Ministry of Finance
Clarification on issue of GST rate on alcohol based hand sanitizers

15 JULY 2020

The issue of GST rate on alcohol based hand sanitizers has been reported in few sections of media.

It is stated that hand sanitizers attract GST at the rate of 18%. Sanitizers are disinfectants like soaps, anti-bacterial liquids, dettol etc which all attract duty standard rate of 18% under the GST regime.

It is further clarified that inputs for manufacture of hand sanitizers are chemicals packing material, input services, which also attract a GST rate of 18%. Reducing the GST rate on sanitizers and other similar items would lead to an inverted duty structure and put the domestic manufacturers at disadvantage vis-a-vis importers. Lower GST rates help imports by making them cheaper. This is against the nation’s policy on Atmanirbhar Bharat. Consumers would also eventually not benefit from the lower GST rate if domestic manufacturing suffers on account of inverted duty structure.

Also check: Minutes of the meeting with Staff Side, National Council – NCJCM

Source: PIB

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Recommendations made by the GST Council for the Housing Sector to promote Affordable Housing for the masses come into force;

Concessional Rate of GST of 12% extended to construction of houses constructed/ acquired under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for EWS, LIG, MIG sections

Posted On: 07 FEB 2018 1:45PM by PIB Delhi

In its 25th Meeting held on 18th January, 2018, the GST Council had made several important recommendations for the Housing Sector which have come into force with effect from 25th January, 2018. The recommendations are expected to promote affordable housing for the masses in the country.

One of the important recommendations made is to extend the concessional rate of GST of 12% (effective rate of 8% after deducting one third of the amount charged for the house, flat etc. towards the cost of land or undivided share of land, as the case may be) in housing sector to construction of houses constructed/ acquired under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) / Lower Income Group (LIG) / Middle Income Group-1 (MlG-1) / Middle Income Group-2 (MlG-2) under the Housing for All (Urban) Mission/Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana (Urban).

Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) is one of the components of Housing for All (Urban) Mission/Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) (Urban). Under this component, subsidy would be provided on home loans taken by eligible urban poor (EWS/LIG/ MIG-I/ MIG-II) for acquisition and construction of house. Credit linked subsidy would also be available for housing loans availed for new construction and for addition of rooms, kitchen, toilet etc, to existing dwellings as incremental housing. The carpet area of houses constructed under this component of the mission would be up to 30 square meters for EWSA, 60 Square Meters for LIG, 120 sqm for MIG I and 150 Sqm for MIG II. The benefit of Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme may be taken by the Economical Weaker sections or Low/Middle Income Groups for purchase of houses under any project. The maximum annual income for eligibility of beneficiaries under the scheme can be up to Rs.18 lakhs. It covers a very large section of population which aspires to own a home.

So far, houses acquired under CLSS attracted effective GST rate of 18% (effective GST rate of 12% after deducting value of land). The concessional rate of 12% was applicable only on houses constructed under the other three components of the Housing for All (Urban) Mission/Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana (Urban), namely (i) ln-situ redevelopment of existing slums using land as a resource component; (ii) Affordable Housing in partnership and (iii) Beneficiary led individual house construction/enhancement. The exemption has now been recommended for houses acquired under the CLSS component also. Therefore, the buyers would be entitled to interest subsidy under the Scheme as well to a lower concessional rate of GST of 8% (effective rate after deducting value of land).

The GST Council has also recommended that the benefit of concessional rate of GST of 12% (effective GST rate of 8% after deducting value of land) applicable to houses supplied to existing slum dwellers under the in-situ redevelopment of existing slums using land as a resource component of PMAY may be extended to houses purchased by persons other than existing slum dwellers also. This would make the in-situ redevelopment of existing slums using land as a resource component of PMAY more attractive to builders as well as buyers.

The third recommendation of the Council is to include houses constructed for ‘Economically Weaker Section (EWS)’ under the Affordable Housing in partnership (PMAY) under the concessional rate of GST of 8% (effective rate after deducting value of land). This will support construction of houses up to 30 sqm carpet area.

