Interest on GST: Court Rules ITC Portion Also Attracts Interest Under Section 50

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Case Name

M/s. Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd. v. The Commissioner of Central Tax & Ors.

Court Name: High Court for the State of Telangana at Hyderabad

Case No.: Writ Petition No. 44517 of 2018

Decided on: 18th April 2019

Key Takeaways

1. Interest applies to total tax liability: Under Section 50(1) of the CGST Act, 2017, interest is payable on the entire tax liability, not just the cash component, when payment is delayed.

2. ITC credit timing is crucial: ITC becomes available in the electronic credit ledger only after filing a return. Until then, no payment is deemed made, even if tax on inputs was already paid.

3. Self-assessment obligation: The liability to pay interest under Section 50(1) is automatic and self-imposed (“on his own”), arising without any formal assessment by authorities.

4. Proposed amendment not applicable: Though the GST Council recommended amending Section 50 to charge interest only on net cash liability, this amendment had not been enacted at the time of judgment and could not influence the court’s interpretation.

5. VAT precedents inapplicable: Decisions under the Gujarat VAT Act were held not applicable to GST due to substantial differences between the two regimes.

Issue

Is interest under Section 50 of the CGST Act, 2017 payable only on the net tax liability (after deducting ITC), or is it payable on the total tax liability including the portion that could be set off against ITC?

Facts

• The Petitioner’s Business: M/s. Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd. manufactures MS Pipes and executes infrastructure projects. After the CGST Act, 2017 came into force, they registered as a dealer and regularly filed returns and paid taxes.

• The GST Portal System: Under the GST system, everything happens online—registration, ITC claims, return filing, and tax payment. Dealers must file monthly returns in Form GSTR-3B by the 20th of each succeeding month. The system is designed such that unless the entire tax liability is discharged, the return cannot be filed.

• The Delay: The petitioner delayed filing returns for October 2017 to May 2018. The delays ranged from just one day (for October, November 2017, February and May 2018) to 29 days (for March 2018). The reasons cited included shortage of ITC available to offset the entire tax liability.

• Tax Liability Details: For July 2017 to May 2018:
• Total tax liability: Rs. 1,014,02,89,385/-
• ITC available: Rs. 968,58,86,133/-
• Shortfall (to be paid in cash): Rs. 45,44,03,252/-

• The Demand: After the petitioner cleared the entire liability in May 2018, the department issued letters on 29.06.2018, 06.07.2018, and 04.10.2018 demanding interest at 18% under Section 50 on the total tax liability.

• Petitioner’s Response: The petitioner paid Rs. 30,92,522/- as interest on the net cash liability and argued that interest should only be calculated on this amount, not on the ITC portion.

Arguments

Petitioner’s Arguments:

1. Interest only on cash component: The petitioner contended that interest under Section 50 should be levied only on the net tax liability (the cash portion of Rs. 45,44,03,252/-), not on the ITC portion which was already available as credit.

2. ITC already paid: They argued that the tax on inputs had already been paid to the government by their suppliers, so this amount was effectively with the government and shouldn’t attract interest.

3. Technical constraints: The delay in filing returns was due to the GST Portal’s design, which doesn’t accept returns unless the entire liability is discharged.

4. Proposed GST Council amendment: They relied on the GST Council’s in-principle approval to amend Section 50 to charge interest only on the net cash liability.

5. Gujarat High Court precedents: They cited State of Gujarat v. Dashmesh Hydraulic Machinery (dated 19.01.2015) and State of Gujarat v. Nishi Communication (dated 29.01.2015) from the Gujarat VAT regime.

Respondent’s (Department’s) Arguments:

1. Statutory obligation: Under Section 39(7), every registered person must pay tax due as per the return not later than the last date for furnishing the return.

2. Section 50 applies to all tax: Section 50(1) imposes interest on every person who fails to pay tax within the prescribed period, and this is not confined only to the cash component.

3. Self-imposed liability: The liability under Section 50(1) is statutory and must be complied with by the taxpayer on their own accord, without any assessment.

