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Executive Summary
In this write-up, the paper writer outlines statutory provisions of the Service Tax and GST Regime relevant to Notice Pay Recovery. Thereafter stand of revenue on the said issue is explained. For a better understanding of this vexed issue, paper writer skims through Indian Rulings, recent developments and International Jurisprudence. Write-up ends with a conclusion against taxability but with a rider.
Concept of Notice Pay
As per terms of employment an employee may be required to serve a notice period as mentioned in the letter of appointment before he is officially relieved from his duties. In case an employee could not serve the agreed notice period, then the employer usually recovers pre-agreed amount from the employees. Such recovery is known as 'notice pay recovery' or ‘notice period recovery’.
The question for consideration - Whether such notice pay recovery is subject to GST?
Statutory Provisions in Service Tax Regime
Notice pay recovery has always been a contentious issue, whether in Service Tax or GST era. Before we discuss the implication of said issue in the GST regime let us quickly touch base legal provisions that existed during the Service Tax regime.
In Service Tax law any services provided by an employee to an employer in the course of the employment[1] was outside the purview of Service Tax. However, a Draft Circular[2] raked up the taxability issue of various transactions between employer and employee. Draft Circular clarified that activities carried out by the employer for the employees fall within the definition of “service” and are liable to be taxed unless specified in the Negative List or otherwise exempted. Further, it was explained that facilities provided by an employer to employees for a consideration or deduction of amount from salary etc. will fall under the definition of “service” and shall be taxable in the hands of the employer. Further “declared services”[3] covers under its ambit “agreeing to the obligation to refrain from an act, or to tolerate an act or a situation, or to do an act”
Statutory Provisions in GST law
In GST law[1], services by an employee to the employer in the course of or in relation to his employment is not treated as a supply of goods or services. Further, supply of goods or services or both between related persons when made in the course or furtherance of business is deemed as a supply[2] even when made without consideration. Gifts exceeding Rs 50,000/- in value in a financial year by an employer to an employee is also deemed as a supply of goods or services or both. As a paradigm shift, the employer and the employees are deemed as related persons[3] in GST law.
[1] Section 65B(44) of the Finance Act r.w. 1994, TRU Circular dated 16-3-2012
[1] Draft Circular F. No 354/127/2012-TRU dated 27.07.2012
[1] Section 66E(e) of the Finance Act, 1994
[1] Entry no. 1 of Schedule III of the Central GST Act
[1] Entry No.2 of the Schedule I to the CGST Act
[1] Explanation to Section 15 of the CGST Act
Further agreeing to the obligation to refrain from an act, or to tolerate an act or a situation, or to do an act is classified as a service[1] in GST law. Moreover in the case of related party transactions invoice value shall not be accepted and such transactions are to be valued in terms of CGST rules.
Having broadly understood applicable legal provisions let us understand the stand of revenue on notice pay recovery.
Arguments made by Revenue in favour of taxability
Revenue holds the view that notice pay recovery is taxable as a declared service in service tax law. Further taxability continues even in GST as such transaction is covered under Schedule II of GST law (agreeing to the obligation to refrain from an act, or to tolerate an act or a situation, or to do an act etc). Arguments were put forth by the revenue that the employer is tolerating the act (allowing an employee to resign without serving notice period) of an employee. Further, by relieving the employee on acceptance of notice pay, the employer refrains from taking any legal action against the employee for not serving the prescribed notice period. Such an act of employer was argued as falling within the ambit of declared service/deemed supply and thus transaction is subject to Service Tax/GST. Further, it was also argued that services by an employee to the employer are outside the ambit of Service Tax/GST and not vice versa.
Service Tax era has witnessed a good amount of litigation on this topic and recently catena of judgments have been delivered by Hon’ble High courts and CESTAT clarifying legal position. Let us run through judgments to understand the view of the judiciary in this regard.
Emerging Indian Jurisprudence on Notice Pay Recovery
GE T & D India Limited[1]
[1] Clause 5 (e) of Schedule II to the CGST Act
[1] 2020-TIOL-183-HC-MAD-ST
Hon’ble Madras High Court relying on Service Tax Education Guide held that employer cannot be said to have rendered any service per se much less a taxable service and has merely facilitated the exit of the employee upon imposition of a cost upon him for the sudden exit. High Court made a significant finding that the employer has not 'tolerated' any act of the employee but has permitted a sudden exit upon being compensated by the employee in this regard. Finally, High Court ruled that notice pay, in lieu of sudden termination does not give rise to the rendition of service either by the employer or the employee.
