Lapse on un-utilised itc on account of inverted duty rate structure unlawful - guj. hc

Legal Provisions

Section 54(3) of CGST Act, 2017 provides for refund of unutilised input tax credit in following 2 circumstances

• Zero rated supplies of goods and/or services and
• Where credit has accumulated on account of rate of tax on inputs being higher than rate of tax on output supplies (inverted  duty rate structure)

Central Government has been vested with the power under section 54(3) of CGST Act, 2017 to notify goods and/or services in respect of which refund of unutilised input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure shall not be allowed.

Consequently, Central Government vide Notification No.5/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dated 28/06/2017 has notified following textile and textile goods in respect of which refund of unutilised input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure shall not be allowed.

However, Notification No.5/2017 Central Tax (Rate) dated 28/6/2017 was amended vide Notification No.20/2018 Central Tax (Rate) dated 26/07/2018 to insert following provisos in it

1. Unutilised input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure on inward supplies received on or after 01/08/2018 in respect of above mentioned textile goods shall be allowed
2. In respect of above mentioned textile goods, unutilised input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure up to the month of July 2018, on inward supplies received up to 31/07/2018 shall lapse.

Landmark judgment on lapse of unutilised input tax credit accumulated upto 31^st July 2018

Shabnam Petrofils Pvt. Ltd. versus Union of India – Gujarat HC

The Honourable High Court held the lapse of unutilised input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure up to the month of July in respect of textile goods as unlawful on the following grounds

• The only power conferred upon Central Government under section 54(3) of CGST Act, 2017 is to notify the goods and services which are not entitled for refund of unutilized input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure.
• Central Government has no power under section 54(3) of CGST Act, 2017 to grant lapse of accumulated input tax credit lying unutilised in balance on 31/07/2018. In other words, there is no express provision under section 54(3) of CGST Act, 2017 for lapsing unutilised input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure.
• Input tax credit once validly taken is indefeasible. In other words, input tax credit once validly taken cannot be cancelled in absence of express legal provision for lapsing it.
• Every assessee holds the right to utilize the input tax credit without any limitation of time. In other words, assessee have a right over unutilised input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure upto 31/7/2018. It is not liable to be cancelled or lapsed.

Conclusion

1. Amendment made to the Notification No.5/2018 Central Tax (Rate) dated 28/6/2018 to the extent of lapsing input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure lying unutilised upto the month of July 2018 on inward supplies received upto 31/7/2018 in respect of textile goods is declared to be unlawful and invalid.
2. Assessee hold a valid right over input tax credit accumulated on account of inverted duty rate structure lying unutilised upto the month of July 2018 on inward supplies received upto 31/7/2018 in respect of textile goods. It is not liable to be cancelled or lapsed.