Penalty U/S 122(1A) GST Act Can Be Imposed Retrospectively Even If SCN Was Issued After Its Enactment: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that Section 122(1A) of the Goods and Services Tax Act 2017 can be imposed retrospectively, provided the show cause notice had been issued to the assessee when the provision was introduced.Section 122 contemplates penalties for certain offences under the GST Act, including fraudulent availment of input tax credit.Section 122(1A) was introduced by the Finance Act 2020 and came into effect on 1 January 2021. It prescribes that any person who retains the...

Stem Cell Banking Services Qualify As "Healthcare Services" In Service Tax Exemption Notification : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court held that stem cell banking services, including enrolment, collection, processing, and storage of umbilical cord blood stem cells, constitute “Healthcare Services” which were exempted from service tax as per the notifications issued by the Ministry of Finance in 2012 and 2014 under the Finance Act, 1994.Holding so, a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan set aside the assessment orders issued against M/s Stemcyte India Therapeutics Ltd for over Rs 2...

[S.69 CGST Act] Fake Supplier Addresses Indicate Prima Facie GST Evasion: Himachal Pradesh High Court Refuses To Quash Complaint

The Himachal Pradesh High Court stated that fake supplier addresses indicate prima facie GST evasion and refused to quash complaint under Section 69 of CGST Act. “When the officials went to the addresses mentioned in the invoices and found that no such entity existed, it was sufficient to infer that the invoices were fake, and the material shown to have been supplied as per the invoices could not have been supplied since no such person existed at the given address”, stated the bench. ...

Movement Of Goods To CFAs In Other States Is Stock Transfer, Not Inter-State Sale; Central Sales Tax Not Leviable: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that movement of goods to carrying and forwarding agents in other states is stock transfer, not inter-state sale, central sales tax not leviable. Justice Dilip Gupta (President) and P.V. Subba Rao (Technical Member) stated that “the supplies made from the stockyards/warehouses to the Distributors would be a local sale in the State where the stockyards/warehouses are situated. Until the goods...

S.107 GST Act | Impugned Order “Automatically Stayed” Once Appeal Is Filed & Pre-Deposit Is Made; No Attachment Of Bank Account: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has observed that once an appeal is filed by the assessee under Section 107 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act 2017 and pre-deposit is made, there is “automatic stay” of the impugned order raising demand.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta thus interdicted the bank from attaching the account of an assessee, who had preferred an appeal against demand. It observed,“A perusal of Section 107(7) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act,...

Property Tax Can't Be Levied Without Following Statutory Assessment Procedure U/S 233 Of Kerala Municipality Act: High Court

The Kerala High Court stated that property tax can't be levied without following statutory assessment procedure under Section 233 of Kerala Municipality Act, 1994. Section 233 of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, deals with the levy of property tax by the Municipality on buildings and lands within its area. This section outlines the process of assessment and collection of property tax, specifying that it should be levied in accordance with the Act and prescribed rules. Justices ...

Customs Act | Adjudicating Authority Can't Decline Refund Of Excess Duty In Presence Of CA's Certificate: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that the Customs authority cannot, in absence of some evidence, decline refund of excess duty paid by a trader when the latter furnishes certificates from a qualified chartered accountant in support of its case.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta thus dismissed the Department's appeal against Nokia.Nokia sought refund of excess duty paid on import of mobile handsets. While the goods were exempted by the Central government...

Tax Weekly Round-Up: July 07 - July 13, 2025

HIGH COURTSAllahabad HCMere Absence Of Activity At Principal Place Of Business Doesn't Mean Invoices Issued To Assessee Are Fake: Allahabad High CourtCase Title: S.S. Enterprises v. State of U.P. and AnotherCase no.: WRIT TAX No. - 3026 of 2025The Allahabad High Court has held that merely because there was no activity at the principal place of business of the assessee, it cannot be presumed that the invoices issued in favour of such assessee are fake.Petitioner approached the High Court seeking...

Anti-Dumping Duty Paid By Mistake In Self-Assessment Has No Legal Character Of 'Duty', Must Be Refunded: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that anti-dumping duty paid by mistake in self-assessment has no legal character of 'duty' and must be refunded. Dr. Rachna Gupta (Judicial Member) stated that the assessee had added the amount of Anti-dumping duty while self-assessing the customs duty liability. Hence the Anti-dumping duty added to the amount of duty while self-assessing the Bill of Entry cannot take the character of duty. ...

Indirect Tax Half-Yearly Digest: January - June, 2025

SUPREME COURTSupreme Court Sets Aside Excise Duty Demand On Oil Marketing Companies For Inter-Supply Of Petroleum ProductsCase Title: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. versus Commissioner of Central Excise Nashik Commissionerate (and connected matters)Case no.: CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5642 OF 2009In a significant relief for Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the Supreme Court ruled (Jan. 20) that prices under the MoU for inter-supply of petroleum products, designed to ensure smooth nationwide...

S.148 Income Tax Notice Issued After 31.03.2021 Under Old Regime Invalid Despite TOLA Extension: ITAT

The Chennai Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has held that S.148 Income Tax notice issued after 31.03.2021 under old regime invalid despite TOLA [Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020] extension. Section 148 of Income Tax Act, 1961 empowers the Income Tax Department to reopen assessments if there's reason to suspect inaccurate income reporting. George George K. (Vice President) and S.R. Raghunatha (Accountant Member) observed that...

Mere Absence Of Activity At Principal Place Of Business Doesn't Mean Invoices Issued To Assessee Are Fake: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that merely because there was no activity at the principal place of business of the assessee, it cannot be presumed that the invoices issued in favour of such assessee are fake. Petitioner approached the High Court seeking quashing of the penalty order under Section 129(3) of the CGST Act and seeking release of the goods confiscated under Section 129(1)(a) by the Assistant Commissioner Commercial Tax Mobile Unit Khataul, Muzaffarnagar. Petitioner...