Tuesday, 10 October 2017

GST For Goods Transport Agency


Transport of goods by road is the most commonly used mode of transportation for businesses which supply goods. This transportation by road is facilitated either by a Goods Transport Agency (GTA) or common carriers such as autorickshaw or courier agencies. In this blog, we will understand what is meant by a Goods Transport Agency (GTA) and the GST rates for transportation service provided by a Goods Transport Agency. This is the first blog in the series wherein, we will understand the various tax provisions with respect to services provided by Goods Transport Agencies and the tax impact on persons taking their services.

GST Registration
GST registration is mandatory in India for entities having more than Rs. 20 lakhs of aggregate turnover in a year (Rs. 10 lakhs in Special Category states). However, some of the supplies provided by a goods transport agency would be liable for GST under reverse charge basis. In a reverse charge transaction, the recipient of the goods is made liable for payment of GST. Hence, while providing services, goods transport agency must be aware of the reverse charge mechanism and raise invoice accordingly.

What is a GTA?
As per Notification No. 11/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28th June, 2017, “goods transport agency” or GTA means any person who provides service in relation to transport of goods by road and issues consignment note, by whatever name called.
This means, while others might also hire out vehicles for goods transportation, only those issuing a consignment note are considered as a GTA. Thus, a consignment note is an essential condition to be considered as a GTA.

What are the services provided by a GTA?
The service includes not only the actual transportation of goods, but other intermediate/ancillary service provided such as-
  • Loading/unloading
  • Packing/ unpacking
  • Trans-shipment
  • Temporary warehousing etc.
  • If these services are included and not provided as independent activities, then they are also covered under GTA.

What will be the rate of Tax in Case of the Goods Transport Agency (GTA Services) under GST Per se?
Looking at the entry no. 3, Services of goods transport agency (GTA) in relation to transportation of goods [other than used household goods for personal use]. The rate mentioned in the rate schedule is 5% (without ITC)
Entry no. 4 of the rate schedule prescribed says that Services of goods transport agency in relation to transportation of used household goods for personal use. The rate prescribed is 5% even in this case.
Important point to highlight here is that the transporter providing any other services like “Right to use” or “Leasing” of the vehicles, he will have to review the rates separately and not take the 5% as his rate.
This means that generally the rate is 5% for the GTA under GST. The point to be highlighted is that NO ITC is available to the transporter in this case.

Persons Required to Pay GST on Reverse Charge

When taking the services of a goods transport agency, the following types and class of entities would be required to pay GST on reverse charge basis.
  • Factories registered under the Factory Act.
  • Societies registered under the Society Act.
  • Any co-operative society.
  • Any person who is registered under GST.
  • Any Body Corporate (Company or LLP)
  • Any partnership, if registered or not as well as AOP.

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Tuesday, 26 September 2017

Step By Step Guide To File GST Return-3B

GSTR-3B filling is under progress and the last date for GSTR-3B filling is 20 August 2017. Please find below the step by step guide on how to file GST Return-3B.