4. ITC not with government: The department argued that the petitioner’s claim was based on the wrong presumption that ITC was lying with the government treasury. In reality, ITC becomes available only after filing returns.

5. Compensatory, not penal: Since the liability is compensatory in nature, the petitioner cannot escape it.

Key Legal Precedents

The court examined the following statutory provisions in detail:

1. Section 39 of the CGST Act, 2017 - Furnishing of Returns

This section requires every registered person to furnish monthly returns electronically by the 20th of the succeeding month and pay the tax due as per the return not later than this date.

2. Section 41 of the CGST Act, 2017 - Claim of ITC and Provisional Acceptance

This provision states that every registered person is entitled to take credit of eligible input tax as self-assessed in their return. This amount is credited on a provisional basis to the electronic credit ledger and can be utilized only for payment of self-assessed output tax.

3. Section 16 of the CGST Act, 2017 - Eligibility and Conditions for Taking ITC

Section 16(1) entitles registered persons to take credit of input tax, subject to conditions. Section 16(2) lays down four conditions:

• Possession of tax invoice/debit note
• Receipt of goods/services
• Tax actually paid to government by supplier
• Filing of return under Section 39

4. Section 49 of the CGST Act, 2017 - Payment of Tax

This section deals with the electronic cash ledger and electronic credit ledger. Section 49(2) states that ITC as self-assessed in the return shall be credited to the electronic credit ledger. Section 49(4) allows the amount in the electronic credit ledger to be used for payment of output tax.

5. Section 50 of the CGST Act, 2017 - Interest on Delayed Payment

Section 50(1) provides that every person liable to pay tax but who fails to pay within the prescribed period shall pay interest (not exceeding 18%) “on his own” for the period the tax remains unpaid. Section 50(2) states interest shall be calculated from the day succeeding the day on which tax was due.

Case Laws Cited:

1. State of Gujarat v. Dashmesh Hydraulic Machinery (dated 19.01.2015) - Gujarat High Court decision under Gujarat VAT Act

2. State of Gujarat v. Nishi Communication (dated 29.01.2015) - Gujarat High Court decision under Gujarat VAT Act

Court’s Treatment: The court held that both these decisions arose under the Gujarat Value Added Tax Act and that the VAT regime and GST regime differ substantially. Therefore, these decisions did not assist the petitioner.

Judgement

The High Court of Telangana dismissed the writ petition, ruling in favor of the department. Here’s the court’s reasoning:

Key Reasoning:

1. Three-stage process: The court identified three distinct stages in the GST scheme:

• Entitlement to take credit of eligible input tax
• Actual credit entry in the electronic credit ledger (happens only after filing return)
• Utilization of credit for payment

2. Credit available only after return filing: The court emphasized that until a return is filed as self-assessed, no entitlement to credit and no actual entry of credit in the electronic credit ledger takes place. Consequently, no payment can be made from such credit.

3. "Available in the cloud" analogy: The court used a powerful analogy—tax paid on inputs is “available in the air or cloud” but becomes ITC only when claimed in returns. Just as information on a server displays on screens only after connectivity, tax becomes ITC only after filing returns.

4. Banking analogy: The court compared it to banking transactions—money available with a bank is different from money available for the bank until the bank is allowed to appropriate it. Similarly, tax on inputs must be tapped and brought as a credit entry before payment can be made.

5. Delayed filing = delayed payment: Since the petitioner filed returns belatedly, payment of tax liability (both cash and ITC portions) was made beyond the prescribed period. Therefore, liability to pay interest under Section 50(1) arose automatically.

6. Ownership principle: The court explained that ownership of money in the electronic credit ledger remains with the dealer until actual payment is made. Only when payment is made does the government get a right over the money. Since ownership was with the dealer till actual payment, the government is entitled to interest.

7. Proposed amendment not applicable: The court noted that while the GST Council had recommended amending Section 50 to charge interest only on net cash liability, this was still on paper and could not influence the interpretation of the existing provision.

