29 September 2012
Goods Transport Agency service- Clarification on ancillary services and classification.- 1. Issue: GTA provides service to a person in relation to transportation of goods by road in a goods carriage. The service provided is a single composite service which may include various intermediary and ancillary service such as loading/ unloading, packing/ unpacking, transshipment, temporary warehousing. For the service provided, GTA issues a consignment note and the invoice issued by the GTA for providing the said service includes the value of intermediary and ancillary services. In such a case, whether the intermediary or ancillary activities are to be treated as part of GTA service and abatement should be extended to the charge for such intermediary or ancillary service? Clarification: GTA provides a service in relation to transportation of goods by road which is a single composite service. GTA also issues consignment note. The composite service may include various intermediate and ancillary services provided in relation to the principal service of the road transport of goods. Such intermediate and ancillary services may include services loading/ unloading, packing/ unpacking, transshipment, temporary warehousing etc., which are provided in the course of transportation by road. These services are not provided as independent activities but are the means for successful provision of the principal service, namely, the transportation of goods by road. The contention that a single composite service should not be broken into its components and classified as separate services is a well-accepted principle of classification. As clarified earlier vide F.No. 334/4/2006- TRU, dated 28.2.2006 (para 3.2 and 3.3) [2006 (4) S.T.R.. C30] and F.No. 334/1/2008-TRU, dated 29.2.2008 (para 3.2 and 3.3) [2008 (9)S.T.R. C61], a composite service, even if it consists of more than one service, should be treated as a single service based on the main or principal service and accordingly classified. While taking a view, both the form and substance of the transaction are to be taken into account. The guiding principle is to indentify the essential features of the transaction. The method of invoicing does not alter the single composite nature of the service and classification in such cases are based on essential character by applying the principle of classification enumerated in section 65A. Thus, if any ancillary/ intermediate service is provided in relation to transportation of goods, and the charges, if any, for such services are included in the invoice issued by the GTA, and not by any other person, such service would form part of GTA service and, therefore, the abatement of 75% would be available on it.
29 September 2012
First of all let me make it cclear the from loading and unloading ccharges I understand the loading of the goods from theconsigner's place (not at transport agency) and unloading at the consignee's place.
As per section 65 (50b) the GTA or ―goods transport agency‖ means any 5[person who] provides service in relation to transport of goods by road and issues consignment note, by whatever name called
But in notification 30/2012 the words used are not the words "in relation to transportion of goods" but " in respect of transportation of goods" and therefore, if the loading and unloading serrvice is charged separately the is not to be subjected to RCM.
Secondly, from secction 66F which provides for taxability of bundled serrvices it is clear that the services which are not naturally bundled are to be treated as a separate service. Loading and unloading as mentioned above are not natually bundeled and therefore, on this account also can not be a part of RCM.
Other service as mentioned by Mr. sharma like loading and unloading at GTA, Transhipment, enroute warehousing are the service naturally budled with transportaion of goods serrvice and therrfore, are subject to RCM even if charged separately
29 September 2012
First of all let me make it cclear the from loading and unloading ccharges I understand the loading of the goods from theconsigner's place (not at transport agency) and unloading at the consignee's place.
As per section 65 (50b) the GTA or ―goods transport agency‖ means any 5[person who] provides service in relation to transport of goods by road and issues consignment note, by whatever name called
But in notification 30/2012 the words used are not the words "in relation to transportion of goods" but " in respect of transportation of goods" and therefore, if the loading and unloading serrvice is charged separately the is not to be subjected to RCM.
Secondly, from secction 66F which provides for taxability of bundled serrvices it is clear that the services which are not naturally bundled are to be treated as a separate service. Loading and unloading as mentioned above are not natually bundeled and therefore, on this account also can not be a part of RCM.
Other service as mentioned by Mr. sharma like loading and unloading at GTA, Transhipment, enroute warehousing are the service naturally budled with transportaion of goods serrvice and therrfore, are subject to RCM even if charged separately
29 September 2012
if loading and unloading is not provided by the GTA holder, then no issue with service tax, but as its in relation to the goods which are subjected to avail services of GTA, i.e loading from the place + transport+ unloading at destination .........its a complete chain of GTA, some include it in freight , some mention it seperately, but without loading and unloading the GTA services can not be availed/ completed !!