Circular No. 1009/16/2015-CX - Dated: 23-10-2015 - Central Excise - Guidelines for launching of Prosecution under the Central Excise Act, 1944 and Finance Act, 1994 regarding Service tax

What is the meaning of term “Habitual Evaders” in terms of prosecution? 

Habitual evaders: Notwithstanding the above limits, prosecution can be launched in the case of a company/assessee habitually evading tax/duty or misusing Cenvat Credit facility.  A company/assessee would be treated as habitually evading tax/duty or misusing Cenvat Credit facility, if it has been involved in three or more cases of confirmed demand (at the first appellate level or above) of Central Excise duty or Service Tax or misuse of Cenvat credit involving fraud, suppression of facts etc. in past five years from the date of the decision such that the total duty or tax evaded or total credit misused is equal to or more than Rs. One Crore. Offence register (335J) may be used to monitor and identify assessees who can be considered to be habitually evading duty.

Habitual evasion: prosecution permitted where repeated confirmed demands and substantial cumulative tax evasion or credit misuse. Prosecution may be initiated against a company or assessee classified as a habitual evader where multiple confirmed demands (at first appellate level or above) for Central Excise duty or Service Tax, or findings of Cenvat credit misuse arising from fraud or suppression, occur within a prior period and the cumulative duty or tax evaded or credit misused meets a substantial monetary threshold; the Offence Register (335J) may be used to identify such assessees.