TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
Hello All,
Greetings !!
I have few commercial building and I am paying GST for all the rents received from it. I have couple of questions in this regards.
1. In one of the building I collect the common electricity and water charges from individual tenents and I pay it by my self. Earlier, I used to send them an invoice once a quarter for these and they would send the payments to my account. But after GST, my auditors say that any invoice I raise should have GST component. But, how could I add GST for the common electricity and water bills ? Without any invoice my tenents won't release the payments.
2. Also, my tenents used to share few of the maintenance expenses such as RO charge, motor maintenance, borewell hardwater removal maintenance etc which are shared on cost only. There is no profit on these. I just get the invoices from these services and divide them equally amoung the tenents. For these charges I used to raise an invoice and send it to my tenents and they used to pay it to my account. If I raise an invoice without GST, my CA tells me that when he uploads the invoice or submits the invoice, he cannot skip any invoice numbers. So how do I manage my common expenses ? I have to raise the invoice to the tenents and they have to release the amount from their account department. Without invoice they would not release the payments.
Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Vishnu
GST Invoice
22 Sep 2017 
4 Replies 
1667 Views Asked by
GST exemption on electricity and water reimbursements allows ordinary invoices; commercial rent remains taxable.
Electricity and natural water recoveries for tenants are treated in the discussion as intra state GST exempt and may be invoiced as ordinary commercial bills without GST. Commercial rent remains taxable and requires taxable invoices, while residential rent is exempt. Opinions diverge on whether reimbursed maintenance and utility charges form part of the landlord's taxable value: some treat them as non supply reimbursements excluded from taxable turnover, others treat them as integral to the renting service and includible in taxable value. (AI Summary)
Electricity and natural water recoveries for tenants are treated in the discussion as intra state GST exempt and may be invoiced as ordinary commercial bills without GST. Commercial rent remains taxable and requires taxable invoices, while residential rent is exempt. Opinions diverge on whether reimbursed maintenance and utility charges form part of the landlord's taxable value: some treat them as non supply reimbursements excluded from taxable turnover, others treat them as integral to the renting service and includible in taxable value. (AI Summary)