Step by step guide on how to file GST Return-3B
1. After login, select Return Dashboard
2. Select Financial Year 2017-18 and Month July. Click Search and Select GSTR-3B
3. Declare your liabilities and ITC claims in Section 3.1 and 4 respectively by clicking on the tiles and furnishing the required information. Transitional ITC cannot be claimed in GSTR 3B. It can be claimed only through TRANS 1 and TRANS 2.
4. Enter details of interest, if payable, in Section 5.1. Late fee will be computed by the system
5. Click on Save GSTR-3B After you save the data, Submit button will get enabled. Please note that after submit, no modification is possible. Hence ensure that details are filled correctly before clicking on Submit button.
6. On clicking Submit GSTR-3B button, System will post (debit) the self-assessed liabilities including system generated late fee in Liability Register and credit the claimed ITC into ITC ledger.
7. After this the Payment of Tax tile will be enabled, please click it and declare your payment details to pay the taxes and offset the liability.
8. Click CHECK BALANCE button to view the balance available for credit under Integrated Tax, Central Tax, State Tax and Cess. (This includes transitional credit also, if TRAN-1 and 2 are submitted). This will enable you to check the balance before making the payment for the respective minor heads. The balance is also displayed when the mouse is hovered on the applicable data entry field in payment section.
9. Please fill out the section that specifies how you wants to set-off your liabilities using a combination of Cash and ITC.
System checks if you have sufficient Cash/ITC balance.
It also checks if the Reverse charge liabilities are set-off only through CASH.
System also checks if all liabilities are set-off. Part payment is not allowed in GSTR-3B.        Hence, ensure sufficient balance in Cash and ITC Ledger to Offset liability
In case of ITC utilisations, the system checks the prioritization rules viz. IGST Credit has to be first utilised for paying IGST liability and remaining for CGST liability and thereafter SGST liability; SGST credit has to be first used for paying SGST liability and then IGST liability; CGST Credit has to be first used for CGST liability and the remaining for IGST Liability; SGST credit cannot be used for paying CGST liability and CGST credit cannot be used for paying SGST liability
Transition ITC, if available in ITC ledger, can be used for payment of liabilities of GSTR 3B
10. Click the OFFSET LIABILITY button to pay off the liabilities
11. Click on declaration statement
12. Select Authorized Signatory filing the Form
13. Click on File GSTR-3B button with DSC or EVC
14. Message for successful filing will appear and Acknowledgement will get generated

If you have any query regarding this Click Here

Thursday, 14 September 2017

GST rates changed for 40 items, deadline for GSTR 1 filing extended to October


The Goods and Services Tax Council on Saturday raised the cess on motor vehicles--mid-size cars, large cars and sports utility vehicles by 2%, 5% and 7% respectively instead of whole 10% increase effected in the law, while keeping the overall tax incidence within 50%. This increase in cess rate would take the overall tax incidence on mid size cars to 45%, large cars to 48% and SUVs to 50% from 43%( 28% GST+ 15% cess) now. Industry had pitched for differential hike --lower increase for mid-sized cars arguing that this price increase in this segment would impact middle class.The #GST Council had at its last meeting approved a proposal for an amendment in the compensation law to raise the cess to 25% from 15%.
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Monday, 11 September 2017

Frequently Asked Questions On GST (Goods And Service Tax)

  1. Would head offices providing centralized HR, Finance and IT functions also need to raise invoices to its branch- Yes, if the head office and branches are distinct persons as specified in section 25(4), invoice is required to be issued and GST should also be paid.  (Company formation in India)
  2. Where free replacement is provided to the customers without consideration under warranty, no GST is chargeable on such replacement. In such cases goods may be sent on delivery challan as provided in rule 55 of the CGST Rule, 2017
  3. How the invoicing should be done for free goods given along with sale so that corresponding input tax credit is not required to be reversed for products under scheme?- Invoice value would include value of all goods including those supplied free. In such cases, ITC is not required to be reversed
  4. How to send demonstration equipment and instruments to customers or branch offices with in India on returnable basis? – No sale is involved- As the goods are sent on returnable basis and no transfer of title is involved, it is not a supply of goods. If some element of service is involved, the same will be a taxable supply. The goods may be sent on delivery challan without invoice as it is not a supply of goods.
  5. How to send equipment and instruments to manufacturers’ factory for repairs and calibration with in India on returnable basis? – No sale is involved.- Challan for movement of goods without supply is to be issued in terms of Rule 55 of CGST Rules.
  6. Mistakes done in GSTR Returns can be corrected in subsequent returns to be filed through amendment Table (For example Table 11 of GSTR-1). Such mistakes can be corrected till the due date for filing of the return for the month of September subsequent to end of the year or filing of the annual return, whichever is earlier.
  7. No ITC is permitted to GTA engaged in providing GTA services which are under RCM and are treated as exempted supplies in the hand of GTA. However, if GTA is also liable to pay tax under forward charge as supplier, he is not permitted to avail ITC if he is claiming the concessional rate of 5%. If ITC is claimed, the GST rate for GTA in forward charge will be 12%.
  8. The compensation to employees in the form of money is not a supply. However, fringe benefits are supply of goods or services and are liable to tax if not exempted. These are transactions in furtherance of business and even if supplied without consideration, the same are deemed supply (Company registration in India)
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Friday, 25 August 2017

