2019 (11) TMI 553
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....d in the manufacture and sale of oleo-chemicals and personal care products such as toilet soaps, talcum powder, hand wash etc. The petitioner is duly registered under the provisions of the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, 2002 ('the MVAT Act' for short) and the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 ('the CST Act' for short). The petitioner is also registered under the Maharashtra Tax on the Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2002 ('the Entry Tax Act' for short). The respondent Nos.2, 3, 4 and 5 are the officers exercising powers under the provisions of the MVAT Act, CST Act and the Entry Tax Act. The petitioner is involved in the inter-State purchase of natural gas from Dahej, Gujarat. The petitioner procures natural gas from sources located outside the State of Maharashtra. When petitioner is not able to sufficiently procure natural gas outside the State of Maharashtra, the petitioner procures natural gas locally within the State of Maharashtra. 4. In A.Y. 2013-14, the petitioner purchased natural gas from M/s. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited ('BPCL' for short) on an inter-State purchase basis from Gujarat against CForms. The petitioner was itself responsible for the transportation ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....lso revised its Entry Tax and MVAT returns under protest. This revision was done without prejudice to the petitioner's rights and contentions and under protest. It is the petitioner's case that under the MVAT Act set-off (subject to retention) was available to the petitioner in respect of any Entry Tax paid by it. Hence, the under protest revision of returns made by the petitioner was a precautionary measure taken without prejudice to its rights and contentions so as to ensure that the respondents could not deny set-off to the petitioner at a later stage on account of the fact that the petitioner had not claimed set-off in its returns. The petitioner's protest in relation to the payments of tax and revision of returns was additionally lodged vide letters dated 22.11.2016 and 11.01.2017. 8. The petitioner thereafter received show cause notice dated 30.10.2017 in relation to the proposal to impose penalty upon the petitioner and other ancillary issues. The petitioner filed a reply in response to the said notice. 9. The show cause notice came to be adjudicated and by a Notice of Demand and Assessment Order dated 26.12.2017 a tax demand of Rs. 10,44,54,708/-, interest demand of Rs. 7....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... had clearly indicated that it was not accepting the tax liability and in its view no entry tax was payable by it. 15. Learned Senior Counsel would further submit that the format for the filing of an entry tax appeal has been prescribed as Form 11 wherein the person filing the appeal is required to state the amount of tax admitted and the amount of tax in dispute. The petitioner had clearly stated that the entire tax liability of Rs. 10,44,54,708/- alongwith interest and penalty was being disputed. Learned Senior Counsel says that the views expressed by the respondent No.3 in the impugned clarification clearly run contrary to the specific provisions of Section 26 (6A). Learned Senior Counsel would further urge that the respondents are not justified in taking a stand that once the appellant has filed returns and paid tax/interest as per the returns, he cannot be allowed to take a stand that even the tax amount, disclosed in the returns is "an amount of tax, disputed by him". 16. Learned Senior Counsel placed reliance on the decision of the Madras High Court in the case of E.I.D. Parry (India) Limited Vs. Assistant Commissioner (CT), Central Assessment Circle-I and Others reported ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....A) of entry tax on goods act 2002 levied at Rs. 20000/- So total proposed liability comes to Rs. 243411956/-" ***** The Mah. Tax on the Entry of Goods into Local Areas Rules, 2002 FORM 10 Notice of Demand (See Rule 8 of the Maharashtra Tax on the Entry of Goods into Local Areas Rules, 2002) Office of the, Dy. Commissioner of State Tax (E-627) Large Taxpayer Unit 3 New Bldg. 3rd Floor, G. wing GST Bhavan, Mazgaon-10 TEL-23760378 To, M/s. VVF (INDIA) LTD. 109, OPP. SION FORT GARDEN, SION (EAST), 29th ROAD, SION MUMBAI-400 022 Entry tax R.C.No. - 27450909706E 1. Take notice that the tax, interest and/ or penalty payable by you for the import of 'Natural Gas' into Maharashtra during the period from 01/04/2013 to 31/03/2014 has been determined by me [Dy. Commissioner of State Tax (E-627), Mumbai.] under section 6 of the Maharashtra Tax on the Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2002 (Mah. Act IV of 2003). 2. The total amount of Rs. 243411956/- should be paid into Government Treasury within 30 days from the date of service of demand notice. 3. If you do not pay the amount by the date specified above, the amount shall be recoverable as an arrears of land ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....on, and examining him on oath or affirmation; (c) compelling the production of documents; and (d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses. (2) In the case of any affidavit to be made for the purposes of this Act, any officer appointed by the Tribunal or the Commissioner may administer the oath to the deponent. (3) Without prejudice to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, where a person, to whom a summons is issued by the Tribunal or the Commissioner either to attend to give evidence or produce books of accounts, registers or other documents at a certain place and time, intentionally omits to attend or produce the books of accounts, registers or documents at the place and time, the Tribunal or, as the case may be, the Commissioner, may impose on him such fine not exceeding five thousand rupees as it or he thinks fit; and the fine so levied may be recovered in the manner provided in this Act for recovery of arrears of tax: Provided that, before imposing any such fine, the person concerned shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (4) When any documents are produced by a person or dealer on whom the summons was issued by t....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....nds, then, an amount equal to 10 per cent, of the amount of tax, disputed by the appellant so far as such tax liability pertains to tax, on grounds, other than those mentioned in clause (a), (c) in case of an appeal against an order, other than an order, described in clauses (a) and (b) above, an amount equal to 10 per cent, of the amount of tax disputed by the appellant. (emphasis supplied by us) (d) in case of an appeal against a separate order imposing only penalty, deposit of an amount, as directed by the appellate authority, which shall not in any case, exceed 10 per cent of the amount of penalty, disputed by appellant : 24. Chapter IV is titled as "REGISTRATION" and then follows Chapter V. The title of Chapter V is extremely relevant. It is titled as "RETURNS AND ASSESSMENT, ETC." Therein appear sections 20, 22 and 23 to 25 so also sections 26 to 28. Therefore, when there is an assessment under section 23 and that assessment has to be carried out in the manner set out in that provision and an order is to follow, then, naturally, that order of assessment is capable of being rectified and reviewed. Equally, it is that which is subjected to appeal. Therefore, an appeal un....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ses (a) and (b) of sub-section (6A) of section 26, an amount equal to 10% of the amount of tax disputed by the appellant has to be deposited. Thus, the sub-sections impose pre-conditions for filing a first appeal particularly of annexing proof of payment of an aggregate of the amounts mentioned in the clauses of section 26(6A) of the MVAT Act. Therefore, when the language of clause (c) of sub-section (6A) of section 26 is interpreted in the light of the earlier provisions of the act and particularly Chapters I to VII, it is clear that there has to be a proof of payment of the aggregate of the amounts as set out in clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (6A) of section 26 of the MVAT Act depending upon the nature of the orders challenged in appeal. It is only then the appeals can be filed and not otherwise. To then hold that an amount which was paid under protest at the time of investigation and assessment to tax, but before an order of assessment or before completion of assessment can be construed as payment in terms of sub-section (6A) of section 26 of the MVAT Act or compliance of sub-section (6A) of section 26, would be doing violence to the plain language of the Act. 26. In the pre....
TaxTMI
TaxTMI