Latest Changes in GST Amendment Act, 2018

In the 32nd GST Council meeting held on 10th January 2019, certain recommendations were made by the council and such recommendations were approved by making the amendments in GST. These amendments were made applicable from 01st February 2019 by the CGST (Amendment) Act, 2018, IGST (Amendment) Act, 2018, UTGST (Amendment) Act, 2018 and GST (Compensation to States) Amendment Act, 2018 along with the corresponding changes in SGST Acts.

Some of the changes were made for ease of doing business and some of the changes will be the hardship for the registered person. In this article, we will discuss all the crucial amendments applicable from 01.02.2019 in simple language.

Application of Section 9(4) of CGST Act, 2017 under the Reverse Charge Mechanism 

As per section 9(4) of the CGST Act, 2017, if the unregistered person is making a supply to the registered person of more than Rs.5,000, then the recipient was liable for the payment of GST under RCM. However, this section becomes the hardship for the taxable persons to comply and due to this reason, people may avoid taking a supply of goods or services from such an unregistered supplier. Hence, due to this reason the section was not made applicable.

Note: If the person is making a taxable supply on interstate then he shall be compulsorily required to get registration under section 24 of the CGST Act, 2017. That means this section was creating a problem for those small suppliers who were making the supply of goods or services within the state.

However, the provision of this section is now applicable to certain changes. Now the recipient who is a registered person is required to pay tax on RCM only if all the following conditions are satisfied –

• The recipient is covered within the notified class; and
• The recipient has received specified goods or service from the unregistered supplier.

With the amendment, the coverage of tax payable under reverse charge basis would be restricted.

Currently, such recipient and the supplies on which this section shall apply has been notified by the government.

Composition Supplier

There are 2 major changes has been made in composition supplier. Let’s discuss each of them one by one.

• The person making the supply of service may opt the composition scheme: As per section 10 of CGST Act, 2017, Person may opt for the composition scheme if he fulfills the conditions and restrictions as specified in this section. One of the condition is that the person is making the supply of services other than restaurant series shall not be eligible for opting the composition scheme. 

From 1st February 2019, if the person is making a supply of services even other than restaurant services, he shall still eligible for opting the composition scheme. However, in this case, there is one condition is also defined. A person may opt for the scheme if his total value of supply of services has not exceeded higher of the following –

• 10% of the turnover in the last financial year; or
• Rs.5 Lakhs

The Rate of tax on services by composition dealer is 0.5% CGST and 0.5% SGST.

• Threshold limit of turnover increased from Rs.1 Crore to Rs.1.5 Crore. Another major change has been made in this provision is the limit of turnover under which the supplier may opt for the composition scheme. Before the amendment, the threshold limit of turnover for the supplier to be eligible for the composition scheme is Rs.1 Crore.

However, after amendment, a registered person having a turnover up to Rs.1.5 crore can opt for composition scheme.

These points can be summarised in the chart form:

Nature of business	Before Amendment	After Amendment
The person is making a supply of goods	Limit of turnover was Rs.1 crore	Limit of turnover increased to Rs.1.5 crore
A person is making the supply of services	Shall Not be eligible for composition scheme other than restaurant services	Service provider are eligible for composition scheme subject to certain conditions

Reversal of common ITC shall not be allowed for activities covered in Schedule III

As per Schedule, III read with section 7 of CGST Act, 2017, certain supply has been defined which shall neither be treated as a supply of goods nor a supply of services. Before the amendment, such supplies covered under this schedule treated as part of exempted supply and common ITC required to be reversed.

However, from 1st Feb 2019, there is one new explanation has been added mentioning that the term ‘value of exempt supply’ would not include the value of supplies specified in schedule III, except those specified in paragraph 5 of the said schedule which is the sale of land and building.

Availability of ITC on purchase, leasing, renting or hiring of Motor Vehicles, Aircraft and vessels

Before amendments, there were some supplies has been specified under section 17(5) of CGST Act, 2017 under which the Input tax credit was blocked and in that list, there is one item which is supplies related to the motor vehicle. 

