Court modifies GST cancellation order, registration cancelled from show cause notice date instead of retrospective date.

Case Name:

W.P.(C) 2823/2024 - Shibendra Narayan Guha vs. Commissioner of GST & Anr (High Court of Delhi)

Key Takeaways:

1. GST registration cannot be cancelled retrospectively without proper reasoning and consideration of consequences.

2. Show cause notice and order must provide clear and consistent details and reasons.

3. Court can modify the cancellation order if it finds issues with the process or reasoning.

Issue:

Whether the order cancelling the petitioner's GST registration retrospectively from July 2017 and the preceding show cause notice dated October 2022 were valid and legally sustainable.

Facts:

The petitioner, engaged in trading V-Belts (Motor Parts), had a GST registration. The department issued a show cause notice on October 7, 2022, proposing to cancel the registration for not filing returns, without specifying reasons. Subsequently, an order dated November 11, 2022, cancelled the registration retrospectively from July 1, 2017. The petitioner objected to the retrospective cancellation, lack of reasoning, and contradictory statements in the show cause notice and order.

Arguments:

1. Petitioner argued that the show cause notice and order lacked clear reasons and details for the retrospective cancellation, denying the petitioner an opportunity to object.

2. Petitioner contended that registration cannot be cancelled retrospectively without proper justification and consideration of consequences, such as denial of input tax credit to customers.

3. Department argued that registration can be cancelled retrospectively under Section 29(2) of the CGST Act if the officer deems it fit.

Key Legal Precedents:

The court cited Section 29(2) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, which allows the proper officer to cancel GST registration from a retrospective date if certain circumstances are satisfied.

Judgement:

The court found issues with the lack of reasoning, contradictory statements, and details in the show cause notice and order for the retrospective cancellation. It held that registration cannot be cancelled retrospectively mechanically, and the officer must have objective criteria and consider the consequences. Since the petitioner did not wish to continue the business, the court modified the order to cancel the registration from October 7, 2022, the date of the show cause notice. However, the court clarified that the department can still recover any tax, penalty, or interest due from the petitioner as per law, including retrospective cancellation if warranted.

FAQs:

Q1: What was the main issue in this case?

A1: The main issue was the validity of the order cancelling the petitioner's GST registration retrospectively from July 2017 and the preceding show cause notice dated October 2022.

Q2: Why did the court find issues with the show cause notice and order?

A2: The court found that the show cause notice and order lacked clear reasons, had contradictory statements, and did not provide details for the retrospective cancellation, denying the petitioner an opportunity to object.

Q3: What legal principle did the court rely on?

A3: The court relied on Section 29(2) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, which allows cancellation of registration from a retrospective date if certain circumstances are satisfied, but not mechanically without proper justification.

Q4: What was the court's final decision?

A4: The court modified the order to cancel the petitioner's GST registration from October 7, 2022, the date of the show cause notice.

Q5: Can the department still recover any tax, penalty, or interest from the petitioner or cancel the registration retrospectively?

A5: Yes, the court clarified that the department is not precluded from taking steps to recover any tax, penalty, or interest due from the petitioner as per law, including retrospective cancellation of the GST registration if warranted.

1. Petitioner impugns order of cancellation of registration dated 11.11.2022 whereby the GST registration of the Petitioner has been cancelled retrospectively with effect from 01.07.2017. Petitioner also impugns Show Cause Notice dated 07.10.2022.

2. Vide Show Cause Notice dated 07.10.2022, petitioner was called upon to show cause as to why the registration be not cancelled for the following reason:-

“Returns furnished by you under Section 39 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act,2017”

3. Petitioner was engaged in business of trading of V-Belt (Motor Parts) and possessed GST registration.

4. Show cause notice dated 07.10.2022 was issued to the petitioner. Though the notice does not specify any cogent reason, there is an observation in the notice stating “failure to furnish returns for a continuous period of six months”. Further, the said show cause notice also does not put the petitioner to notice that the registration is liable to be cancelled retrospectively. Accordingly, petitioner had no opportunity to even object to the retrospective cancellation of the registration.

5. Further, the impugned order dated 11.11.2022 passed on the Show Cause Notice dated 07.10.2022 does not give any reasons for cancellation. It, however, states that the registration is liable to be cancelled for the following reason “whereas no reply to the show cause notice has been submitted”. However, the said order in itself is contradictory. The order states “reference to your reply dated 07.11.2022 in response to the notice to show cause dated 07.10.2022” and the reason stated for the cancellation is “whereas no reply to notice show cause has been submitted”. The order further states that effective date of cancellation of registration is 01.07.2017 i.e., a retrospective date.

6. In fact, in our view, order dated 11.11.2022 does not qualify as an order of cancellation of registration. On one hand, it states that the registration is liable to be cancelled and on the other, in the column at the bottom there are no dues stated to be due against the petitioner and the table shows nil demand.

7. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that petitioner is no longer interested in continuing the business and has closed down his business activities because of his ill health & old age.

8. The show cause notice and the impugned order are also bereft of any details accordingly the same cannot be sustained. Further, neither the show cause notice, nor the order spell out the reasons for retrospective cancellation.

9. In terms of Section 29(2) of the Act, the proper officer may cancel the GST registration of a person from such date including any retrospective date, as he may deem fit if the circumstances set out in the said sub-section are satisfied. Registration cannot be cancelled with retrospective effect mechanically. It can be cancelled only if the proper officer deems it fit to do so. Such satisfaction cannot be subjective but must be based on some objective criteria. Merely, because a taxpayer has not filed the returns for some period does not mean that the taxpayer’s registration is required to be cancelled with retrospective date also covering the period when the returns were filed and the taxpayer was compliant.

10. It is important to note that, according to the respondent, one of the consequences for cancelling a tax payer’s registration with retrospective effect is that the taxpayer’s customers are denied the input tax credit availed in respect of the supplies made by the tax payer during such period. Although, we do not consider it apposite to examine this aspect but assuming that the respondent’s contention in required to consider this aspect while passing any order for cancellation of GST registration with retrospective effect. Thus, a taxpayer's registration can be cancelled with retrospective effect only where such consequences are intended and are warranted.

11. It may be further noted that both the Petitioners and the department want cancellation of the GST registration of the Petitioner, though for a different reason.

12. In view of the fact that Petitioner does not seek to carry on business or continue the registration, the impugned order dated 11.11.2022 is modified to the limited extent that registration shall now be treated as cancelled with effect from 07.10.2022 i.e., the date when the Show Cause Notice was issued. Petitioner shall comply with the requirements of Section 29 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

13. It is clarified that Respondents are also not precluded from taking any steps for recovery of any tax, penalty or interest that may be due in respect of the subject firm in accordance with law including retrospective cancellation.

14. Petition is accordingly disposed of in the above terms.

SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J RAVINDER DUDEJA, J

FEBRUARY 26, 2024