Reverse Charge Mechanism Under GST And Implications Of Exemption Upto Rs. 5000 Per Day

Let’s look at the critical provisions of the GST law which have enabled reverse charge mechanism :-
Compulsory Reverse Charge even if the supplier is registered –
Sec 9(3) The Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, specify categories of supply of goods or services or both, the tax on which shall be paid on reverse charge basis by the recipient of such goods or services or both and all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such recipient as if he is the person liable for paying the tax in relation to the supply of such goods or services or both.
The above section primarily covers services availed from Goods Transport Agency, Lawyer, government, corporate sponsorships, director etc.         Chartered accountant in India

Reverse Charge if the supplier is unregistered –
Sec 9(4) The central tax in respect of the supply of taxable goods or services or both by a supplier, who is not registered, to a registered person shall be paid by such person on reverse charge basis as the recipient and all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such recipient as if he is the person liable for paying the tax in relation to the supply of such goods or services or both. Company formation in India

Central Government had come up with an exemption to the small miscellaneous transactions from unregistered persons.

Notification No. 8/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dt 28.06.2017 issued by Central Government has exempted intra-State supplies of goods or services or both received by a registered person from any supplier, who is not registered, from the whole of the central tax leviable thereon under sub-section (4) of section 9 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017)
The said exemption shall not be applicable where the aggregate value of such supplies of goods or service or both received by a registered person from any or all the suppliers, who is or are not registered, exceeds five thousand rupees in a day.
To sum up, the supply should be intra state supply (within the state) and can be for goods as well as services or both. Moreover the supply should be received by the registered person from an unregistered dealer only and upto a daily limit of Rs. 5000/-
Example:-
Mr. X  purchased following items from unregistered dealer, all are dated 01.07.2017 as under:
1st bill – From Ram: Stationery = 2000/-
2nd bill – From Shyam: Lunch = 1000/-
3rd bill – From Madhu : Books = 3000/-
In this case, The bills of Mr. X will not get covered under this notification as aggregate value of all supplies exceeds 5000/- on a single date (01.07.2017)
Exemption would have been available if,:
1) Bill dates are different (So that it will come under 5000/- day limit, say bill date of Ram is 02.07.2017)
2) Any of the bills are 1000/- less than the mentioned value(Say Bill of Madhu is Rs 2000/-
3) If the one of the bills in the same of other person (say, one of the bill is in the name of Mr. Y)
FAQ’s
Whether these 5000 limit be availed for those cases where compulsory tax is payable in RCM basis as per section 9(3) of CGST act?
Where Compulsory tax is to be paid under the Reverse Charge Mechanism under 9(3) of CGST Act, and as per Notification N0o. 13/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dt 28.06.2017 the benefit of this limit cannot be availed. Reason being these notification cover only cases of 9(4) and not 9(3).
Mr. X purchased following items from unregistered dealer, all are dated 01.07.2017 as under:
1st bill – From Ram: Stationery = 2000/-
2nd bill – From Shyam: Lunch = 1000/-
3rd bill – From Madhu: Goods Transport Agency = 3000/-
In this case, The bills from Mr Ram and Mr Shyam will get covered under this notification as aggregate value of all supplies does not exceed 5000/- on a single date (01.07.2017). For the Third bill from Madhu Reverse charge is payable u/s 9(3) without any exemption threshold.
Whether this daily limit benefits would be available if the goods/services received from persons covered under 9(4) are blocked credits?
The benefit of daily limit would be available. Output Tax under reverse charge would be payable if it crosses the daily limit even though they are covered under blocked credits.
What if the limit crosses 5000 in a day, is GST payable over and above the value or from rupee 1?
If the value of taxable supplies exceeds Rs5000 per day for all suppliers, then GST would be payable on the Total value of the supplies received from unregistered persons.