However, after amendment, ITC would be restricted only in case of supply related to transportation of persons having approved seating capacity up to 13 persons (including the driver).

However, such motor vehicle when putting to use for following purposes, ITC would be allowed even if their seating capacity is equal to or less than 13 people.

• Further outward supply of such motor vehicles
• Transportation of passengers
• Imparting training on driving.

In simple words, for all the motor vehicles with an approved seating capacity of more than 13 people, ITC would be allowed

Note: In the case of vessels and aircraft, the input tax credit shall be available only if the vessels and aircrafts are used for following–

• A further supply of outward supply of such vessels or aircraft;
• Transportation of passengers;
• Imparting training on flying such aircraft;
• For the transportation of goods.

ITC on services of general insurance, servicing, repair, and maintenance related to a motor vehicle, aircraft, and vessels

In point number 4, we have already discussed that the government has allowed the ITC on a motor vehicle with some restrictions and now the government has also allowed the ITC on Services of general insurance, servicing, repair and maintenance related to motor vehicles, vessels or aircraft

ITC on food and Beverages, Outdoor catering, Beauty treatment, etc.

As per section 17(5) of CGST, 2017 ITC on food and beverages, outdoor catering, beauty treatment would be allowed only if the inward supply shall be used for making the outward supply in the same category and as per the amendment, if the said supply is being supplied to the employee which is obligatory for the employer then also ITC on the said supply shall be allowed.

In simple words, Now ITC on the said supply shall be allowed:

• Only to those who provide the same line of activities
• If obligatory in nature to an employee under any law

Compulsory registration for E-commerce operator who is required to collect tax at source under section 52

Earlier as per section 24, Every E-commerce operator was compulsorily required to get registered under the GST Act. However, after amendment, only those E-commerce operator which are required to collect TCS as per section 52 of CGST Act, 2017, would have to compulsorily require to obtain the registration. 

Multiple registrations within the same state for the same business

In the GST Act, there is a definition of Business vertical which has been deleted now. The effect of deletion of this definition might affect your registration. Since, as per this definition, if the person is having a different business within the state then he may take the separate business for each business however if there is the same business in the same state then he could not take separate registration for this same business.

After the amendment, Now if the person is having the same business in more than one place within the state, then he may take the separate registration for each place of business.

In Simple words, Earlier, the person may take the separate registration for different business verticals and now, the person may take the separate registration for different place of supplies.

Suspension of GST registration until canceled

If any person registration is under process for cancellation then there would be a temporary suspension of registration. This means till the registration has not been canceled fully, such person shall be required to comply with the provisions of GST.

Issue Consolidate Debit note in place of invoice wise debit note

Before the amendment, as per section 34 of CGST Act, 2017, if the person has issued the Debit and Credit Note, then he would be required to issue it on a single invoice. That means if there are debit note or credit note is required to be issued for multiple invoices then the person shall have to issue it on each invoice.

Now, this provision has been changed and as per the amendment, the person may issue a consolidated debit note or credit note in respect of the multiple invoices issued in a financial year. There is no requirement for one to one correlation.

Revised settlement system of Input Tax credit

This is the most important change has been made in these amendments. Before 01.02.2019, 

The credit of IGST can be utilized first for IGST payable, then CGST payable and at last SGST Payable

The credit of CGST can be utilized first for CGST payable and then IGST payable

The credit of SGST / UTGST can be utilized first for SGST / UTGST payable and then IGST payable.

As per the amendment, there is one new section is being introduced, Section 49A–

Under this section, the settlement process is the same, but the addition made in the provisions is that no person shall have to utilize the credit of IGST before CGST or SGST. This has been included in rule 88A by notification number 16/2019 on 29.03.2019

Once the input tax credit of IGST is fully utilized, then the input tax credit of CGST would be used and once the ITC of CGST has completely exhausted than at last we will use SGST / UTGST which can be utilized.