8. VAT precedents inapplicable: The Gujarat High Court decisions under VAT law were held inapplicable due to substantial differences between VAT and GST regimes.

Orders:

• Writ Petition dismissed
• No order as to costs
• All pending miscellaneous petitions stand closed

FAQs

1. What was the main dispute in this case?

The dispute was whether interest under Section 50 of the CGST Act should be charged only on the cash portion of tax paid or on the entire tax liability including the ITC portion when returns are filed late.

2. Why did the petitioner delay filing returns?

The petitioner claimed the delay was due to shortage of ITC available to offset the entire tax liability and the GST Portal’s design, which doesn’t accept returns unless the entire liability is discharged.

3. What is the significance of the “electronic credit ledger”?

The electronic credit ledger is where ITC gets credited after a return is filed. Until this credit entry is made, the ITC cannot be used for payment of tax. This timing is crucial for determining when payment is deemed to have been made.

4. Why couldn’t the petitioner use the proposed GST Council amendment as a defense?

The GST Council had recommended amending Section 50 to charge interest only on net cash liability, but this amendment had not been enacted into law at the time of judgment. Courts cannot interpret existing law based on proposed amendments.

5. What does “on his own” mean in Section 50(1)?

This phrase means the liability to pay interest is self-imposed and automatic. The taxpayer must calculate and pay interest without waiting for any assessment or demand from the department.

6. How is this case different from VAT cases?

The court held that the VAT regime and GST regime differ substantially in their structure and provisions. Decisions under VAT law, particularly regarding interest calculations, cannot be directly applied to GST matters.

7. What is the practical implication of this judgment?

Taxpayers must file GST returns on time even if they don’t have sufficient cash to pay the entire liability. Delayed filing attracts interest on the entire tax liability (including ITC portion), not just the cash component. This makes timely compliance crucial.

8. Can ITC be considered as “payment” before filing returns?

No. The court clearly held that even though tax on inputs may have been paid by suppliers, it doesn’t constitute payment by the buyer until the return is filed and ITC is credited to the electronic credit ledger.

9. Is the interest under Section 50 penal or compensatory?

The court characterized it as compensatory in nature, not penal. This means it’s meant to compensate the government for the delayed receipt of funds, not to punish the taxpayer.

10. What should taxpayers do to avoid such interest liability?

Taxpayers should:

• File returns on time (by the 20th of the succeeding month)
• Ensure sufficient cash flow to pay the cash component of tax
• Not rely on ITC availability as a reason for delayed filing
• Calculate and pay interest “on their own” if filing is delayed

1. Aggrieved by a demand made by the respondent for payment of interest on the ITC portion of the tax paid for the months of July, 2017 to May, 2018, the petitioner has come up with the above writ petition.

2. Heard Mr. Gandra Mohan Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner

and Mr. B. Narasimha Sarma, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the

Department.

3. The petitioner is engaged in the manufacture of MS Pipes and in the

execution of infrastructure projects. After the enactment of the Central

Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (for short ‘CGST Act, 2017’), the

petitioner registered themselves as a dealer under the Act and they claim to

be regularly filing returns and paying taxes.

4. Under the CGST Act, 2017, the registration of dealers, input tax

credit, filing of returns, payment of duty and issue of notices, all happen only on-line. All Assesses are required to log into the GST Portal for payment of duty and for filing of returns. The Assesses are required under the Act to file a return in Form GSTR - 3B on or before the 20th of every month, for the discharge of their liability of the previous month. The GST liability is permitted to be discharged by utilizing the ITC available. An electronic ledger is maintained, showing the amount available to the account of an assessee through the ITC.

5. The case of the petitioner is that the GST Portal is designed in such

a manner that unless the entire tax liability is charged by the assessee, the system will not accept the return in GSTR - 3B Form. As a result, even if an Assessee was entitled to set off, to the extent of 95%, by utilizing the ITC, the return cannot be filed unless the remaining 5% is also paid.

