Service Tax Refund Denied Without Modified Assessment - Self-Assessed Returns Binding Unless Legally Challenged

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....The CESTAT dismissed the appellant's refund claim for service tax paid on 60% of the value of services rendered under reverse charge mechanism. The Tribunal held that refund proceedings are in the nature of execution proceedings, and refunds cannot be sanctioned without first modifying the assessment, following the Supreme Court's decision in ITC Ltd. The adjudicating authority had determined on merits that the appellant was liable to pay service tax on 50% of the total billing amount. The CESTAT confirmed that a self-assessed return constitutes an assessment which, unless properly challenged and modified through appropriate legal channels, cannot be questioned in refund proceedings, consistent with the ruling in Jagdamba Phosphate.....