Let’s understand it through the diagram

Liability	IGST Payable	CGST Payable	SGST/ UGST Payable	Remarks
ITC -IGST	1st	2nd / 3rd	2nd / 3rd	First ITC of IGST to be exhausted fully than the only ITC of CGST or SGST/UGST used for utilization for respective payments.
ITC- CGST	2nd	1st	X	The credit of CGST will be utilized for the payment IGST only after payment of CGST Payable.
ITC- SGST	2nd	X	1st	The credit of SGST/UTGST will be utilized for the payment IGST only after payment of SGST/UTGST Payable.

Receipt of payment in Indian rupees permitted for a refund of ITC under GST

As per section 54 of CGST Act, the person is making the supply of services outside India after payment of IGST, shall be eligible for the refund only if the receipts from such supply shall be made in foreign convertible exchange.

However After amendment 1st Feb 2019, If the receipts were made in Indian currency then also, the supplier shall be eligible for the refund of IGST.

Recovery of tax from two distinct person

There is just one explanation has been added in the section, which states that the word person shall include ‘distinct person’. 

Detention, Seizure, and Release of goods and conveyances in transit

Earlier As per section 129(7) of CGST Act, if the person fails to pay the tax and penalty as provided within 7 days of detention or seizure, then proceedings under section 130 shall be initiated.

As per the amendment, the time period of 7 days has been increased to 14 days.

Extension in JOB WORK period

As per section 19 of CGST Act, Where a registered person as principal transfer inputs/capital goods to a job worker for job work purpose then it won’t be considered as supply and there is no need to pay tax on such transfer.
However, it is mandatory that such inputs need to be brought back within a period of 1 year and capital goods need to be brought back within a period of 3 years.

After the amendment, the above specified period can be further extended for 1 year in case of input and 2 years in the case of capital goods. Although, there should be sufficient reason for such an extension.

Summary of the above provision

Type of goods	The time period within which the goods needs to be brought back to the principal	Further extension of the time period on sufficient reason
Inputs	1 year	1 year
Capital Goods	3 year	2 year

Place of supply will be considered as outside India when goods transported from India to the place outside India

As per section 7 of IGST Act, if the location of the supplier and the destination place are within the state then it would be called as intrastate supply and CGST and SGST shall be charged. However, if the location of supplier and destination place are not in the same state then it would be called interstate supply and in this case, IGST would be charged.

As per section 10 of IGST Act, 2017 place of destination has been defined in different criteria. As per the amendment, there is one new criterion has been added which states that if there is a supply for the transportation of goods from India to the place outside India then the place of destination shall be the place outside India that means the place of destination of such goods.

Previous to the amendment, the residuary provisions were applied in which the place of destination shall be the place of the recipient and if the place of supplier is also within the same state then CGST and SGST were getting charged by courier companies in such cases. However, after this amendment IGST shall be charged by the courier company even if the location of recipient and location of the supplier are in the same state.

GST shall not be charged on goods imported to India for job work services

Before the amendment, there was a provision that if the goods have been imported into India to the job worker only for the purpose of repair and it was sent back after repairs then GST shall not be charged on such supply.

As per the amendment, now whether the goods have been imported for the purpose of repairs or for any other treatment or process the exemption shall be available. The said goods should be exported back after such repairs or treatment or process.

Amount to be deposited before filing Appeal to Appellate Authority and Appellate Tribunal

As per section 107 of CGST Act, 2017, any aggrieved person by the order of adjudicating authority may file an appeal before the Appellate Authority. However, before the filing of appeal, such person shall have to deposit the following amount:

Tax amount, interest and Penalty as admitted by the person and 10% of tax of the amount in dispute

After the amendment, the maximum limit has been defined. That means, now the person shall have to deposit the following amount:

Tax amount, interest and Penalty as admitted by the person and 10% of tax of the amount in dispute maximum up to Rs.25 Crore

A similar amendment has been made in section 112, in which the aggrieved person may file an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal. Now, the following amount shall have to be deposited by the person before the filing of appeal to the appellate tribunal:

Tax amount, interest and Penalty as admitted by the person and 20% of tax of the amount in dispute maximum up to Rs.50 Crore

Conclusion

In this article, we have tried to explain all the major amendments that came in GST Amendment Act, 2018 in simple language. I hope that this article may help you to understand these amendments.