An SSI Unit is a unit whose turnover in the preceding financial year is less than ₹ 400 Lakhs. Such units have the option to avail full exemption from payment of duty upto turnover of ₹ 150 Lakhs in the current financial year.
In respect of such an unit, if the aggregate of home clearances (i.e.excluding export turnover) is less than ₹ 150 Lakhs, then the unit need not get itself registered. For calculating the aggregate of home clearances, the total of clearances from all factories of the manufacturer and from any factory by one or more manufacturers must be taken into account.
However, once the turnover crosses the ‘specified limit’ , i.e. ₹ 90 Lakhs, such units have to file the declaration to the Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner. CBEC Manual provides that genuine delays in filing the declaration should not be viewed seriously and the assessee shall still be allowed to enjoy the benefit of not requiring registration upto the turnover of ₹ 150 Lakhs.
After the turnover of ₹ 150 Lakhs, the SSI unit shall be liable to get registered and start discharging duty liability. At that point of time, CENVAT Credit of raw materials lying in stock must be ascertained and the SSI unit shall be eligible for the benefit of set-off of CENVAT Credit against duty payable.
Credit is also allowed on the inputs lying in stock, contained in work in process and contained in finished goods lying in stock as on the date of crossing Rs one and half crore turn over.
Regarding the procedure, you have to prepare a list of all such physical inputs lying in stock and the cenvat credit available thereon and submit a detailed letter to the excise department at time of online application for excise registration. Simultaneously, you can also avail cenvat credit in your cenvat account register and you can then show it in your excise return and also utilize it for payment of excise duty.