Section 91 LIABILITY OF GUARDIANS, TRUSTEES ETC. - GST Ready Reckoner - GST

LIABILITY OF GUARDIANS, TRUSTEES ETC. Liability of guardian in case of business carried on behalf of minor As Per section 91 Where the business in respect of which any tax, interest or penalty is payable under this Act is carried on by any guardian, trustee or agent of a minor or other incapacitated person on behalf of and for the benefit of such minor or other incapacitated person, the tax, interest or penalty shall be levied upon and recoverable from such guardian, trustee or agent. In case business not carried upon by guardian (Minor to Be Treated as Major for the purpose of tax thus Guardian can't escape liability) Tax, interest or penalty shall be levied and recoverable in like manner and to the same extent as it would be determined and recoverable from any such minor or other incapacitated person, as if he were a major or capacitated person and as if he were conducting the business himself and all the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder shall apply accordingly. Summary (a) In respect of business carried on, on behalf of, or for the benefit of a minor or incapacitated person (by the following persons who carry on such business), then such person will be liable to pay tax, interest or penalty:  Guardian; or  Trustee; or  Agent; (b) The tax, interest, penalty or any other dues which such minor or incompetent person will be liable to, are the amounts which are recoverable from the minor or any such incapacitated person and which are levied, assessed in the hands of guardian, trustee or agent. (c) The dues are recoverable from the guardian, trustee or agent in respect of business of the minor or other incapacitated person by treating them as major or capacitated person, who is conducting the business for himself. (d) The deeming fiction is required to overcome the general principle of law, which operates in favour of a minor or incapacitated person to plead minority or incapacity in respect of dues or claims, particularly penal liability. (e) Interestingly the expression incapacitated person is not defined in the Act. It should refer only to a person who is a person of unsound mind or one who is terminally ill. Few Questions on above concept Q1)Who is liable for tax dues etc., in case of a business of minor or incapacitated person? Ans 1)The Guardian, or the Trustee; or the Agent as the case may be who is conducting the business on behalf and for the benefit of minor or incapacitated person. Q2)Whether the minor for whom the business is carried out by Guardian can escape liability on the ground of minority of the beneficiary? Ans 2) The minor is deemed to be a major for the purposes of collection of any tax/interest/penalties arising out of the business carried out for him. Hence the general principle of law has no application and the Guardian Trustee or Agent cannot escape each liability