Importers can breathe easy as the Gujarat High Court has stayed the levy of Integrated Goods & Service Tax (IGST) on ocean freight. IGST is levied on all Inter-State supplies of goods and/or services. It is also applicable on any supply of goods and/or services in cases of import into and export from the country.

Under the GST, there is specific provision with respect to taxability on the component of ocean freight. The law specifically provides that the importers are required to discharge IGST at the rate of 5 per cent on ocean freight services under the Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM). Under RCM, it is the duty of importer to pay IGST on behalf of foreign buyer. However, at the same time, customs duty on the CIF value (which includes the component of freight as well) of the goods imported into India is also paid by the importer. As a result, there is double taxation on the component of ocean freight under GST law which is an impediment and has bloated the cost of imports.

Keeping this in mind, a petition was filed with the Gujarat High Court. The petitioner, Mohit Minerals Pvt Ltd challenged vires of IGST related notification. The petition has principally three elements. First, having paid the tax under IGST Act on the entire value of imports (inclusive of the ocean freight), the petitioner cannot be asked to pay tax on the ocean freight all over again under a different notification. Secondly, in case of CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) contracts, the service provider and service recipient both are outside the territory of India. No tax on such service can be collected even on reverse charge mechanism. And thirdly, in case of High Sea sales, the burden is cast on the petitioner as an importer whereas, the petitioner is not the recipient of the service at all. It is the petitioner's seller of goods on high sea basis who has received the services from the exporter/ transporter. The matter is pending.

A similar petition was filed by Ghanshyamlal and Company. The court took notice of order passed in the previous matter and granted stay. Now notice has been issued to the Central Government and both the matter will be heard on June 19.

Commenting on the development, Harpreet Singh, Partner in KPMG, said this is indeed a positive development and should come as relief to importers at large. The issue of double taxation has been at the forefront of recommendations by various industry bodies. “While the present order grants stay on levy of IGST on ocean freight, it would be interesting to track this case as importers would be hoping the final outcome settles the long pending issue of double taxation,” he said.

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