6. It appears that there was a delay on the part of the petitioner in

filing the returns in GSTR - 3B Forms, for the period from October, 2017 to

May, 2018. This was due to the shortage of ITC, available to off-set the

entire tax liability. According to the petitioner, the delay in filing the returns was also not huge. The returns for the months of October and November, 2017 and February and May, 2018 were filed with a delay of only one day.

The return for December, 2017 was filed with a delay of three days. The

return for January, 2018 was filed with a delay of seventeen days, the return for April, 2018 was filed with a delay of nineteen days and the return for March, 2018 was filed with a delay of twenty nine days.

7. According to the petitioner, the total tax liability of the petitioner

for the period from July, 2017 to May, 2018 was Rs.1014,02,89,385/- and

the ITC available to the credit of the petitioner during this period was

Rs.968,58,86,133/-.

8. Thus, there was a short fall to the extent of 45,44,03,252/-, which

the petitioner was obliged to pay by way of cash. According to the

petitioner, they could not make payment and file the return within time due

to certain constraints. However, the entire liability was wiped out in May,

2018.

9. After the petitioner discharged the entire tax liability, the

Superintendent of Central Tax issued letters dated 29.06.2018 and

06.07.2018 demanding interest at 18%, in terms of Section 50 of the CGST

Act, 2017. The Assistant Commissioner also issued a letter dated 04.10.2018

demanding payment of interest.

10. In response, the petitioner sent a letter dated 15.10.2018, pointing

out that interest is to be calculated only on the net tax liability after

deducting ITC from the total tax liability. The petitioner also paid an amount of Rs.30,92,522/- towards interest on their net tax liability.

11. However, the Department demanded interest on the total tax

liability and hence the petitioner has come up with the above writ petition.

12. The respondents have filed a counter affidavit contending inter

alia that under Section 39(7), every registered person, who is required to

furnish a return, should have paid to the Government, the tax due as per such return, not later than the last date on which he is required to furnish such return; that Section 50 of the Act imposes a burden in the form of interest, upon every person who is liable to pay tax, but failed to pay the same; that the liability to pay interest under Section 50 (1), is a statutory obligation which the registered persons are obliged to comply on their own accord; that Section 50 (1) is not confined only to the cash component of the tax payable; that the claim of the petitioner is based upon the wrong presumption as though ITC amount was lying with the Government Treasury; and that since the liability under Section 50 is not penal in nature, the petitioner cannot escape liability.

13. From the pleadings, the only issue that arises for consideration is

as to whether the liability to pay interest under Section 50 of the CGST Act,2017 is confined only to the net tax liability or whether interest is payable on the total tax liability including a portion of which is liable to be set-off against ITC?

14. For finding an answer to the said question, we may have to look at

(i) the procedure for filing of returns and payment of tax; (ii) the eligibility and conditions for taking input tax credit and (iii) the wording of Section 50.

FILING OF RETURNS:

15. Under Section 40 of the CGST Act, 2017, the procedure for filing

of the first return, corresponding to the period between the date on which the dealer became liable to registration, till the date on which registration is granted, is prescribed.

16. Under Section 39, a detailed procedure is stipulated for the filing

of the monthly returns. In brief, the Scheme of Section 39 is as follows:

i) Every registered person should furnish for every Calendar Month or

part thereof, a return, electronically, of inward and outward supplies

of goods or services, ITC availed, tax payable, tax paid etc., on or

before the 20th day of the succeeding calendar month;

ii) The Commissioner is empowered to extend, by notification, for

reasons to be recorded in writing, the time limit for furnishing the

returns, for such Class of registered persons;

iii) Every registered person, who is required to furnish a return, should

pay to the Government the tax due as per such return not later than the

last date on which he is required to furnish such return;

iv) If a registered person discovers any omission or incorrect particulars

in the return already filed by him, he shall rectify such omission or

incorrect particulars in the return to be furnished.