The Fourth Recommendation of the Council is to extend the concessional rate of 12% to services by way of construction of low cost houses up to a carpet area of 60 sqm in a housing project which has been given infrastructure status under notification No. 13/06/2009 dated 30th March, 2009. The said notification of Department of Economic Affairs provides infrastructure status to Affordable Housing.

Affordable Housing has been defined in the said notification as a housing project using at least 50% of the FAR/FSI for dwelling units with carpet area of not more than 60 sqm. The recommendation of the Council would extend the concessional rate of 8% GST (after deducting value of land) to construction of flats/ houses of less than 60 sqm in projects other than the projects covered by any scheme of the Central or State Government also.

In addition to the above, in order to provide a fillip to the housing and construction sector, GST Council has decided to give exemption to leasing of land by Government to Governmental Authority or Government Entity. [Government Entity is defined to mean an authority or board or any other body including a society, trust, corporation, (i) set-up by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature; or (ii) established by any Government, with 90% or more participation by way of equity or control, to carry out any function entrusted by the Central Government, State Government, UT or a local authority].

Also, any sale/lease/sub-lease of land as a part of the composite sale of flats has also been exempted from GST. Therefore, in effect, the Government does not levy GST on supply of land whether by way of sale or lease or sub-lease to the buyer of flats and in fact, gives a deduction on account of the value of land included in the value of flats and only the value of flat is subjected to GST.

It may be recalled that all inputs used in and capital goods deployed for construction of flats, houses, etc attract GST of 18% or 28%. As against this, most of the housing projects in the affordable segment in the country would now attract GST of 8% (after deducting value of land). As a result, the builder or developer will not be required to pay GST on the construction service of flats etc. in cash but would have enough ITC (input tax credits) in his books to pay the output GST, in which case, he should not recover any GST payable on the flats from the buyers. He can recover GST from the buyers of flats only if he recalibrates the cost of the flat after factoring in the full ITC available in the GST regime and reduces the ex-GST price of flats.

The builders/developers are expected to follow the principles laid down under Section 171 of the GST Act scrupulously. The above changes have come into force with effect from 25 January 2018.

PIB

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IMPLEMENTATION OF GST

ISSUES CONCERNING DEPOTS

Q. What will be the format of Purchase Orders in GST Regime?

A. Purchase orders in the existing VAT regime will continue after removing the columns such as VAT columns VAT, CST etc and by adding the following fields :-

(a) GSTN of respective depot

(b) GST rate applicable for the index.

(c) HSN Code for each index etc.,

Q. To whom to approach for obtaining GSTIN of suppliers, HSN Code & GST rate for each index?

A. Stores Branches have been collecting the GSTIN details of each Company and their Distribution Centres, HSN Code and GST rate for each index of all the Companies. The data will be shared in

due course of time.

Q. What is going to be the Unique Identification Number (UIN) of CSD for refund mechanism?

A. The clarification in this regard is awaited from Ministry of Finance. Applicability of UIN for obtaining 50% GST refund will be clarified at the earliest.

Q. Will 50% exemption of GST rates apply on sale of non CSD items at URC?

A. Ministry of Finance vide Notification No 06/2017 & 07/2017 both dated 28 June 2017 has exempted sale / supply of goods by URCs to end customers. No URC is entitled to sell non CSD items in the same premises including INCS. Hence, non CSD items sold by any URCs to end customers are not eligible for exemption of GST rates extended by Govt of India.

Q. What will be the format of Form 2 and Return Form 2?

A. These formats under the VAT regime should continue in the GST regime after removing fields such as VAT, CST Octroi etc and by adding the following fields :-

(a) HSN code by each index

(b) GST rate of each index

(c) GSTN of supplier as well as CSD depot and etc.

Q. Are Debit Note and Credit Note raised on companies required to be uploaded on GST network?

A. The depots will raise the debit notes and credit notes against the Companies towards short supply of goods, damaged goods and life expired goods which will be further uploaded to GST network clearly quoting the corresponding purchase invoice details. However, the debit notes and credit notes for non-supply, late supply, part supply, non-extension on CPS etc are not to be uploaded to GST network since these are raised towards the penalties and not related to the quantum of goods supplied.

Q. Change of HSN Code and GST rate?

A. HSN Code and GST rate is being mentioned in all circulars sent to suppliers with copy to all depots. For any changes/revision from time to time depots should maintain proper record and update regularly on receipt of circulars from HO.

