule 81A of CGST Rules, Annual Return u/s. 44 for FY 2020-21 needs to be filed by 28th February 2022. SCN should have been issued by 28th November 2024, whereas it was issued on 30th November.
  4. The decision of Himachal Pradesh and Another v. Himachal Techno Engineers and Another (2010) 12 SCC 210 was also quoted.
  5. Provisions of Sec 73(2) are mandatory, due to the use of the Words “Shall” and also that the legislature has intended that at least three months should be available to the taxpayer, considering the possible three adjournments of Personal Hearing.

Department has submitted that:

Month means Calender Month and 3 months prior to 28th February would be 1st December and in worst case, it is 30th November, and the SCN was issued within due date. Provisions of Sec. 73(2) are directory requirement and not mandatory.

Hon’ble High Court has held that:

  1. Cutoff date for issuing an order is 28.02.2025. The three months period which would elapse from this date would be 28.11.2024. Since the notice was issued on 30.11.2024, it would be beyond the time as per Section 73(2).
  2. Section 75 of the GST Act, stipulates that the tax payer is not only entitled to a notice before any assessment is carried out but also the right of personal hearing, irrespective of whether such personal hearing is requested. When there is a possibility of an adverse order being passed against tax payer, the facility of obtaining at least three adjournments for personal hearing etc would be available. Hence, Time Period allowed under 73(2) of the Act is mandatory and any violation of that time period cannot be condoned, and would make the show cause notice Invalid.
  3. SCN dated 30th November 2024 is quashed.

Relevant Provisions:

Section 73(2): The proper officer shall issue the notice under sub-section (1) at least three months prior to the time limit specified in sub-section (10) for issuance of order.

Section 73 (9): The proper officer shall, after considering the representation, if any, made by person chargeable with tax, determine the amount of tax, interest and a penalty equivalent to ten per cent of tax or ten thousand rupees, whichever is higher, due from such person and issue an order.

Section 73 (10): The proper officer shall issue the order under sub-section (9) within three years from the due date for furnishing of annual return for the financial year to which the tax not paid or short paid or input tax credit wrongly availed or utilised relates to or within three years from the date of erroneous refund.

Excess ITC already reversed and Interest Paid – Order demanding Interest and Penalty Set aside and treated as SCN

Citation:

K.C. & Sons vs. Deputy Commissioner (ST), GST Appeal

High Court of Madras

[2025] 171 taxmann.com 31 (Madras)[20-12-2024]

Facts of the Case:

  1. There was a mismatch between GSTR3B and GSTR2A, for FY 2017-18.
  2. DRC-01A was issued on 2nd May 2023 and DRC-01 was issued on 10th May, communicating the date of Personal Hearing as 21st June 2023.
  3. Reply was filed on 9th May 2023 and Order confirmig the demand, was passed on 7th December.

Submissions of the Petitioner:

The difference being the excess ITC, was already reversed in 2019, whereas the Order propose to levy Interest and Penalty and also that a portion fo the interest demanded, has already been paid.

Held that:

  1. Given that the petitioner has already reversed the excess credit, one final ooportunity for personal hearing shall be granted.
  2. The impugned Order is Set Aside and shall be treated as Show Cause Notice.
  3. The petitioner shall file their objections within four weeks from the date of receipt of the order and the department shall consider the same and pass appropriate order, after providing an opportunity of Personal Hearing.

Where recovery proceeding was not initiated, belated reply was allowed

Citation:

Indera Motors vs. Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, CT and GST

High Court of Orissa

[2025] 170 taxmann.com 62 (Orissa)[17-12-2024]

Facts of the Case:

  1. Show Cause Notice dated 25th June 2024 was issued fore recovery of arrears of Interest. It stated that reply was due to be given on 9th July 2024, in a Personal Hearing.
  2. The Petitioner has appeared for the hearing and requested time to submit the reply.
  3. Further, the reply dated 11th November 2024, was received from the petitioner on 13th November 2024. Petitioner requests through the appeal, to consider their reply.
  4. It was held that since recovery proceeding has not yet been initiated, department is hereby directed to consider the reply dated 11.11.2024 and order be made informing the petitioner on his contentions in the reply. Till before such order is communicated to petitioner, recovery proceeding should not be initiated.