17. We should point out that what we have indicated in the preceding

paragraph as the essence of Section 39, are confined only to every registered person other than an input service distributor or a non-resident taxable person or a person paying tax under Section 10/51/52.

CLAIM OF ITC:

18. Section 41 deals with the claim of ITC and the provisional

acceptance thereof. Under this provision, every registered person is entitled to take the credit of eligible input tax, as self-assessed in his return. The amount so claimed shall be credited on a provisional basis to his electronic credit ledger. But, this credit can be utilized only for payment of self- assessed out-put tax as per the return.

19. While Section 41 deals with the claim of ITC and provisional

acceptance, Section 16 deals with the eligibility and conditions for taking

ITC. Under Section 16 (1), every registered person shall be entitled to take

credit of input tax charged on any supply of goods or services, which are

used or intended to be used in the course of his business. The amount should

be credited to the electronic credit ledger of such a person. But, the

entitlement to take credit of input tax is subject to such conditions and

restrictions as may be prescribed and in the manner specified in Section 49.

20. Sub-section (2) of Section 16 lays down four conditions subject to

which a registered person will be entitled to the credit of any input tax.

These conditions are (i) he should be in possession of a tax invoice or debit note issued by a supplier registered under the Act; (ii) he should have received the goods or services; (iii) the tax charged in respect of such supply should have been actually paid to the Government, either in cash or through utilisation of ITC; and (iv) he should have filed the return under Section 39.

21. Section 49 of the Act, which deals with payment of tax, also

speaks about the manner in which ITC shall be credited. Sub-section (2) of

Section 49 stipulates that the input tax credit as self-assessed in the return of a registered person should be credited to his electronic credit ledger in accordance with Section 41. The amount available in the electronic credit ledger may be used by virtue of Sub-section (4) of Section 49, for making any payment towards output tax under the Act.

22. Thus, the broad scheme of Section 39 which deals with the filing

of returns, Section 41 which deals with the claim of ITC and its provisional

acceptance, Section 16 which deals with the conditions and eligibility for

taking ITC and Section 49 which deals with payment of tax, make it clear

that the moment all the four conditions stipulated in Sub-section (2) of

Section 16 are complied with, a person becomes entitle to take credit of ITC. Once a person takes credit of ITC, the amount gets credited on a provisional basis to his electronic credit ledger under Section 41 (1).

23. In other words, Section 16 (2) makes a registered person entitled

to take credit of input tax. Section 41 (1) provides for a credit entry to be made on a provisional basis in the electronic credit ledger. But, the time at which this credit is made under Section 41 (1) is important. Section 41 reads as follows:

“41. Claim of input tax credit and provisional

acceptance thereof

(1) Every registered person shall, subject to such

conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, be

entitled to take the credit of eligible input tax, as self-

assessed, in his return and such amount shall be credited

on a provisional basis to his electronic credit ledger.

(2) The credit referred to in sub-section (1) shall be

utilized only for payment of self-assessed output tax as

per the return referred to in the said sub-section.”

24. It is seen from Section 41 (1) that a person gets credited with the

input tax, in his electronic credit ledger, only upon his filing of the return on self-assessment basis. Till a return is filed, no credit becomes available to his electronic credit ledger.

25. It is only after a credit becomes available in the electronic credit

ledger that the utilization of the same for payment of self-assessed out-put

tax, arises under Section 41 (2).

26. Thus, the scheme of the Act makes a distinction between (i) the

entitlement to take credit which comes first; (ii) the actual entry of credit in the electronic credit ledger, which comes next; and (iii) the actual payment from out of the credit, which comes last.

27. There can be no doubt about the fact that even in respect of the

input tax credit available in the electronic credit ledger, there is a

necessity to make payment. Section 41(2) talks about utilization of the

credit available in the electronic credit ledger, for payment of the self-

assessed output tax. Section 49(2) also confirms the stage at which a credit

entry is made and Section 49(4) enables a registered person to make

payment from out of the credit so available in the electronic credit ledger.