Q. What is to be done in case of difference between GSTIN of firm circulated by HO and as annotated on invoice?

A. Though HO is complying data for GSTIN of each firm and will be shared later on, the correct GSTIN data will be available on bills received from firms and same data be complied by each depot depending upon its source of supply and regular checked/updated for each bill so received so that there is no mismatch in returns.

Q. Is sale of stores to URC located outside State will attract CST in GST Regime?

A. CST charged in VAT regime is subsumed in GST. Hence, interstate sale made by CSD Depots to URCs or any inter Depot transfer will not attract CST. The sales to URCs by CSD Depots are outside the scopes of GST. Hence, CSD Depots have to sale URCs situated within the state or outside the State at whole sale rates issued by F&A Branch. However, liquor is outside the purview of GST, hence sale of liquor made to interstate URCs will be loaded with CST.

Q. Is separate Notifications by State Govt towards SGST is required?

A. A letter duly signed by GM (CSD) addressed to State Govt. will be forwarded for passing of Notification by State Govt. for extending exemption of 50% SGST. Depots are to liaise with concerned authorities for issue of notification in this regard.

Q. What is the mechanism for filing of GST returns?

A. GST returns to be filed by depots can be uploaded to GST network through excel files. Hence, all the depots to record their purchases and sales meticulously in the existing automated environment viz ICSDS Phase-I, Fox Pro etc., and to prepare excel files at the end of each month and file the following returns through their respective Chartered Accountants (CAs).

GSTR-I

GSTR-3

Q. Is filing of GST returns through Chartered Accountants mandatory?

A. Filing of GST Returns through Chartered Accountants is not mandatory. Depots can file all the GST Returns after preparing the same in Excel File. However, due to limitation of expertise at Depots and new system related to GST, it is advisable to file GST Returns through Chartered Accountants. This procedure will be akin to the procedure followed in the VAT regime. The Competent Authority has stopped hiring of Tax Consultants/Advocates who are not a qualified Chartered Accountant, as defined in Companies Act & CA Act.

Q. Is 50% exemption of GST applicable to CSD Staff at Depots?

A. 50% of GST rates exemption is extended to all the supplies by CSD to its authorized customers and to the URCs as per the Notification No. 07/2017 dated 28 June 2017 issued by Ministry of Finance. CSD Staff are authorized customers to purchase goods at CSD Depots as per existing procedure. Hence, there should not be any doubt on eligibility of 50% exemption of GST rates to the sales made to CSD Staff at depots.

Q. Is 50% exemption of GST applicable for Defence Civilians for purchase of AFD-I items like TV, Refrigerator, Two Wheelers and Four Wheelers?

A. 50% GST rate exemption has been extended to all the authorized customers vide Notification No. 07/2017 dated 28 June 2017. Hence all the authorized customers who purchase AFD-I items like TV, Refrigerator, Two Wheelers and Four Wheelers etc. including Defence Civilians will be authorized for 50% exemption in GST rates. Hence, rates applicable to Armed Forces Personnel will be equally applicable to all eligible authorized customers.

Q. Is QD to be calculated without 50% of GST rates inclusive in selling prices?

A. 50% of GST will be the cost to CSD after filing/accounting the exemption operation of 50% GST rate. Hence, it becomes cost for CSD and not any tax element. Hence, it should be considered for computation of QD. However, the same is being sent for clarification to CDA (CSD). After receipt of clarification, a separate instruction will be issued to all the Depots.

Q. What is billing mechanism for AFD-I items in GST regime?

A. AFD-I suppliers are to bill to the respective Depots by adding corresponding GST rate (100%). CSD Depot will make payment towards AFD-I items supplied by the companies including 100% GST amount. Further, Depots have to claim refund of 50% of GST rate by filing necessary GST Returns.

