Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal

Cooper Elevators India Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Commissioner of GST & Central Excise, Chennai South Commissionerate

MANU/CC/0022/2022

07.02.2022

Service Tax

VAT and service tax are mutually exclusive and cannot be simultaneously levied

The Appellants are engaged in the business of supply, erection, commissioning and maintenance and repairs of lifts, elevators. They hold Central Excise registration under the category of "Erection and Commissioning Services" and "Maintenance and Repair Services".

The department entertained a view that value adopted by the appellant for payment of VAT was not the actual value of the goods supplied while providing lift/escalators and that it was only a notional value. The service being in the nature of a work contract service for original works, service tax is liable to be paid on 40% of the contract value. Show cause notice was issued for different periods proposing to demand short paid service tax along with interest and also for imposing penalties. After due process of law, the original authority confirmed the demand, interest and imposed equal penalty which was upheld by Commissioner (Appeals). Aggrieved by such orders, the Appellant is now before the Tribunal.

The composite activity of design, supply, erection, testing, commissioning of lift/elevators fall under the category of WCS both under VAT law and Finance Act, 1994. The Appellant has to design, and supply the materials involved in providing the lift/elevator. Since the activity is composite in nature involving both supply of materials and rendering of service, including labour of construction of pit etc., the Tamil Nadu VAT Act provides for arriving at a notional value for payment of VAT. The Appellants have paid VAT on 85% of the contract value as per the category of invoices issued for supply of material.

The department is of the view that, this is only notional and not the actual value of materials supplied. The SCN proposes to levy service tax on 40% of the entire contract value. This means levying service tax on the amounts on which the Appellant has paid VAT. The Appellants have also filed VAT returns periodically complying with the mandate in the State Act. It is settled position that, VAT and service tax are mutually exclusive and cannot be simultaneously levied. The demand of service tax cannot sustain. Impugned orders are set aside. Appeals allowed.

Tags : Demand Confirmation Legality

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