Therefore, for finding an answer to the dispute on hand, one must find out

(i) when a credit entry is entered in the electronic credit ledger of the

registered person; and (ii) when payment out of the same is made in lieu

of cash. Once it is statutorily prescribed that payment can be made either by way of cash or from out of the credit available in the electronic credit ledger, the date of payment in respect of both assumes significance for determining the liability to pay interest.

Wording of section 50

28. Having thus seen the scheme of Sections 39, 41, 16 and 49, let us

now take a look at Section 50 about which present dispute revolves, which

reads as under:

50. Interest on delayed payment of tax- (1) Every

person who is liable to pay tax in accordance with the

provisions of this Act or the rules made there under, but

fails to pay the tax or any part thereof to the Government

within the period prescribed, shall for the period for

which the tax or any part thereof remains unpaid, pay, on

his own, interest at such rate, not exceeding eighteen per

cent., as may be notified by the Government on the

recommendations of the Council.

(2) The interest under sub-section (1) shall be

calculated, in such manner as may be prescribed, from the

day succeeding the day on which such tax was due to be

paid.

(3) A taxable person who makes an undue or excess

claim of input tax credit under sub-section (10) of section

42 or undue or excess reduction in output tax liability

under sub-section (10) of section 43, shall pay interest on

such undue or excess claim or on such undue or excess

reduction, as the case may be, at such rate not exceeding

twenty-four per cent., as may be notified by the

Government on the recommendations of the Council.”

29. It is seen from Sub-section (1) of Section 50 that the liability to

pay interest arises automatically, when a person who is liable to pay tax,

fails to pay the tax to the Government within the period prescribed. The

liability to pay interest is in respect of the period for which the tax remains unpaid. In fact, the liability to pay interest under Section 50 (1) arises even without any assessment, as the person is required to pay such interest “on his own”.

30. While Sub-Section (1) of Section 50 speaks about the liability to

pay interest under one contingency, viz., the failure to pay tax within the

period prescribed, Sub-Section (3) of Section 50 speaks about the liability to pay interest under a different contingency. Whenever an undue or excess

claim of ITC is made or whenever an undue or excess reduction in out-put

tax liability is made, a liability to pay interest arises under Sub-section (3).

The words “on his own” used in Sub-section (1), are not used in Sub-section

(3) of Section 50.

31. Therefore, it is clear that the liability to pay interest under Section

50 (1) is self-imposed and also automatic, without any determination by any

one. Hence, the stand taken by the department that the liability is

compensatory in nature, appears to be correct.

32. Once it is clear that the liability to pay interest arises for non-

payment within the period prescribed, we should see; (i) what is the period

prescribed for payment of tax and (ii) the mode of such payment. Under

Section 39 (7), every registered person (other than an Input Service Distributor or a Non-resident taxable person or a person paying tax under

Sections 10/51/52) is obliged to pay to the Government, the tax due as per

such return, not later than the date on which he is required to furnish such

return. Sub-sections (1) and (7) of Section 39 read as follows:

“39. Furnishing of Returns- (1) Every registered

person, other than an Input Service Distributor or a non-

resident taxable person or a person paying tax under the

provisions of section 10 or section 51 or section 52 shall,

for every calendar month or part thereof, furnish, in such

form, manner as may be prescribed, a return,

electronically, of inward and outward supplies of goods

or services or both, input tax credit availed, tax payable,

tax paid and such other particulars as may be prescribed

on or before the twentieth day of the month succeeding

such calendar month or part thereof.

(2) Every registered person, who is required to furnish a

return under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-

section (3) or sub-section (5), shall pay to the

Government the tax due as per such return not later than

the last date on which he is required to furnish such

return.

33. Therefore, the period prescribed for payment of tax in respect of

every month is on or before the 20th day of the succeeding calendar month.

