CESTAT adjudicated a dispute regarding the tax classification of...

CESTAT adjudicated a dispute regarding the tax classification of antivirus software license key supply. The tribunal determined that providing license keys for antivirus software constitutes a service transaction under section 65(105)(zzzze) of the Finance Act, 1994, rather than a goods transfer. Despite the initial service tax interpretation, the final ruling held that the transaction involving software license keys is a sale of goods subject to VAT/sales tax. The tribunal set aside the previous demand notice, effectively allowing the appellant's appeal and resolving the taxation characterization in favor of the taxpayer's goods-based classification.