CESTAT held that the appellant, as service recipient under the...

CESTAT held that the appellant, as service recipient under the reverse charge mechanism, was not eligible for the exemption available to a non-taxable territory service provider under Notification No. 14/2004-ST; further, the exemption was conditional and limited to 1% of FOB, which the appellant exceeded and failed to substantiate through required EXP-4 filings. However, the Tribunal found no evidence of deliberate suppression with intent to evade duty and held the department's invocation of the extended period of limitation unjustified. Consequently the show cause notice was time-barred, the demand set aside, the impugned order quashed, and the appeal allowed in favour of the appellant.