34. The mode of payment is stipulated in Section 49. Section 49 reads

as follows:

“49. Payment of tax, interest, penalty and other

amounts- (1) Every deposit made towards tax, interest,

penalty, fee or any other amount by a person by internet

banking or by using credit or debit cards or National

Electronic Fund Transfer or Real Time Gross Settlement

or by such other mode and subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, shall be credited to the

electronic cash ledger of such person to be maintained in

such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The input tax credit as self-assessed in the return of a

registered person shall be credited to his electronic credit

ledger, in accordance with section 41, to be maintained in

such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) The amount available in the electronic cash ledger

may be used for making any payment towards tax,

interest, penalty, fees or any other amount payable under

the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder in

such manner and subject to such conditions and within

such time as may be prescribed.

(4) The amount available in the electronic credit ledger

may be used for making any payment towards output tax

under this Act or under the Integrated Goods and Services

Tax Act, 2017 (Act No.13 of 2017) in such manner and

subject to such conditions and within such time as may be

prescribed.

(5) The amount of input tax credit available in the

electronic credit ledger of the registered person on

account of,–

(a) integrated tax shall first be utilised towards

payment of integrated tax and the amount remaining, if

any, may be utilised towards the payment of central tax

and State tax, or as the case may be, Union Territory

tax, in that order;

(b) the central tax shall first be utilised towards

payment of central tax and the amount remaining, if

any, may be utilised towards the payment of integrated

tax;

(c) the State tax shall first be utilised towards payment

of State tax and the amount remaining, if any, may be

utilised towards payment of integrated tax;

(d) the Union territory tax shall first be utilised

towards payment of Union territory tax and the amount

remaining, if any, may be utilised towards payment of

integrated tax;

(e) the central tax shall not be utilised towards

payment of State tax or Union territory tax; and

(f) the State tax or Union territory tax shall not be

utilised towards payment of central tax.

(6) The balance in the electronic cash ledger or electronic

credit ledger after payment of tax, interest, penalty, fee or

any other amount payable under this Act or the rules

made thereunder may be refunded in accordance with the

provisions of section 54.

(7) All liabilities of a taxable person under this Act shall

be recorded and maintained in an electronic liability

register in such manner as may be prescribed.

(8) Every taxable person shall discharge his tax and other

dues under this Act or the rules made thereunder in the

following order, namely:–

(a) self-assessed tax, and other dues related to returns

of previous tax periods;

(b) self-assessed tax, and other dues related to the

return of the current tax period;

(c) any other amount payable under this Act or the

rules made thereunder including the demand

determined under section 73 or section 74.

(9) Every person who has paid the tax on goods or

services or both under this Act shall, unless the contrary

is proved by him, be deemed to have passed on the full

incidence of such tax to the recipient of such goods or

services or both.

Explanation:- For the purposes of this section,-

(a) the date of credit to the account of the Government

in the authorised bank shall be deemed to be the date

of deposit in the electronic cash ledger;

(b) the expression,—

(i) “tax dues” means the tax payable under this Act

and does not include interest, fee and penalty; and

(ii) “other dues” means interest, penalty, fee or any

other amount payable under this Act or the rules

made thereunder.”

35. It is seen from Sub-section (2) of Section 49 that a credit entry is

made in the electronic credit ledger of a registered person, only when the

ITC, as self-assessed, is found in the return of a registered person. After a credit entry is made in the electronic credit ledger, the same becomes

available for making payment. This is clear from Sub-section (3) of Section

49. If after payment, a balance is still available in the electronic credit

ledger, the same is liable to be refunded in accordance with Section 54.

36. Therefore, in the entire scheme of the Act three things are of

importance. They are; (i) the entitlement of a person to take credit of eligible in-put tax, as assessed in his return; (ii) the credit of such eligible in-put tax in his electronic credit ledger on a provisional basis under Section 41 (1) and on a regular basis under Section 49 (2); and (iii) the utilization of credit so available in the electronic credit ledger for making payment of tax, interest and penalty etc., under Section 49 (3).