HCL Learning Limited Vs Commissioner of CGST Noida[1]
Hon’ble Allahabad CESTAT held that notice pay recovery is out of the salary already paid and since salary is not covered by the provisions of service tax, therefore even notice pay recovery is outside taxability of service tax.
Nandinho Rebello v. DCIT[2]
In the context of Income Tax, tribunal took a view that notice pay recovery is nothing but an adjustment of salary and therefore, only the actual salary received after deduction of notice pay recovery is taxable in the hands of the employee.
J. P. Morgan Services India Private Limited[3]
Advance Ruling Authority (Service Tax) held that making available vehicles to employees during the course of employment does not amount to the provision of “service”. Further, it was held that the mere option given to the employee to ultimately purchase the leased car at a certain value at the end of his employment is also a service provided in the course of employment and therefore outside the ambit of the term “services”. On a similar analogy, it can be very well argued that notice pay recovery at the end of employment is also outside the ambit of the “services”.
[1] 2019-TIOL-3545-CESTAT-ALL
[2] [2017] 80 taxmann.com 297 (Ahmedabad - Trib.)
[3] 2015-TIOL-12-ARA-ST
GST Advance ruling in Amneal Pharmaceuticals (P.) Ltd[1]
Advance Ruling Authority has ignored pro-taxpayer Service Tax decisions cited by the applicant and took a view that said decisions relate to the disputes of Service Tax regime and therefore not relevant. Authority finally held that notice pay recovery is subject to 18% GST under the entry of "services not elsewhere classified.
QX KPO Services Pvt Ltd & Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd
Commissioner Appeals in QX KPO Services Pvt Ltd[1] relying on the Service Tax Education Guide formed a view that Notice Pay Recovery does not fall within the ambit of ‘services’ and therefore not subject to GST. A similar decision was followed in Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd Vs AC, CGST[2]
Recent developments
In the opinion of the paper writer following recent developments has brought a sea change in taxability of notice pay recovery /damage compensation recovery.
International Jurisprudence
Though the relevance of International Jurisprudence to Indian GST is a matter of debate, let us run through few landmarks international judgments to understand the international scenario in this regard.
[1] Commissioner of Service Tax, Chennai V. Repco Home Finance Ltd 2020-VIL-309 CESTAT-CH-ST; South Eastern Coalfields Limited V. Commissioner Of Central Excise & Service Tax, Raipur 2020-VIL-559-CESTAT-DEL-ST; Amit Metaliks Limited V. Commissioner of CGST, Bolpur 2019 (11) TMI 183- CESTAT Kolkata; Bai Mamubai Trust v. Suchitra [2019] 109 taxmann.com 200 (Bom.), K.N. Food Industries Pvt. Ltd Vs Commissioner Of CGST & C. Ex., Kanpur 2020 (38) G.S.T.L. 60 (Tri. - All.)
[1] Circular 212/2/2019 dated 21st May, 2019
[1] European Court Reports 2007 I-06415
[1] AstraZeneca UK Ltd v HMRC Case C-40/09 ECJ
Above ruling suggests that even internationally law on the taxability of damages/compensation is still at the evolution stage.
Paper writer’s view on Notice Pay recovery
Basis above arguments it is possible to hold a view that in case of notice pay recovery employer is not providing any services to the employee. Quid pro quo (reciprocal promise) is missing while employer collects/deducts notice pay recovery from the outgoing employees and therefore amount collected is toward recovery of damage or compensation. Further notice pay recovery is not a separate consideration flowing from any independent contract.
On a conjoint reading of the above legal provisions and rulings, taxpayers can safely assume that notice pay recovery is not liable to Service Tax/GST with a caveat that there is no final word in taxation laws.
Vehicle Control Services Limited v HMRC [2013] EWCA (Civ 186)
[1] [2019] UKUT 234 (7 August 2019)
Author : Jignesh Kansara - Chartered Accountants by Profession and practise in the area of Indirect Taxation including GST.
Email: jignesh@jkaca.in
Disclaimer
The views expressed herein are strictly personal to the authors and should not be construed as advice/ legal opinion. The contents of this article are based on the interpretation of the facts, relevant legislation, rules, notifications, circulars, judgments/rulings, etc. on the date of publishing of this article. One should not act upon the information in this article without obtaining specific professional advice. The authors are not responsible or liable for any loss or damage caused to anyone due to any interpretation, error, omission pertaining to this article. Further, the said article is only for information and guidance purposes and should not be construed as any kind of advertisement or solicitation of work.
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