Is this limit applicable to all supplies?
The limit is applicable to only taxable supply of goods or services or both. Exempt supplies are out of the preview of this notification.
Mr. X purchased following items from unregistered dealer, all are dated 01.07.2017 as under:
1st bill – From Ram: Stationery = 2000/-
2nd bill – From Shyam: Hotel Room = 1000/-
3rd bill – From Madhu: Books = 3000/-
In this case, the bills of Mr. X will not get covered under this notification as aggregate value of all supplies does not exceed 5000/- on a single date (01.07.2017) as the supplies from Shyam for Hotel room booking are exempt under Entry 14 of the exemption notification (12/2017).

What if the supplies are procured from Interstate supply from unregistered?
Benefit of this notification is available only for Intra State Purchase. If any transactions are done on an interstate basis the same are covered under the forward charge and in any case the reverse charge provisions are not applicable.
Goods and services both inclusive 5000 or separate?
Yes, the benefit is inclusive for all goods or services or both.
What rate GST should be payable then?
GST should be payable as per the schedules rate of the product/service.
What if procured from Composition persons?
Since Composition persons are registered person, reverse charge is not applicable on such supplies.
Can credit be availed for these taxes paid and on what basis, any invoice issue requirement?
Credits can be availed on payment of GST in cash. A consolidated monthly tax invoice can be raised if supplies are received from a single vendor. The Invoice shall be raised on the date of receipt of goods or services or both. Also a payment voucher needs to be issued on the date of making any advance payment as the time of supply is invoice of payment whichever is earlier.

We have compiled the daily expenses which would be liable to GST if procured from unregistered supplier as below:-
Nature of Expenses GST Rate GST IMPACT/ OTHER REMARKS /Supplies from UR (RCM Applicable)
No GST / NIL GST or EXEMPTED :-
1 Electricity Charges 0% Out of GST
2 Water Charges 0% Out of GST
3 Bank Interest 0% Out of GST
4 Professional Tax 0% Tax levied by local body / other association out of GST
5 License renewal like Pollution, Factories & Boilers & Local Bodies 0% Tax levied by local body / other association out of GST
6 Building or Property Tax 0% Tax levied by local body / other association out of GST
7 Rent Deposits 0% If adjusted with rent or forfeited – GST applicable
8 Other Deposits 0% If adjusted with other expenses or forfeited – GST applicable
9 Petrol Expense 0% Petrol & Diesel out of GST
10 Salary 0% Out of GST
11 Staff Amenities 0% Out of GST if in lieu of salary.
12 Gifts to Staff 0% Gifts by employer of value above Rs. 50000/- shall be liable to GST as outward supply.
13 Staff Mediclaim Contribution 0% Out of GST if in lieu of salary
14 Allowance & incentive to employees 0% Out of GST if in lieu of salary
15 Stamp & Registration Fees 0% If only a pure agent service – ensure GL balance Nil
16 Provision for Doubtful Debts 0% No credit / deduction shall be allowed
17 Bad Debts Written Off 0% No credit / deduction shall be allowed
18 Warranty Labour Charges 0% If there is no supply element & no consideration
19 Donation 0% If there is no supply element & no consideration
20 Labour Welfare Fund Contribution 0% Out of GST
21 Staff Medical Expenses 0% Employee service without any margin
22 Fine & Penalties by Government 0% Out of GST
23 Discounts – shown in bill 0% GST applicable is after all discount
– if shown in the bill
24 Free Gifts, Gold Coin to Customers 0%
25 Interest on Service Tax/ TDS 0%
26 Interest on Vehicle Loan 0%
27 Interest Others 0%
28 Local Conveyance 0%
29 Transportation Charges – Non GTA / Trucks 0%
GST Applicable & No ITC :-
28 Food Expense 12% / No ITC
29 Travel claims – Radio Taxi (Rent-a-cab) 5% No ITC
30 Transportation Charges – GTA 5% No ITC
31 Club & Membership fees 18% No ITC
32 Life Insurance Exps for Employees 18% No ITC
33 Work Contract Services – Construction of Building 18% No ITC if not supplied for outward works contract services
GST Applicable / RCM supply of URD :-
34 Advertisement Charges 18%
35 Advertisement in Magazine, 18%
36 Advertisement in Media 18%
37 Discounts – after issue of invoice (Post supply discount) GST Impact Credit note has to be issued, liability will be reduced to extent of GST on discount.
38 Annual Maintenance Charges 18%
39 Bank Charges – Service charges recovered 18%
40 Broker Fee & Charges 18%
41 Call Centre Expense 18%
42 Customer Schemes by MSIL 18%
43 Construction Work 18% GST amount – no ITC – for immovable property (Building)
44 Consumables Paint material & Other Consumables 28%
45 Customer Welfare expense 18% Food charges – No ITC
46 Contract Labour Expense 18%
47 Extended Warranty Cancellation Charges 18%
48 Free Service Camp Expense 18% If any third party bill comes
49 House Keeping Charges 18%
50 Insurance Charges 18%
51 Legal charges to advocate 18% Advocate raise bill without GST component – RCM to us
52 Loading & unloading Charges 18%
53 Local Conveyance 5% / 12%
54 Mediclaim Policy Premium Contribution A/ c 18%
55 Mobile Allowance 18% Pure Agent Service / If margin then GST applicable
56 Other Training Expense 18%
57 Postage and Courier Charges 18% Subject to certain exemptions
58 Printing & Stationery(Flex Printing, Broad Printing, Notice Printing) 18%
59 Rates and Taxes Actuals Depends on case to case basis
60 Recruitment Expenses 18%
61 Rent Paid 18%
62 Rent Paid for Mess (Employees) 18%
63 Repair and Maintenance – Building / Electrical / P& M / Others 18%
64 RTO Expenses 18% or 28%
65 Sales Promotion – Others / SSI / Display 18%
66 Sponsorship services 18% Reverse Charge to Service Receiver – ITC can be availed
67 Security Charges 18%
68 Staff Recruitment 18%
69 Staff Training Expenses 18%
70 Staff Uniform Expenses 18% If a third party bill comes
71 Stationery Expenses 18%
72 Subscription & periodicals 18%
73 Telephone Charges 18%
74 Transportation Charges – GTA 5%
75 Travelling Expenses Interstate 5%/18% Services from Tour operators / Agencies
76 Travelling Expenses International 28%
Note: The above expense heads are for illustrative purpose only. The applicability of GST on a particular expense has to be checked on case to case basis.

