Tax Monthly Digest: May 2025

SUPREME COURTGST | Bail Should Be Normally Granted For Offences Under S 132 CGST Act Unless Extraordinary Circumstances Exists : Supreme CourtCase : Vineet Jain vs Union of IndiaCase no.: CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.2269 OF 2025The Supreme Court recently expressed surprise at the High Court and the Magistrate Court denying bail to a person accused of committing offences under Section 132 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act.The Court observed that in cases like this, bail should normally be granted....

Service Tax Not Leviable On Hostel Fees Received For Non-Residential Courses In Coaching Institute: CESTAT

The Kolkata Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that service tax is not leviable on hostel fees received for non-residential courses in coaching institute. The Bench of Ashok Jindal (Judicial Member) and K. Anpazhakan (Technical Member) has observed that “the stand-alone hostel charges collected for non-residential courses, have no connection with Commercial Training and Coaching services as defined under section 65(105)(zzc) of the Finance...

No Provision To Reject Appeal On Non-Appearance Of Assessee, Must Be Decided By Mandate U/S 250(6) Of Income Tax Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court stated that there is no provision of rejecting the appeal merely on non-appearance of assessee and the appellate authority must decide an appeal by strictly following the mandate contemplated under Section 250(6) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Bench of Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. observed that “evidently, going by Subsection 6 of Section 250, no other meaning can be assigned to the words “points for determination” as it obviously leads to the question that arises ...

Vessel Engaged Under SEAIOCM Agreement Qualifies As 'Foreign Going Vessel' For Exemption U/S 87 Of Customs Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court stated that vessel engaged under SEAIOCM agreement qualified as 'foreign going vessel' for exemption under section 87 Of Customs Act. The Bench consists of Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and P.M. Manoj was addressing the issue of whether in the backdrop of the terms of engagement of the vessel under the SEAIOCM Agreement, the vessel can be categorized as a foreign going vessel for the purposes of claiming exemption under Section 87 of the Customs Act. In ...

Import Of Inverter Component Without Photo-Voltaic Cell Not Eligible For Customs Duty Exemption: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court stated that import of inverter component without photo-voltaic cell not eligible for customs duty exemption. “Inasmuch as the import was only of the inverter component, without the photo-voltaic cell - a component that was essential for harnessing solar energy, which could then be routed through the inverter system for the supply of electrical energy to the grid, the assessee cannot be seen as eligible for the benefit of the exemption notification……” stated the...

Absence Of Formal Demand Notice For Property Tax During Pendency Of Litigation Does Not Absolve Assessee's Obligation To Pay: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court stated that absence of a formal demand notice for property tax during pendency of litigation does not absolve assessee's obligation to pay such tax. The Division Bench of Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and P.M. Manoj stated that “The liability to pay the tax once assessed is on the assessee and in a situation where the assessee continuously pays the tax based on the assessment that is conducted, the mere fact that the Corporation did not choose to issue a...

Notice U/S 148 Of Income Tax Act Can't Be Issued Without Giving Proper Reasons: Himachal Pradesh High Court

Himachal Pradesh High Court held that a notice under Section 148 of Income Tax 1961 for initiation of reassessment proceedings, can't be issued by the assessing officer without giving proper reasons.“Section 148 enables the Assessing Officer to initiate reassessment proceedings where income chargeable to tax is believed to have escaped assessment”. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan & Justice Sushil Kukreja : “The Assessing Officer needs to realise that notice under Section 148 does have...

[Income Tax] Delhi HC Larger Bench To Decide On Retrospective Applicability Of Extended Limitation For Reassessment In Cases Involving Foreign Assets

A larger bench of the Delhi High Court will decide whether Section 149(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act 1961, inserted vide a 2012 amendment to provide an extended period of reassessment for cases involving foreign assets, applies retrospectively.Section 149(1)(c) prescribes that reassessment notice in respect of any income in relation to any asset located outside India, which had escaped assessment, is not proscribed for a period of 16 years from the end of the assessment year in which such income...

Assessee Is Permitted To Rectify GSTR 3B On Par With Contents Of GSTR 1: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court stated that the assessee is permitted to rectify GSTR 3B on par with contents of GSTR 1. The Division Bench of Justices P.B. Bajanthri and S.B. PD. Singh observed that in the government, there is no system of rectification of any return once it is filed. However, the assessee had submitted application to rectify GST 3B on par with the GSTR 1 relating to certain total taxable value, total integrated tax, total CGST, total SGST. He had committed error insofar as...

Tax Weekly Round-Up: May 21 - June 01, 2025

SUPREME COURTS.27 Customs Act Or Doctrine Of Unjust Enrichment Won't Apply To Refund Of Bank Guarantee : Supreme Court Allows Patanjali PleaCase Title: M/S PATANJALI FOODS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS M/S RUCHI SOYA INDUSTRIES LTD.) VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ORS.Case no.: CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 3833-3835 OF 2025The Supreme Court has held that Section 27 of the Customs Act, which requires a person seeking refund of duty to show that the burden was not passed on to the customer, is not applicable when...

Open Terrace/Portico Excluded While Computing Built-Up Area To Determine Eligibility For Deduction U/S 80-IB Of IT Act: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court stated that open terrace/portico excluded while computing build-up area for determining eligibility for deduction under section 80-IB of Income Tax Act. The Bench consists of Justices P. Sam Koshy and Narsing Rao Nandikonda was addressing the issue of whether the terrace / balcony that is in the form of open to sky or portico / porch area without walls could be added while computing the built-up area for the purpose of determining the eligibility for deduction...

S.161 CGST Act | Rectification Order Must Be Reasoned, Adverse Order Can Be Passed Only After Hearing Party: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that an order in rectification proceedings must be reasoned, passed after affording an opportunity of hearing to the party.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta made the observation while dealing with a petition against rejection of Petitioner's application seeking rectification of impugned demand orderPetitioner pointed out that in terms of the proviso 3 to Section 161 of the Central/Delhi Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017...