M/s Aastha Enterprises vs The State of Bihar

1.The issue raised in the above writ petition is as to the sustainable claim of Input Tax Credit, when it has been proved that the purchaser, a registered dealer has satisfied the tax liability to the selling dealer, another registered dealer evidenced by a tax invoice; even when the selling dealer does not pay the said tax to the Government after collecting it from the purchaser. Whether the purchasing dealer can be denied Input Tax Credit evidenced by the invoice and is not the State obliged to take proceedings against the selling dealer, who defaulted payment of collected tax to the State; for which the statute provides ample scope, is the question raised.

2.The question unfortunately is raised against an assessment order on which there is a statutory appeal provided. The assessment order is dated 24/25.05.2022 and as per Section 107 of the Bihar Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (for brevity “BGST Act”) an appeal has to be filed within three months and with sufficient cause shown for the delay occasioned, within a further period of one month. It is trite that an appeal would not lie after the specific period provided for delay condonation Hence, an appeal ought to have been filed either as on 24.08.2022 or with a delay condonation application within 24.09.2022. Admittedly, no appeal has been filed and the petitioner has filed the above writ petition long after the period of appeal has expired. Be that as it may, we proceed to consider the issue raised, since it falls for interpretation of the provision enabling Input Tax Credit under the BGST Act.

3.Smt. Archana Sinha, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner points out that the purchases were made after making payments through bank accounts. Invoices were issued by the selling dealer which is also produced as Annexure-1 series. Annexure-1 series shows the invoice issued by the selling dealer, evidencing the payment of the value of the goods along with the tax, by the purchasing dealer through bank account and the movement of the goods purchased. Obviously, the selling dealer has not paid up the tax liability, to the State, which stood satisfied by the purchasing dealer and collected by the selling dealer. The underlying object of Input Tax Credit regime brought in, is to avoid the cascading effect of tax and this would be totally frustrated if the department officials attempt recovery of tax from the purchasing dealer, which tax liability has already been satisfied by payment of the tax component, to the selling dealer. The recovery now sought has the character of a double taxation and it should be the department who proceeds against the selling dealer to recover the collected amount of tax; which if not paid after collection, entails penalties under the tax enactment. Learned counsel for the petitioner also relied on two decisions of learned Single Judges of the Madras High Court. Sri Vinayaga Agencies v. The Assistant Commissioner (CT) & Anr. in WP Nos. 2036 to 2038 of 2013 dated 29.01.2013 and WP (MD) No. 2127 of 2021 and connected cases; M/s D.Y.  Beathel Enterprises v. The State Tax Officer (Data Cell) dated  24.02.2021. It is argued that the reasoning squarely applies in the above case.

4.The Government Advocate, however, relies on Section 16 of the BGST Act and argues that the Input Tax Credit is tied to certain conditions stipulated under the provision; non fulfilment of which would result in denial of such credit. On facts it is submitted that the petitioner did not respond to the show cause notice and the reminder served and it was hence there was an ex-parte order passed. It is pointed out that ALD. Automotive Pvt. Ltd. v. The Commercial Tax Officer & Ors.  (Civil Appeal Nos. 10412-10413 of 2018) held that Input Tax Credit is in the nature of a benefit/concession and not a right extended to the dealer under the statutory scheme, which benefit can accrue to the assessee only as per the scheme of the statute. Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Pvt. Ltd. and Others v.  Commissioner of Sales Tax and Others; 1992 (3) SCC 624 was also relied on to urge that the rule making authority can provide restrictions in extending the concession.

5.We will first look at the decisions placed before us by the learned counsel for the petitioner. Sri Vinayaga Agencies was followed in M/s D.Y. Beathel Enterprises; the former under the VAT Act and the latter under the GST Act. Under the VAT Act in the State of Tamil Nadu Section 19 provided that, Input Tax Credit of the amount of tax paid or payable under the Act by the registered dealer to the seller; on his purchase of taxable goods, specified in the First Schedule, shall be available. The proviso required that the registered dealer who claims Input Tax Credit should establish that the tax due on such purchase has been paid by him in the manner prescribed. Sub-section (16) of Section 19 also provided that the Input Tax Credit availed by a registered dealer would only be provisional and the assessing authority is empowered to reverse the same, if it appears that the claim was incorrect, incomplete or otherwise not in order. The learned Single Judge found that the power of revocation does not extend to contingencies of non-payment of tax by the selling dealer. In the case before Court, the petitioner dealer had admittedly paid the tax to the selling dealer and on raising the claim of Input Tax Credit, even the department accepted the payment made by the purchasing dealer. It was held that in that circumstance, the department ought to have proceeded against the selling dealer for recovery of tax in the manner known to law and the revisional orders reversing the Input Tax Credit under sub-section (16) of Section 19 was totally incorrect, erroneous and contrary to the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act and Rules.