Monday, 22 May 2017

Company registration in India

Company registration in India means legally getting the right to do business.In India, registration of company is also known as formation of business or incorporation of company.
Let us see what is this Company thing all about and then move on to Company Registration.

What are the documents required to register your startup?
An entity required to be incorporated as a Private Limited Company or a Limited Liability Partnership has to be registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Now the government has come up with several initiatives where an entity can be incorporated in just 1 day.

Private Limited Company
A Pvt. Ltd company allows you to play around with the capital structure, you can also play around with the rights distribution, which isn’t so easy in a limited liability partnership. Hence, investors will ask you to convert from an LLP to a Pvt. Ltd. company.
The Directors of the proposed company must have a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to sign the e-forms.
The proposed name of the company should be given along with the main line of business.

The directors and the subscribers of the proposed company should have the following:
(a) PAN as nationality proof
(b) Photo
(c) Aadhar/ Driving Licence/ Voter Card/ Passport as identification proof
(d) Utility Bill i.e, electricity bill/ telephone bill/ bank statement etc.
(e) email-id
(f) mobile number
The incorporation documents required are as follows:
(a) Affidavit by the promoters
(b) Declaration in DIR – 2 by the directors
(c) Declaration in INC – 9 by the promoters
(d) Declaration in INC – 8 by a Chartered Accountant/Company Secretary/Lawyer/Cost
Accountant

Limited Liability Partnership
A corporate business vehicle that enables professional expertise and entrepreneurial initiative to combine and operate in flexible, innovative and efficient manner, providing benefits of limited liability while allowing its members the flexibility for organizing their internal structure as a partnership.
The partners of the proposed LLP must have a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to sign the e-forms.
The proposed name of the LLP should be given along with the main line of business.

