TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
2023 (2) TMI 779
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.... Residential Complex Service" reads as under:- "Works contract", for the purposes of section 65(105)(zzzza), means a contract wherein:- (i) transfer of property in goods involved in the execution of such contract is leviable to tax as sale of goods, and (ii) such contract is for the purposes of carrying out,- (a) erection, commissioning or installation of plant, machinery, equipment or structures, whether pre-fabricated or otherwise, installation of electrical and electronic devices, plumbing, drain laying or other installations for transport of fluids, heating, ventilation or air-conditioning including related pipe work, duct work and sheet metal work, thermal insulation, sound insulation, fire proofing or water proofing, lift and escalator, fire escape staircases or elevators; or (b) construction of a new building or a civil structure or a part thereof, or of a pipeline or conduit, primarily for the purposes of commerce or industry; or (c) construction of a new residential complex or a part thereof; or (d) completion and finishing services, repair, alteration, renovation or restoration of, or similar services, in rela....
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.... as under:- "7.1 In this case there is no dispute and it clearly emerges that the residential complex was built for M/s. ITC Ltd. And appellant was the main contractor. Appellant had appointed sub-contractors all of whom have paid the tax as required under the law. The question that arises is whether the appellant is liable to pay service tax in respect of the complex built for ITC. From the definition it is quite clear that if the complex is constructed by a person directly engaging any other person for design or planning or lay out and such complex is intended for personal use as per the definition, service tax is not attracted. Personal use has been defined as permitting the complex for use as residence by another person on rent or without consideration. In this case what emerges is that ITC in tended to provide the accommodation built to their own employees. Therefore it is covered by the definition of 'personal use' in the explanation. The next question that arises is whether it gets excluded under the circumstances. The circular issued by C.B.E.& C. on 24-5-2010 relied upon by the learned counsel is relevant. Para3 of this circular which is relevant is....
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....l use of the employees of M/s. Lanco. We extract below the statutory definition of section 65(91a) of the Finance Act, 1994:- "Residential complex "means any complex comprising of- (i) a building or buildings, having more than twelve residential units; (ii) a common area; and (iii) any one or more of facilities or services such as park, lift, parking space, community hall, common water supply or effluent treatment system, located within a premises and the layout of such premises is approved by an authority under any law for the time being in force, but does not include a complex which is constructed by a person directly engaging any other person for designing or planning of the layout, and the construction of such complex is intended for personal use as residence by such person. Explanation.- For the removal of doubts, it is here by declared that for the purposes of this clause,- (a) "personal use" includes permitting the complex for use as residence by an other person on rent or without consideration; (b) "residential unit" means a single house or a single apartment intended for use as a place of residence;" ....
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....e for this purpose. CPWD in reality has acted as a bridge between Income tax department and the contractor and after the residential complex is constructed, the same was handed over by CPWD to Income tax department and therefore, in terms of the clarification issued by the Board also, the appellant would be liable to pay service tax. He drew our attention to the letter relied upon by the learned advocate and submitted that in that letter, it has been clarified by the Board that if NBCC were to construct residential accommodation and handover to Govt. of India, there would be no liability to service tax. However, if NBCC were to entrust the work to sub-contractor and such sub-contractor constructed the residential complex and handed over to NBCC who in turn handed over the same to Govt. of India, service tax would be leviable. He drew our attention to the observation of learned Commissioner in his order wherein he has also held that this is not a case where residence is for personal use of a person and is not covered by the explanation given under clause (30a). We have considered this submission. We find ourselves in agreement that the contention of the learned advocate that service....
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.... (c) Repair, alteration, renovation or restoration of, or similar services in relation to, residential complex] The definition of residential complex service has been given under clause (91a) of Section 65 as under; "Residential complex" means any complex comprising of- (i) a building or buildings, having more than twelve residential units; (ii) a common area; and (iii) any one or more of facilities or services such as park, lift, parking space, community hall, common water supply or effluent treatment system, located within a premises and the layout of such premises is approved by an authority under any law for the time being in force, but does not include a complex which is constructed by a person directly engaging any other person for designing or planning of the layout, and the construction of such complex is intended for personal use as residence by such person. Explanation - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this clause - (a) "personal use" includes permitting the complex for use as residence by another person on rent or without consideration; (b) "residential unit....