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of <h1>Appeal upheld for catering services but liquor sales demand dropped due to lack of evidence. Penalties reduced.</h1> <h3>Commissioner of Central Excise, Nagpur Versus M/s. Indian Gymkhana</h3> The appeal was filed against an Order-in-Appeal upholding a demand of Rs. 5,44,098/- for catering services due to lack of evidence proving liquor sales. ... Demand - sale of liquor in terms of para 10.5 of Board Circular dated 27/7/2005 - Held that: - I find that sale figure was taken from the balance sheet and VAT payment documents and they have also submitted some sample invoices towards sale of liquor and Ld. Commissioner(Appeals) considering all these evidences with C.A. certificate came to the conclusion that there is indeed the sale of liquor which according to para 10.5 of Board Circular 27/7/2005. For dropping of demand the Commissioner(Appeals) has considered sufficient evidences such as sale bills, balance sheet, C.A. certificate and VAT statements submitted to the Sales Tax Department therefore I am of the view that Ld. Commissioner (Appeals) has applied his mind rightly in dropping demand after establishing that there is sale of liquor and no service tax can be demanded on such sale. Therefore I do not find any infirmity in the Ld. Commissioner’s(Appeals) order which is therefore upheld. Revenue’s appeal is dismissed Issues:1. Upholding demand for catering services2. Setting aside demand for sale of liquor3. Imposition of penalty for non-payment of service taxAnalysis:Issue 1: Upholding demand for catering servicesThe appeal was filed against an Order-in-Appeal upholding a demand of Rs. 5,44,098/- for catering services. The Adjudicating authority confirmed the demand due to lack of documentary evidence proving the sale of liquor. The appellant contended that ample opportunities were given to produce evidence, but the sale of liquor was not established. The Ld. Commissioner(Appeals) considered evidence from balance sheets, VAT payment documents, sample invoices, and a C.A. certificate. The Commissioner concluded that there was indeed a sale of liquor, as per para 10.5 of the Board Circular dated 27/7/2005. The Ld. Commissioner(Appeals) upheld the demand for catering services.Issue 2: Setting aside demand for sale of liquorThe appellant argued that the sale of liquor should not be taxed if proper documentation was available, citing para 10.5 of the Board's circular. The appellant submitted sample liquor sale bills, ledger accounts, and VAT statements. The Ld. Commissioner(Appeals) found that the appellant issued bills for liquor sales, had income from liquor sales in their accounts, and paid VAT on these sales. Consequently, the value of liquor sales was held not includable in the assessable value of taxable services. The Ld. Commissioner(Appeals) dismissed the appeal by the Revenue regarding the demand dropped on the sale of liquor.Issue 3: Imposition of penalty for non-payment of service taxThe appellant failed to pay service tax correctly and did not disclose total receipts accurately in ST 3 returns, leading to a penalty for suppression of facts to evade tax. The Ld. Commissioner(Appeals) upheld penalties under both Section 76 and Section 78 of the Finance Act, 1994, as the non-payment occurred before the amendment of Section 78 in 2008. The Commissioner found the penalties legally valid and reduced them due to the dropping of the service tax demand. The Ld. Commissioner(Appeals) applied sufficient evidence, such as sale bills, balance sheets, C.A. certificate, and VAT statements, to conclude that there was no infirmity in dropping the demand for service tax on liquor sales. The Revenue's appeal was dismissed.
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