GST on Housing Society

[Kaustubh Karandikar]

• XYZ Co-op Society Ltd is a registered commercial Society under the Maharashtra Co-op Societies Act 1960. XYZ has obtained GST registration under Society/Club/Trust category.
• One of the members sold their office in September 2023 to a family trust namely PQR and XYZ had collected the transfer fees / premium from the incoming member PQR as per the society’s rule.

Facts:

• XYZ collects the transfer fees / premium along with membership application form.
• XYZ charge GST thereon and issue the bill to incoming member from the date on which their name is registered with the Society.
• XYZ raises maintenance bills on second week of each quarter. (Quarterly bills)

The background of the present case as under:

1. PQR paid the transfer fees + GST on 28^th September 2023 along with membership application form. PQR was not registered under GST Act on that date.
2. PQR GST registration certificate indicate the effective date of registration is 1st January 2024.
3. Actual transfer took place on 19th December when committee meeting held, and their name was endorsed on the share certificate and issued on them the next day.
4. Maintenance Bill for October to December quarter issued on the 15^th of October on old member's name i.e. XYZ as PQR was not a member at that time. Society filed GST return considering the old member’s name.
5. Invoice for Transfer fees was raised on 20th December in the name of PQR and charged the GST without indicating the GST registration number of PQR and filed the return as non-register delayer.
6. The GST amount of transfer fees paid to the Government in December along with the interest.

Expert's guidance needed on following points:

1. Can XYZ Issue a fresh Quarterly maintenance bill for October to December period on PQR’s name by issuing the credit note to XYZ?
2. Can XYZ indicate now the GSTIN of PQR on the transfer fee bill?
3. Whether GST is applicable on the transfer fee collected?
4. If the above is not possible, any way out by which PQR will not be at loss of input tax credit?

AI Summary

Credit note issuance can allow reissuing GST invoices to protect input tax credit despite potential departmental challenge.
Advisory: the society may issue a credit note and reissue invoices while the statutory time limit exists, on the basis that the earlier invoice overstated taxable value, thereby enabling reallocation of GST liability and preserving the incoming member's input tax credit; however, this carries risk of departmental objection under Section 34 and potential interest exposure if payment preceded invoice reissuance.