The partners of the proposed LLP should have the following:
(a) PAN as nationality proof
(b) Photo
(c) Aadhar/ Driving Licence/ Voter Card/ Passport/ electricity bill/ telephone bill/ bank statement
(d) email-id
(e) mobile number
For Registered office of the LLP:
(a) Ownership deed (if the property is owned) or
(b) Rent agreement along with latest Rent receipt and P.Tax (if the property is rented) or
(c) NOC from the owner of the property and
(d) Latest Utility Bill in the name of the owner i.e, electricity bill/mobile bill/ telephone
bill/ gas bill.
The LLP agreement should be prepared and executed on the stamp paper.

Related : HOW GST WORKS IN INDIA

Friday, 19 May 2017

How India & Afghanistan can grow together

India remains an integral part of Afghanistan’s steady progress in institutionalizing peace, pluralism, and prosperity. Ties between Afghanistan and India go beyond the traditionally strong relations at the government level. Since time immemorial, the peoples of Afghanistan and India have interacted with each other through trade and commerce, peacefully coexisting on the basis of their shared cultural values and commonalities.
This history has become the foundation of deep mutual trust. Public opinion polls in Afghanistan confirm this, as well as the sentiment Afghans share about feeling at home whenever they visit India.

Growing Asia
  • Fastest growing continent in the world with 60% of world’s
    population (4.2 billion)
  •  Two-third of global growth would come from Asia in next few
    years
  •  In 1990, the top five economies were not among Asia. Today,
    Japan, China and India are top 3 economies in the world
  •  Asia’s share is expected to touch 50% of world’s GDP by 2050

Why Afghanistan
  • A population of 34 million and increasing
  •  Five year compound annual growth (CAGR) is 5.4%
  •  GNI per capita is US$630
  •  FDI has increased from US$ 230k in 1970 to US$ 169mn in 2015
  •  Exports and imports taken together equals 53% of GDP
  •  Infusion of billions of dollars in international assistance and investments as well as
    remittances from Afghan expats
  •  World Bank expects to provide US$250-300 mn in grants annually to Afghanistan
    through the World Bank Group
  •  One of the mineral-rich countries of the world
    (the country holds US$ 3 trillion in untapped mineral deposits without Uranium )
  •  Low tax rates in Afghanistan
    (Corporate tax rates are 20% with an overall tax burden of 6.5% only of total domestic income)
  •  Improved agricultural production
  •  Formation of democratic government & improved regulatory environment

India- Afghanistan relations
  • Bilateral relations between the two countries have always been strong and
    friendly
  •  India’s financial assistance to Afghanistan was 880 crore in 2015-16
  •  In 2016, India has also extended an aid of over UD$2 billion to Afghanistan
    for one of India’s most expensive projects in Afghanistan (Salma dam)
  •  India-Afghanistan bilateral trade stood at US$643 million in 2015-16
  •  Afghanistan sets a target of US$10 billion for bilateral trade and
    investment with India in five years
  •  In February 2017, Indian visa regime has been further liberalised to make
    it even more convenient for Afghan nationals to visit India

Our support to Afghanistan
  • Needs in Afghanistan
    • Skilled manpower
    • Professional services for businesses
  •  Strengths to work with India
    • Convenience of working in the same time zone
    • Connectivity time is less than two hours
    • Similar cultural backgrounds

Why India can be a strong partner to Afghanistan
  • World’s third largest economy (Would double in size to US$ 4–5 trillion in a decade)
  •  Fastest growing economy in the world (Current: 7% , by 2018: 7.8%)
  •  By 2020, retail market is expected to grow to US$ 1.1 trillion (growing at a high rate of 20%-25% p.a.)
  •  IT-business process management (BPM) sector in India is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 9.5% to US$ 300 billion by 2020
  •  Indian construction equipment industry’s revenues are estimated to reach US$ 22.7 billion by 2020
  •  Total FDI equity inflows touched US$ 35.84 billion (till December 2016)
  •  Under FDI, all sectors other than sectors which are specifically prohibited or under approval route
  •  Taxes on companies has been reduced to 25% (For companies with annual turnover less than 50 Crores)
  •  Low labor costs (Total labor force of nearly 530 million)
  •  Working age group will be more than 64% by 2021 (15-59 years)
  •  Skill set of India has improved over the years with 40% employable candidates. We have 1.5mn engineering pass outs in India every year

Related : Doing Business in India