Circular No.23/23/2017-GST
F. No. 349/58/2017-GST
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Excise and Customs
GST Policy Wing
New Delhi, dated 21st December, 2017
To,
The Principal Chief Commissioners / Chief Commissioners / Principal Commissioners /
Commissioners of Central Tax (All)
The Principal Director Generals / Director Generals (All)
Madam/Sir,
Subject: Issues in respect of maintenance of books of accounts relating to additional
place of business by a principal or an auctioneer for the purpose of auction
of tea, coffee, rubber etc.- regarding
Various communications have been received regarding the difficulties being faced
by a principal and an auctioneer in relation to maintaining books of accounts at each and
every additional place of business related to stock of goods like tea, coffee, rubber, etc.
meant for supply through an auction. Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under
section 168 (1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, for the purpose of
uniformity in the implementation of the Act, it has been decided to clarify this matter.
2. As per the first proviso of section 35(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act,
2017 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the CGST Act’) both the principal and the auctioneer are
required to maintain the books of accounts relating to their additional place(s) of business
in such places. It has been represented that both the principal as well as the auctioneer may
be allowed to maintain the books of accounts relating to the additional place(s) of business
at their principal place of business itself.
3. The issue has been examined. In exercise of the powers conferred under section 168
(1) of the CGST Act, for the purpose of uniformity in the implementation of the Act, it is
hereby clarified that -
(a) The principal and the auctioneer of tea, coffee, rubber etc. are required to declare
warehouses where such goods are stored as their additional place of business. The
buyer is also required to disclose such warehouse as his additional place of
business if he wants to store the goods purchased through auction in such
warehouses.
(b) Both the principal and the auctioneer are required to maintain the books of
accounts relating to each and every place of business in that place itself as per the
first proviso to sub-section (1) of section 35 of the CGST Act. However, in case
difficulties are faced in maintaining the books of accounts, it is clarified that they
may maintain the books of accounts relating to the additional place(s) of business
at their principal place of business instead of such additional place(s).
(c) Such principal or auctioneer shall intimate their jurisdictional proper officer in
writing about the maintenance of books of accounts relating to additional place(s)
of business at their principal place of business.
(d) Further, the principal or the auctioneer shall be eligible to avail input tax credit
(ITC) subject to the fulfilment of other provisions of the Act and the rules made
thereunder.
4.
It is further clarified that this Circular is applicable to the supply of tea, coffee,
rubber, etc. where the auctioneer claims ITC in respect of the supply made to him by the
principal before the auction of such goods and the said goods are supplied only through
auction.
5.
It is requested that suitable trade notices may be issued to publicize the contents of
this Circular.
6.
Difficulty, if any, in implementation of the above instructions may please be
brought to the notice of the Board.
7.
Hindi version would follow.
(Upender Gupta)
Commissioner (GST)
