reverse charge for jewellers

[Kaustubh Karandikar]

When an un – registered person goes to a jewellery shop for selling the jewellery, the shop owner needs to pay GST under reverse charge on the amount paid to the un – registered person. If my understanding is right, once the shop owner pay GST under reverse charge, is he eligible to avail input tax credit of the same? And if YES under which provisions? And if NO under which provisions?

[Shilpi Jain]

Presently, under which provision does this liability under RCM arise?

[Kaustubh Karandikar]

Shilpi ji i am also not getting the relevant provisions. Notification 8/2017 was valid only up to September'2019. Under this situation, when a un - registered person sells jewellery to shop owner, who is liable to pay GST?

[KASTURI SETHI]

Original Notification No.8/17-CT(R) dated 28.6.17 (as amended vide Notification No.38/17-CT(R), 10/18-CT (R), 12/18-CT(R), 22/18-CT(R) has been rescinded vide Notification No. 1/2019-C.T. (Rate), dated 29-1-2019(effective from 1.2.2019).

W.e.f.1.2.19 Section 9(4) of CGST Act and Section 5(4) of IGST Act has been amended vide CGST (Amendment) Act, 2018 and only specified categories of goods and services received from an unregistered suppler were brought under RCM.

Old and used jewellery sold by an unregistered person to the registered person (jeweller) is not under specified category for the purpose of RCM.

[Kaustubh Karandikar]

Thanks kasturi ji for your advice. Can we conclude saying no one is liable to pay GST in this transaction?

[KASTURI SETHI]

Dear Sir,

It is relevant to peruse Press Release No.78/17 dated 13.7.17

Pl. Compare Section 9(4) of CGST Act After 1.2.19 and Prior to 1.2.1(

Section 9(4) of CGST ACT (W.e.f. 1.2.19)

[(4) The Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, specify a class of registered persons who shall, in respect of supply of specified categories of goods or services or both received from an unregistered supplier, pay the tax on reverse charge basis as the recipient of such supply of goods or services or both, and all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such recipient as if he is the person liable for paying the tax in relation to such supply of goods or services or both.]

SECTION 9(4) BEFORE 1.2.19

"(4) The central tax in respect of the supply of taxable goods or services or both by a supplier, who is not registered, to a registered person shall be paid by such person on reverse charge basis as the recipient and all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such recipient as if he is the person liable for paying the tax in relation to the supply of such goods or services or both."

Jewellery is not under Specified category after 1.2.19 but as per Press Release it is under RCM.

[KASTURI SETHI]

Any press release has no statutory force until and unless it is backed by notification/amendment in the Act. If we read Section 9(4)(before and after 1.2.19) along with exemption notifications, supply by unregistered person to registered person has been switched from exempted to non-leviability of GST by way of non-inclusion in specified category w.e.f. 1.2.19. Hence no RCM.

Press release mentions the term, 'gold ornaments.'. Gold ornaments are covered in the term,'Jewellery'

[Padmanathan KV]

Kaustubh sir,

None is liable to pay on this transaction of purchase of gold ornament from unregistered person by jewellery shop.

Kasturi Sir,

The press release was issued before substitution of Section 9(4). Now only promoter has to pay GST under RCM on construction of RREP/REP if his inward supplies from RP fall below 20% threshold limit. So only a developer within the meaning of Not No 3/2019-CTR is the "specified person".

[Kaustubh Karandikar]

Thanks Kasturi ji and Padmanathen ji for your elaborate views.

[KASTURI SETHI]

Sh.Padmanathan Kollengode Ji,

I agree with you. I add that after 1.2.19, cement ( HSN 2523) was brought under RCM vide Notification No. 24/19-CT(R) dated 30.9.2019 amending Notification No.7/19-CT(R) dated 29.3.19 (effective from 1.4.19). Section 9(4) of CGST Act refers.

[ROHIT GOEL]

Sir,

I believe press release dated 13.7.2017 has also clarified that sale of old jewellery by a consumer/unregistered person to a jeweller does not attract GST as it is not in furtherance of business of the seller. Therefore, when transaction is not classified as supply, there remains no question of RCM or forward charge. Relevant press release is as follows:

https://cbic-gst.gov.in/pdf/press-release/Press-Release-Reverse-Charge.pdf

Further, if the unregistered person is someone involved in business of jewellery, even in such case RCM u/s 9 would not apply as clarified by the experts. Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Dhruv Goel

AI Summary

Reverse charge liability: sale of old jewellery by unregistered sellers generally not subject to reverse charge if not specified.
Reverse charge does not apply to purchases of old or used jewellery from unregistered persons after the amendment narrowing RCM to government-notified specified categories; jewellery is not listed, so registered jewellers are not liable. Transactions that are not taxable supplies (e.g., casual sales by consumers) likewise attract no GST or reverse charge. Press releases do not alter the statutory list-only notifications or enacted provisions can expand RCM applicability.