37. In other words, until a return is filed as self-assessed, no

entitlement to credit and no actual entry of credit in the electronic

credit ledger takes place. As a consequence, no payment can be made

from out of such a credit entry. It is true that the tax paid on the inputs

charged on any supply of goods and/services, is always available. But,

it is available in the air or cloud. Just as information is available in

the server and it gets displayed on the screens of our computers only

after connectivity is established, the tax already paid on the inputs, is

available in the cloud. Such tax becomes an in-put tax credit only

when a claim is made in the returns filed as self-assessed. It is only

after a claim is made in the return that the same gets credited in the

electronic credit ledger. It is only after a credit is entered in the

electronic credit ledger that payment could be made, even though the

payment is only by way of paper entries.

38. If we take a common example of banking transactions, this can

be illustrated much better. An amount available in the account of a

person, though available with the bank itself, is not taken to be the

money available for the benefit of the bank. Money available with the

bank is different from money available for the bank till the bank is

allowed to appropriate it to itself. Similarly, the tax already paid on the

in-puts of supplies of goods or services, available somewhere in the air,

should be tapped and brought in the form of a credit entry into the

electronic credit ledger and payment has to be made from out of the same.

If no payment is made, the mere availability of the same, there in the

cloud, will not tantamount to actual payment.

39. Admittedly, the petitioner filed returns belatedly, for whatever

reasons. As a consequence, the payment of the tax liability, partly in cash

and partly in the form of claim for ITC was made beyond the period

prescribed. Therefore, the liability to pay interest under Section 50 (1)

arose automatically. The petitioner cannot, therefore, escape from this

liability.

40. Let us look at it from another angle. Suppose a registered person

under the Act purchases goods, which have suffered tax, to be used as

inputs in the goods to be sold by him. Let us assume that the purchase is

made in January and hence the same is reflected in the return filed by

February 20. While filing the return in February, the dealer could have

taken credit and it is possible that the credit is available in the electronic credit ledger for the month of February. If after some kind of processing, the goods are sold in March, the output tax becomes payable while filing the return by April 20. This payment can be either by way of cash or by way of adjustment against the claim for ITC. The payment is made by way of cheque in the case of the former and by way of a claim made in

the return by way of an entry. Only when the payment is so made, the

Government gets a right over the money available in the ledger. Since

ownership of such money is with the dealer till the time of actual

payment, the Government become entitled to interest upto the date of

their entitlement to appropriate it.

41. Mr. Gandra Mohan Rao, learned counsel relied upon an

approval made in principle by the GST Council for the amendment of the

Act. The Press release of the Ministry of Finance in this regard reads as

follows:

“The GST Council in its 31st meeting held today at New

Delhi gave in principle approval to the following

amendments in the GST Acts:

1. Creation of a Centralised Appellate

Authority for Advance Ruling (AAAR)

to deal with cases of conflicting

decisions by two or more State Appellate

Advance Ruling Authorities on the same

issue.

2. Amendment of section 50 of the CGST

Act to provide that interest should be

charged only on the net tax liability of

the taxpayer, after taking into account

the admissible input tax credit, i.e.,

interest would be leviable only on the

amount payable through the electronic

cash ledger.

The above recommendations of the Council will be made

effective only after the necessary amendments in the GST

Acts are carried out.”

42. But, unfortunately, the recommendations of the GST Council

are still on paper. Therefore, we cannot interpret Section 50 in the light of the proposed amendment.

43. The learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon two decisions

of the Gujarat High Court, one in State of Gujarat v. Dashmesh

Hydraulic Machinery, dated 19.01.2015, and another in State of

Gujarat v. Nishi Communication, dated 29.01.2015.

44. But, both the above decisions arose out of Gujarat Value Added

Tax Act. The VAT regime and the GST regime differ from each other

substantially. Therefore, these decisions do not go to the rescue of the

petitioner.

45. In view of the above, the claim made by the respondents for

interest on the ITC portion of the tax cannot be found fault with. Hence,

the Writ Petition is dismissed. However, in the circumstances, there shall

be no order as to costs.

As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the

writ petition, shall stand closed.

V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J

P. KESHAVA RAO, J