Q. Which account is to be used for GST refund purpose?

A. “Main Account” of Depot will be used for the purpose of GST Refund.

Q. Can HSN Code be same for two or more than two items?

A. HSN Code can be same for similar category of items.

Q. How to resolve different HSN Code intimated by Store Branch Circulars and HSN Code mentioned in the suppliers bill?

A. Different HSN Code as intimated by circulars issued by Store Branches and as mentioned in suppliers Bill can be resolved by referring to concerned Store Branch directly. However, HSN Code with dot in between as happened in case of HUL (3401.11.90) should be accepted since it is different way of presentation of HSN Code.

Q. Should HSN Code with 4 digit to be accepted?

A. As per notification No. 12/2017 dated 28 June 2017 issued by Ministry of Finance, a company with annual turnover in the preceding Financial Year of more than one crore fifty lakhs and up to 5 crores shall mention first 2 digits of HSN Code and annual turnover of more than 05 crores shall mention first 4 digits of HSN Code. Thus, HSN code with first 4 digits can also be accepted though the Store Branch circulars convey 8 digits.

Q. Can firm raise Debit/Credit Notes on CSD?

A. Yes. The firms can raise Debit/Credit Notes on CSD. Debit/Credit Notes raised by the firm will be on account of correcting errors in invoice amount due to factors such as short/excess supply, wrong pricing etc. Such Debit/Credit Notes will be part of GST returns filing in GSTR-I uploaded by firms.

Q. Can one Invoice contain items having different GST rates?

A. An invoice can contain items having different GST rates say 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. An invoice should not be rejected on the grounds that items falling under different GST rates have been included in one invoice. However, companies have been advised to segregate the supplies to feature each category of GST rate at one place for easy accounting at Depots vide letter No. 6/F&A/C&C/GST/6335 dated 27 July 2017.

Q. Rejection of supplies from companies due to mismatch of invoice formats from the format issued by F&A Branch vide letter No.6/F&A/C&C/419 dated 16 June 2017

A. Complaints have been received from many companies stating that Depots are refusing delivery of goods against the orders on the pretext that invoice format are not matching with format circulated by F&A Branch vide above quoted letter. In this regard it is once again clarified that invoice format circulated by this office was “PURELY ADVISORY IN NATURE” covering small scale sole proprietorship to HUL. Hence, if the invoice is meeting basic requirements of GST law such as GSTIN, GST rate, CGST, SGST, IGST, and etc., all the depots are to accept the goods.

ISSUES CONCERNING SUPPLIERS

Q. What is going to be the Unique Identification Number (UIN) of CSD for refund mechanism?

A. The clarification in this regard is awaited from Ministry of Finance. Applicability of UIN for obtaining 50% GST refund will be clarified at the earliest.

Q. Are Debit Note and Credit Note raised on companies required to be uploaded on GST network?

A. The depots will raise the debit notes and credit notes against the Companies towards short supply of goods, damaged goods and life expired goods which will be further uploaded to GST network clearly quoting the corresponding purchase invoice details. However, the debit notes and credit notes for non-supply, late supply, part supply, non-extension on CPS etc are not to be uploaded to GST network since these are raised towards the penalties and not related to the quantum of goods supplied.

Q. What is to be done in case of difference between GSTIN of firm circulated by HO and as annotated on invoice?

A. Though HO is complying data for GSTIN of each firm and will be shared later on, the correct GSTIN data will be available on bills received from firms and same data be complied by each depot depending upon its source of supply and regular checked/updated for each bill so received so that there is no mismatch in returns.

Q. What is billing mechanism for AFD-I items in GST regime?

A. AFD-I suppliers are to bill to the respective Depots by adding corresponding GST rate (100%). CSD Depot will make payment towards AFD-I items supplied by the companies including 100% GST amount. Further, Depots have to claim refund of 50% of GST rate by filing necessary GST Returns.

Q. Should HSN Code with 4 digit to be accepted?

A. As per notification No. 12/2017 dated 28 June 2017 issued by Ministry of Finance, a company with annual turnover in the preceding Financial Year of more than one crore fifty lakhs and up to 5 crores shall mention first 2 digits of HSN Code and annual turnover of more than 05 crores shall mention first 4 digits of HSN Code. Thus, HSN code with first 4 digits can also be accepted though the Store Branch circulars convey 8 digits.

