Clarification on refund related issues - GST - States - 181/13/2022-GST

CIRCULAR By the Chief Commissioner of State Tax Gujarat State, Ahmedabad Dated the 12 th November, 2022 CIRCULAR NO. 181/13/2022-GST No. GSL/GST/S.168/B.120 Subject : Clarification on refund related issues. Attention is invited to sub-section (3) of section 54 of the GGST Act, 2017, which provides for the refund of unutilized input tax credit in cases where credit is accumulated on account of rate of tax of inputs being higher than the rate of tax on output supplies, i. e., on account of inverted duty structure. Sub-rule (5) of rule 89 of the GGST Rules, 2017 prescribes the formula for grant of refund in cases of inverted duty structure. Vide Notification No. 14/2022-State Tax dated July 16, 2022 , amendment has been made in the formula prescribed under sub-rule (5) of rule 89 of the GGST Rules, 2017. Further, vide Notification No. 9/2022-State Tax (Rate), dated July 16, 2022 , which has been made effective from July 18, 2022, the restriction has been placed on refund of unutilised input tax credit on account of inverted duty structure in case of supply of certain goods falling under Chapters 15 and 27. 2. Representations have been received from the trade and the field formations seeking clarification on various issues pertaining to the implementation of the above notifications. In order to clarify the issues and to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of law across the field formations, the Chief Commissioner of State tax, in exercise of its powers conferred by section 168 of the Gujarat Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as GGST Act ), hereby clarifies the issues as under : Sl. No. Issue Clarification 1. Whether the formula prescribed under sub-rule (5) of rule 89 of the GGST Rules, 2017 for calculation of refund of unutilised input tax credit on account of inverted duty structure, as amended vide Notification No. 14/2022-State Tax, dated July 16, 2022, will apply only to the refund applications filed on or after July 5, 2022, or whether the same will also apply in respect of the refund applications filed before July 5, 2022 and pending with the proper officer as on July 5, 2022 ? Vide Notification No. 14/2022-State Tax, dated July 16, 2022, amendment has been made in sub-rule (5) of rule 89 of the GGST Rules, 2017, modifying the formula prescribed therein. The said amendment is not clarificatory in nature and is applicable prospectively with effect from July 5, 2022. Accordingly, it is clarified that the said amended formula under sub-rule (5) of rule 89 of the GGST Rules, 2017 for calculation of refund of input tax credit on account of inverted duty structure would be applicable in respect of refund applications filed on or after July 5, 2022. The refund applications filed before July 5, 2022 will be dealt as per the formula as it existed before the amendment made vide Notification No. 14/2022-State Tax, dated July 16, 2022. 2. Whether the restriction placed on refund of unutilised input tax credit on account of inverted duty structure in case of certain goods falling under Chapters 15 and 27 vide Notification No. 9/2022-State Tax (Rate) dated July 16, 2022, which has been made effective from July 18, 2022, would apply to the refund applications pending as on July 18, 2022 also or whether the same will apply only to the refund applications filed on or after July 18, 2022 or whether the same will be applicable only to refunds pertaining to prospective tax periods ? Vide Notification No. 9/2022-State Tax (Rate) dated July 16, 2022, under the powers conferred by clause (ii) of the first proviso to sub-section (3) of section 54 of the GGST Act, 2017, certain goods falling under Chapters 15 and 27 have been specified in respect of which no refund of unutilised input tax credit shall be allowed, where the credit has accumulated on account of rate of tax on inputs being higher than the rate of tax on the output supplies of such specified goods (other than nil rated or fully exempt supplies). The said notification has come into force with effect from July 18, 2022. The restriction imposed vide Notification No. 9/2022-State Tax (Rate) dated July 16, 2022 on refund of unutilised input tax credit on account of inverted duty structure in case of specified goods falling under Chapters 15 and 27 would apply prospectively only. Accordingly, it is clarified that the restriction imposed by the said notification would be applicable in respect of all refund applications filed on or after July 18, 2022, and would not apply to the refund applications filed before July 18, 2022. 3. Difficulty, if any, in implementation of this circular may please be brought to the notice of the Chief Commissioner of State tax. (Milind Torawane) Chief Commissioner of State Tax, Gujarat State, Ahmedabad