6.M/s D.Y. Beathel Enterprises specifically noticed the afore-cited decision and found that it was under the VAT Act. Section 16 (1) & (2) of the GST Act was quoted and it was held that when the seller has collected tax from the purchasing dealer, the omission on the part of the seller to remit the tax in question should be viewed very seriously and strict action ought to have been initiated against the seller. The impugned orders were quashed on the ground that the selling dealer was not examined and on the ground that there was no recovery initiated against the selling dealer. We have to notice immediately that the second cited decision ignored the provision under sub-clause (c) of Section 16 (2) of the GST Act.

7.Section 16(1) and (2) (a),(b),(c) & (d) are extracted hereinunder:-

“16. Eligibility and conditions for  taking input tax credit.—

(1) Every registered person shall,  subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed and in the manner specified in section 49, be entitled to take credit of input tax charged on any supply of goods or services or both to him which are used or intended to beused in the course or furtherance of his business and the said amount shall be credited to the electronic credit ledger of such person.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no registered person shall be entitled to the credit of any input tax in respect of any supply of goods or services or both to him unless,––

(a) he is in possession of a tax invoice or debit note issued by a supplier registered under this Act, or such other tax paying documents as may be prescribed;

(b) he has received the goods or services or both. Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, it shall be deemed that the registered person has received the goods where the goods are delivered by the supplier to a recipient or any other person on the direction of such registered person, whether acting as an agent or otherwise, before or during movement of goods, either by way of transfer of documents of title to goods or otherwise;

(c) subject to the provisions of section 41, the tax charged in respect of such supply has been actually paid to the Government, either in cash or through utilisation of input tax credit admissible in respect of the said supply; and

(d) he has furnished the return under section 39”

8.Sub-section (1) of Section 16 deals with the eligibility of a registered person to avail of Input Tax Credit on any supply of goods, or services or both which are used or intended to be used in the course or furtherance of his business and the said amount is to be credited to the electronic credit ledger of such person. The conditions for enabling such benefit, are available in Clauses (a) (b) and (c) which are in seriatim; the existence of a tax invoice or debit note issued by the supplier, proof of receipt of goods or services or both and the tax charged in respect of such supply having been actually paid to the Government, either in cash or through utilization of Input Tax Credit admissible in respect of the said supply. The said conditions are to be satisfied together and not separately or in isolation, and these are the conditions and restrictions which would regulate the availment of Input Tax Credit. Input Tax Credit by the very nomenclature contemplates a credit being available for the purchasing dealer in its credit ledger by way of payment of tax by the supplier to the Government .

9.In this context, we refer to a decision of theHon’ble Supreme Court in The State of Karnataka v. M/s Ecom Gill Coffee Trading Private Limited; Civil Appeal No. 230 of 2023 which was disposed of along with a batch ofappeals. The first batch of appeals were in which the purchasingdealer claimed Input Tax Credit solely on the ground that thesale price, which included tax, was paid to the seller by an account payee cheque and that copies of invoices were provided. In one of the cases, relating to one M/s Tallam Apparels, the purchase of readymade garments was fromdealers who had their registration cancelled and those who filed ‘NIL’ returns. In the case of M/s Ecom Gill Coffee Trading Private Limited, the Assessing Officer having entertained doubts about the Input Tax Rebate Claim; sought production of accounts, books, tax invoices etc. Out of the 27 sellers, six were found to be de-registered, three having not paid up the taxes, the remaining six denied the turnover and failed to pay taxes. Similar contentions were taken up before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, which were rejected primarily on the basis of Section 70 of the Karnataka Value Added Tax Act, 2003 which saddled the assessee with the burden of proving inter alia any claim to Input Tax under the Act. It was held that the dealer who claims Input Tax Credit has to prove beyond doubt, the actual transaction by furnishing the name and address of the selling dealer, details of the vehicle delivering the goods, payment of freight charges, acknowledgment of taking delivery of goods, tax invoices and payment particulars etc. It was also held that to sustain a claim of Input Tax Credit on purchases, the purchasing dealer would have to prove and establish the actual physical movement of the goods & genuineness of transactions, by furnishing the details referred to above and mere production of tax invoices would not be sufficient to claim ITC.

10.Learned counsel for the petitioner had specifically argued that the said decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court can be distinguished especially looking at Section 70 of the KVAT Act and also the petitioner herein having produced not only the invoices but also the account details and the documents evidencing transportation of goods. However, we have to notice that this does not absolve the assessee from the rigor provided under sub-clause (c) of Section 16(2) of the BGST Act, which requires the credit of tax, collected from the purchasing dealer; either in cash or through utilization of admissible Input Tax Credit, being available in the context of the supplier having actually paid tax to the Government. This in effect is a burden of proof cast on the purchasing dealer who claims Input Tax Credit, which is a right created under statute; sustained only under the specific terms of the statute.

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