Q. Can firm raise Debit/Credit Notes on CSD?

A. Yes. The firms can raise Debit/Credit Notes on CSD. Debit/Credit Notes raised by the firm will be on account of correcting errors in invoice amount due to factors such as short/excess supply,

wrong pricing etc. Such Debit/Credit Notes will be part of GST returns filing in GSTR-I uploaded by firms.

Q. Can one Invoice contain items having different GST rates?

A. An invoice can contain items having different GST rates say 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. An invoice should not be rejected on the grounds that items falling under different GST rates have been included in one invoice. However, companies have been advised to segregate the supplies to feature each category of GST rate at one place for easy accounting at Depots vide letter No. 6/F&A/C&C/GST/dated 27 July 2017.

Q. Rejection of supplies from companies due to mismatch of invoice formats from the format issued by F&A Branch vide letter No.6/F&A/C&C/419 dated 16 June 2017

A. Complaints have been received from many companies stating that Depots are refusing delivery of goods against the orders on the pretext that invoice format are not matching with format circulated by F&A Branch vide above quoted letter. In this regard it is once again clarified that invoice format circulated by this office was “PURELY ADVISORY IN NATURE” covering small scale sole proprietorship to HUL. Hence, if the invoice is meeting basic requirements of GST law such as GSTIN, GST rate, CGST, SGST, IGST, and etc., all the depots are to accept the goods.

ISSUES CONCERNING URCs

Q. Will 50% exemption of GST rates apply on sale of non CSD items at URC?

A. Ministry of Finance vide Notification No 06/2017 & 07/2017 both dated 28 June 2017 has exempted sale / supply of goods by URCs to end customers. No URC is entitled to sell non CSD items in the same premises including INCS. Hence, non CSD items sold by any URCs to end customers are not eligible for exemption of GST rates extended by Govt of India.

Q. Is sale of stores to URC located outside State will attract CST in GST Regime?

A. CST charged in VAT regime is subsumed in GST. Hence, interstate sale made by CSD Depots to URCs or any inter Depot transfer will not attract CST. The sales to URCs by CSD Depots are outside the scopes of GST. Hence, CSD Depots have to sale URCs situated within the state or outside the State at whole sale rates issued by F&A Branch. However, liquor is outside the purview of GST, hence sale of liquor made to interstate URCs will be loaded with CST.

Q. Is QD to be calculated without 50% of GST rates inclusive in selling prices?

A. 50% of GST will be the cost to CSD after filing/accounting the exemption operation of 50% GST rate. Hence, it becomes cost for CSD and not any tax element. Hence, it should be considered for computation of QD. However, the same is being sent for clarification to CDA (CSD). After receipt of clarification, a separate instruction will be issued to all the Depots.

Authority: www.csdindia.gov.in

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New Delhi: The GST rate will be “much more diluted” than the speculated 27 per cent and the final rate will be worked out by the GST Council, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

“I straightaway concede that 27 per cent would be very high…after this 27 per cent (Revenue Neutral Rate) was born, the states and the Centre have decided to keep alcohol out,” he said in a reply to GST Bill debate in the Lok Sabha.

“We have decided to keep petroleum out and every state finance minister is not interested in imposing higher taxes on its own people, and neither the central government. Therefore, this figure (RNR) is going to much more diluted compared to the figure (27 per cent) which has been mentioned,” he said.

Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) is the rate at which there will be no revenue loss to the states after GST implementation.

“These are the figures which would be decided by GST Council,” he added.

The GST Council will have Jaitley as its Chairman and comprise two-third of members from states and one-third from the Centre.

GST is termed as the biggest indirect tax reform since 1947. A single rate GST will replace central excise, state VAT, entertainment tax, octroi, entry tax, luxury tax and purchase tax on goods and services to ensure seamless transfer of goods and services.

Allaying concerns raised by some of Lok Sabha members regarding the 27 per cent RNR speculation, Jaitley said “it is going to be too high and therefore the cost and prices itself will go up”.

He clarified to the House that the number was not given by the government or the GST Council but by a particular organisation in its own internal assessment.

“It got leaked out and somebody said it is 26.8. so that is how this figure of 27 per cent was born,” he said.

However, without hazarding a guess as to what the final GST rate would be, Jaitley said, the 13th Finance Commission had suggested 18 per cent as a possible figure.

PTI

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