2008 (9) TMI 862 - AT - Service Tax

Tribunal remands tax dispute for further examination, dismisses credit claim based on factual dispute.

The Tribunal set aside the previous orders and remanded the matter back to the Adjudicating Authority for further examination, with a provision for the ... - Issues:1. Availment of credit on port and space charges contrary to Board Circular.2. Allegation of non-deposit of service tax collected by BSNL.3. Demand of tax and penalty upheld by Adjudicating Authority and Commissioner (Appeals).Issue 1: Availment of credit on port and space charges contrary to Board CircularThe case involved the Appellants availing credit of Service Tax on 'port & space charges' in March 2003, amounting to Rs. 61,473, which was alleged to be ineligible as per Board Circular No. 46/9/2002-S.T., dated 8-8-2002. The Adjudicating Authority and Commissioner (Appeals) confirmed the demand of tax and penalty, citing the ineligibility of the credit as per the Board Circular. The Appellant argued that the credit was based on invoices issued by BSNL, and the genuineness of the invoices was not disputed. The Tribunal found that the Appellant's contention that they availed credit on port and space charges, contrary to the Board Circular, was not sustainable. The Tribunal noted a factual dispute regarding whether BSNL had paid the tax to the Government, as the Appellant claimed unawareness of such payment. As the lower authorities did not address this issue, the Tribunal set aside the impugned orders and remanded the matter back to the Adjudicating Authority for further examination, with a provision for the Revenue to proceed if BSNL was found not to have paid the tax collected.Issue 2: Allegation of non-deposit of service tax collected by BSNLIt was alleged that the service tax collected by BSNL had not been deposited in the Government's account, leading to the contention that the credit availed by the Appellants was inadmissible. The Appellant argued that they had availed credit based on invoices from BSNL, and there was no dispute regarding the deposit of tax by BSNL. The Tribunal noted the Appellant's submission that they were not aware of whether BSNL had paid the tax collected to the Government. As the lower authorities did not provide any findings on this crucial issue, the Tribunal set aside the previous orders and remanded the matter for further examination.Issue 3: Demand of tax and penalty upheld by Adjudicating Authority and Commissioner (Appeals)The Adjudicating Authority and Commissioner (Appeals) upheld the demand of tax and imposition of penalty on the Appellants under Sections 76 and 78 of the Finance Act, based on the ineligibility of the credit as per the Board Circular. The Appellant contended that they had availed credit based on genuine invoices from BSNL and that the demand of tax at the hands of the credit user was erroneous. The Tribunal, after considering the arguments from both sides, found that the main allegation against the Appellant regarding the ineligibility of credit based on the Board Circular was not sustainable. As there was a factual dispute regarding whether BSNL had paid the tax to the Government, which was not addressed by the lower authorities, the Tribunal set aside the previous orders and remanded the matter for further examination by the Adjudicating Authority.---