16/03/2019
ISSUE FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE CASE OF M/S GEOJIT FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD. (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "APPLICANT")
A) Whether computers, laptops etc used by the applicant for providing output service would qualify as inputs for the purpose of availing transitional ITC under Section 140(3) of KSGST Act?
B) If the goods are physically available as closing stock as on 30th June, 2017, can the applicant avail ITC for the VAT paid?
BRIEF FACTS OF CASE
The Appellant is a public limited company having its registered office at Kochi. They are engaged in the activity of providing various retail financial services like stock brooking, share brooking, marketing of initial public offering of companies and mutual funds, corporate advisory services etc., which were not taxable under VAT. As on 30th June 2017, they had in their possession physical stock of goods such as computers, laptops etc., which were utilized by them in providing the output services. Placing reliance on the transitional provisions. They have availed input tax credit on closing stock of computers, laptops and other goods lying in the physical possession of the applicant as on 30th June, 2017.
DISCUSSIONS & FINDINGS
The contentions raised by the appellant have been examined in detail. The issue to be decided in this appeal is whether the Computers, Laptops etc used by the appellant for providing output service would qualify as "Inputs" for the purpose of availing transitional input tax credit under the transitional provisions of the KSGST Act, 2017.
i) The appellant is engaged in providing retail financial services like stock brooking, share brooking, marketing of initial public offering of companies and mutual funds, corporate advisory services etc.
a. In the pre-GST period, the services provided by the Appellant did not have any liability under the Kerala VAT law and the Computers, Laptops etc., used by them were stated as Capital Assets in their books of accounts.
b. In the GST period, the services provided by the Appellant are liable to GST and the Computers, Laptops etc., used by them are continued to be stated as Capital Assets in their books of accounts.
ii) Section 2(19) of the KSGST Act, 2017 defines "capital goods" as
"goods, the value of which is capitalized in the books of account of the person claiming the input tax credit and which are used or intended to be used in the course or furtherance of business."
Further, Section - 2(59) of the KSGST Act, 2017 defines "inputs" as
"any goods other than capital goods used by a supplier in the course or furtherance of business."
iii) Hence, from the points (i) and (ii) above it is clear that, in the GST period, the input tax credit of tax paid on Computers, Laptops etc., can only be claimed as "Capital Goods" but not as "Inputs."
iv) As per Clause (ii) of Section 140(3) of the KSGST Act, 2017, a registered person is eligible for Input Tax credit, if he is also eligible under the KSGST Act, 2017 to claim the Input Tax credit on such Inputs. Since, the Computers, laptops etc., fail to qualify as "Inputs" under KSGST Act, 2017 and thereby fail to satisfy the condition set under Clause (ii) of Section 140(3) of the KSGST Act, 2017, hence they are not eligible to claim Input Tax credit under transitional provisions of the VAT paid during the pre-GST period on the computers and laptops etc., physically available on 30th June, 2017.
v) Further, the Computers, Laptops etc., which were lying in stock as on 30,06.2017 were declared as capital assets prior to GST and used by the appellant for providing output services. Thereby they had no tax liability under the erstwhile KVAT law. Further, they squarely fall under the definition of "Capital Goods" under Section 2(19) of the KSGST Act, 2017 and not under Section 2(59) of the KSGST Act, 2017. Hence the relevant transitional provision applicable in the instant case is Section 140(2) of the KSGST Act, 2017 and Section 140(3) Of the KSGST Act cannot be invoked.
vi) As per section 140(2) of the KSGST Act 2017, a registered person, other than a person opting to pay under Section 10, shall be entitled to take, in his electronic credit ledger, credit Of un-availed input tax credit in respect Of capital goods, not carried forward in a return, furnished under the existing law by him, for the period ending with the day immediately preceding the appointed day in such manner as may be prescribed. Proviso to the said sub-section of the Kerala SGST Act stipulates that the registered person shall not be allowed to take credit unless such credit was admissible as input tax credit under the existing law and is also admissible as input tax credit under the Act.
vii) The appellant being a service provider, had no tax liability under the erstwhile KVAT Act, and thereby was not eligible to avail input tax credit on computers and laptops held during the transition period. Hence the transitional input tax credit claim of the Taxpayer in respect of capital goods is not admissible as per the transitional provisions of the KSGST Act, 2017.
viii) In view of the above discussions, this Appellate Authority for Advance ruling does not find any reason to modify the decision of the Authority for Advance Ruling, issued vide paper recd 1st above. Accordingly, the following orders are issued.
ORDER No. AAR/05/2018 DATED 14.12.2018
The computers, laptops etc., used by the appellant for providing output service would not qualify as inputs, though they are physically available as on 30th June, 2017 for the purpose of availing transitional input tax credit of the VAT paid during the pre-GST period, under Section 140 of the KSGST Act, 2017.
Therefore the appeal is disallowed.