Doubts have been raised regarding the applicability of the Margin Scheme under GST for dealers in second hand goods in general and for dealers in old and used empty bottles in particular.

Rule 32(5) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Rules, 2017 provides that where a taxable supply is provided by a person dealing in buying and selling of second hand goods i.e., used goods as such or after such minor processing which does not change the nature of the goods and where no input tax credit has been availed on the purchase of such goods, the value of supply shall be the difference between the selling price and the purchase price and where the value of such supply is negative, it shall be ignored. This is known as the margin scheme.

Further, notification No.10/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated 28.06.2017 exempts Central Tax leviable on intra-State supplies of second hand goods received by a registered person, dealing in buying and selling of second hand goods [who pays the central tax on the value of outward supply of such second hand goods as determined under sub-rule (5)] from any supplier, who is not registered. This has been done to avoid double taxation on the outward supplies made by such registered person, since such person operating under the Margin Scheme cannot avail input tax credit on the purchase of second hand goods.

Thus, Margin Scheme can be availed of by any registered person dealing in buying and selling of second hand goods [including old and used empty bottles] and who satisfies the conditions as laid down in Rule 32(5) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017.

Margin scheme for second hand goods allows registered dealers to tax only the margin, preventing double taxation on outward supplies. The Margin Scheme under GST treats the taxable value for registered dealers of second hand goods as the difference between selling and purchase price where no input tax credit was claimed; negative margins are ignored. The scheme covers goods sold as such or after only minor processing that does not alter their nature, and includes dealers in old and used empty bottles. A central tax exemption for supplies to such registered dealers prevents double taxation when the dealer pays tax on the margin.