Tax
Income Tax Act | Documents Seized From Actor Yash's Residence Make Him 'Searched Person': Karnataka High Court Quashes Order U/S 153C
The Karnataka High Court has held that the search conducted at Actor Yash's residence makes him a 'searched person' under the Income Tax Act, as documents were seized from him, during the search and a panchanama was drawn. Hence, the order under Section 153C of the Act, which applies to persons other than the one originally searched, is without jurisdiction. Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 allows the Income Tax Department to assess or reassess the income of a person other than...
“Customs Cannot Resort To Delaying Tactics”: Delhi High Court Slams Dept For Not Releasing Seized Goods Despite Court Order
The Delhi High Court has slammed the Customs Department for repeatedly delaying implementation of its orders for release of articles seized from passengers arriving from abroad.Calling out the authority's “delaying tactics”, a division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Renu Bhatnagar warned of “stringent action” along with imposition of costs on errant officials.“This Court repeatedly notices that various judgments and orders which are passed, especially order directing release of detained...
Central Govt Ensuring GST Rate Cuts Are Passed On To Consumers: Finance Ministry Tells Lok Sabha
The Ministry of Finance has informed the Lok Sabha that, where several GST rates were rationalised, the Central Government has put in place a coordinated tax-administration mechanism to ensure that businesses actually pass on the GST rate-cut benefits to consumers. CBIC Monitoring Prices After GST Rate Cuts The Finance Ministry stated that the CBIC has been monitoring prices of key GST-covered goods, including packaged foods and pharmaceuticals, comparing prices pre- and post-22...
Centre Rationalises Drone Taxation: Uniform 5% GST, IGST & Customs Duty Relief For Flight Simulators
The Union Government has informed the Lok Sabha that drones across all categories will now attract a uniform 5% GST, following the recommendations of the 56th GST Council Meeting held on 03.09.2025, aimed at removing classification disputes and promoting ease of doing business in the aviation and emerging-technology sectors. Replying to Unstarred Question No. 708, the Minister of State for Civil Aviatio, stated that the GST Council's decision rationalises the earlier structure under...
Evasion Of Tax Cannot Be Attributed To Transporter When Consignor Accepts Error In Loading Goods: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has held that evasion of tax cannot be attributed to the transporter when consignor accepts error in loading goods. Certain goods were intercepted in transit from Dehradun to Delhi. After notices were issued to the cosigner/ consignee, the goods were released in their favour. Subsequently, an order alleging intention to evade tax under Section 129 of the GST Act was passed against the petitioner who was merely a transporter of the goods. Appeal against the...
Imitation Zari Thread Made From Plastic/Polyester Film With Aluminium Metal Attracts 5% GST, Post Rate-Rationalization
The Gujarat Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) has held that supply of imitation zari thread or yarn made from metallised polyester or plastic film, widely used in sarees or garments in place of real gold or silver zari thread would attract GST at 5%. In a ruling dated November 29, 2025 Gujarat AAR comprising Shri. Vishal Malani (Memmer- Central Tax) and Smt. Sushma Vora (Member- State Tax) perused the decision of the 52nd GST Council Meeting regarding imitation zari thread or yarn made...
Virtual Services Rendered By Foreign Law Firms In India Not Taxable Under India-Singapore DTAA: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has held that in the absence of any physical presence, virtual services rendered by a foreign law firm in India would not constitute taxable service under India-Singapore Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.A division bench of Justices V. Kameswar Rao and Vinod Kumar observed,“Article 5(6) of the DTAA only contemplates rendering of services by employees present within the country. If that be so, it is not for this Court to analyse the status or merits of a virtual service...
LiveLawBiz: Business Law Daily Round-Up: December 04, 2025
TAX Kerala Building Tax Act | Increased Plinth Area Due To Additional Construction Justifies Building Tax Reassessment: High Court Centre Clarifies EV Manufacturing Scheme; Says OEM Non-Participation Linked to India–EU FTA Uncertainty Delhi High Court Cautions GST Dept Against Errors In Mentioning Financial Years, Due Dates In SCNs & Orders GST Exemption For Residential Lease Applies When Lessee Sub-Leases Building For Hostel/PG Use : Supreme Court BombayHigh Court Quashes SVLDRS-3...
Lower Conversion Factor Applicable For Timber Imports Before 11.5.2012: Kerala High Court Allows Refund Of Additional Customs Duty
The Kerala High Court has held that a lower conversion factor is applicable for timber imports made before 11.05.2012. Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. examined the issue regarding the refund of additional customs duty paid for the import of timber from Myanmar and other foreign countries. The centre of controversy was the conversion factor to be applied for converting the Hoppus Ton, which is the traditional unit of volume applied in Myanmar for the measurement of logs, to the metric...
Kerala Building Tax Act | Increased Plinth Area Due To Additional Construction Justifies Building Tax Reassessment: High Court
The Kerala High Court held that once the plinth area of a building increases due to additional construction, a fresh building tax assessment must be carried out under the Kerala Building Tax Act. Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A., after examining the documents produced by the assessee, stated that the assessee had carried out additional constructions after the initial construction, which was subjected to assessment under the Kerala Building Tax Act. In this case, the assessee/petitioners...
Centre Clarifies EV Manufacturing Scheme; Says OEM Non-Participation Linked to India–EU FTA Uncertainty
The Centre has clarified on the status of applications under the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars (SPMEPC) that non-participation of Automobile Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) was contingent on finalization of India–EU FTA negotiations. The Centre referred to a stakeholder meeting with automobile OEMs to state that no applications before the deadline of October 21 was attributable to FTA uncertainty, supply chain restrictions, and high investment...
Delhi High Court Cautions GST Dept Against Errors In Mentioning Financial Years, Due Dates In SCNs & Orders
The Delhi High Court has asked the GST Department to exercise caution when mentioning financial year, other relevant dates in the show cause notices and orders issued by it to a taxpayer.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Renu Bhatnagar sounded the note of caution after coming across a case where the authority inadvertently mentioned the due date for filing reply to the show cause notice issued to the Petitioner as 28th August, 2025, instead of 28th August, 2024. The impugned...