Circular No 179/2022: Clarification regarding GST rates & classification (goods) based on the recommendations of the GST Council in its 47th meeting

 

 

F. CBIC-190354/172/2022-TRU

Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue (Tax Research Unit)

North Block, New Delhi Date: 3^rd August, 2022

 

To,

Principal Chief Commissioners/ Principal Directors General, Chief Commissioners/ Directors General,

Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Central Excise & Central Tax

 

Madam/ Sir,

 

1. Based on the recommendations of the GST Council in its 47^th meeting held on 28^th– 29^th June at Chandigarh, clarifications, with reference to GST levy, related to the following are being issued through this circular:
2. Electric vehicles whether or not fitted with a battery pack, attract GST rate of 5%:

• Representations have been received seeking clarification regarding the applicable rate of GST on electrically operated vehicle without any battery fitted to
• The explanation of ‘Electrically operated vehicles’ in entry 242A of Schedule I of notification 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) reads as: ‘Electrically operated vehicles which run solely on electrical energy derived from an external source or from one or more electrical batteries fitted to such road vehicles and shall include E-bicycles.’
• As is evident from the explanation above, electrically operated vehicle including three wheeled electric vehicle means vehicle that runs solely on electrical energy derived from an external source or from electrical batteries. Therefore, the fitting of batteries cannot be considered as a concomitant factor for defining a vehicle as an electrically operated electric
• It is also pertinent to state that the WCO’s HSN Explanatory notes have also not considered batteries to be a component, whose absence changes the essential character of an incomplete, unfinished or unassembled
• Also, the HSN explanatory notes for Chapter 87 have clearly stated that Motor Chassis fitted with cabs e. the chassis fitted with cabin body falls under 87.02 to 87.04 and not in heading 87.06.

• In view of the above, it is clarified that electrically operated vehicle is to be classified under HSN 8703 even if the battery is not fitted to such vehicle at the time of supply and thereby attract GST at the rate of 5% in terms of entry 242A of Schedule I of notification 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate).

3. Stones otherwise covered in S. No. 123 of Schedule-I (such as Napa stones), which are not mirror polished, are eligible for concessional rate under said entry:

• Representations have been received seeking clarification regarding the applicable GST rates on building stones, in particular Napa Stones, which are ready to use and polished in ways other than mirror-polished.
• Napa Stone is a variety of dimensional limestone, which is a brittle stone and cannot be subject to extensive mirror Currently, S. No. 123 of Schedule-I prescribes GST rate of 5% for ‘Ecaussine and other calcareous monumental or building stone; alabaster [other than marble and travertine], other than mirror polished stone which is ready to use.’ However, being brittle in nature, stones like Napa Stone, even though ready for use, are not subject to extensive polishing. Therefore, such minor polished stones do not qualify as mirror polished stones.
• Therefore, it is clarified that S. No. 123 in schedule-I to the notification No. 1/2017- Central Tax (rate) dated 06.2017 covers minor polished stones.

4. Mangoes under CTH 0804 including mango pulp, but other than fresh mangoes and sliced, dried mangoes, attract GST at 12% rate:

• Representations have been received seeking clarification regarding the applicable GST rate on different forms of Mangoes including Mango
• On the basis of the recommendation of the GST Council in its 22^nd Meeting, the GST rate on ‘Mangoes sliced, dried’, falling under heading 0804, was reduced from 12% to 5% [S. 30A of Schedule I of notification No. 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated the 28^th June, 2017]. However, the GST rate on all forms of dried mangoes (other than sliced and dried mangoes), falling under heading 0804, including mango pulp, was always meant to be at the rate of 12%.
• Accordingly, it is hereby clarified that mangoes, fresh falling under heading 0804 are exempt; Mangoes, sliced and dried, falling under 0804 are chargeable to a concessional rate of 5%; while all other forms of dried mango, including Mango pulp, attract GST at the rate of 12%. To bring absolute clarity, the relevant entry at No. 16 of Schedule-II of notification no. 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated 28^th June, 2017, has been amended vide notification No. 6/2022-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 13^th July, 2022.
• Fresh mangoes, falling under heading 0804, continue to remain exempt from GST [S. 51 of notification No. 2/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28^th June, 2017].

5.Treated sewage water attracts Nil rate of GST:

• Representations have   been   received    seeking clarification regarding the applicable GST rate on treated sewage Treated sewage water was not meant to be construed as falling under “purified” water for the purpose of levy of GST.

• In general, Water, falling under heading 2201, with certain specified exclusions, is exempt from GST vide entry at S. No. 99 of notification No. 2/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28th June,
• Accordingly, it is hereby clarified that supply of treated sewage water, falling under heading 2201, is exempt under GST. Further, to clarify the issue, the word ‘purified’ is being omitted from the above-mentioned entry vide notification No. 7/2022-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 13^th July,

6. Nicotine Polacrilex Gum attracts a GST rate of 18%:

• Representations have been received   seeking clarification regarding the classification and applicable GST rate on Nicotine Polacrilex
• The WCO 2022 HS Codes has inter alia introduced a new entry 2404 91 00 comprising of products for oral application containing nicotine and intended to assist tobacco use cessation with effect from 01.2022. Accordingly, a technical change, without any consequential rate change, has been made vide notification No. 18/2021 – Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28^th December, 2021, wherein S. No. 26B in Schedule III of notification no. 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28^th June, 2017, has been inserted to include products for oral application containing nicotine and intended to assist in cessation of use of tobacco, and falling under tariff item 2404 91 00. The same is supplemented by the HS Explanatory notes 2022 which states that heading 2404 includes nicotine containing products for recreational use, as well as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products intended to assist tobacco use cessation, which are taken as part of a nicotine intake reduction programme in order to lessen the human body’s dependence on this substance.
• Accordingly, it is hereby clarified that the Nicotine Polacrilex gum which is commonly applied orally and is intended to assist tobacco use cessation is appropriately classifiable under tariff item 2404 91 00 with applicable GST rate of 18% [Sl. 26B in Schedule III of notification no. 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28^th June, 2017].

7. Fly ash bricks and aggregate – condition of 90% fly ash content applied only to fly ash aggregate, and not fly ash bricks:

• Representations have been received seeking clarification regarding the applicable rate on the fly ash bricks and fly ash
• Hitherto, as per entry at S. No. 176B of the Schedule II the items of description “Fly ash bricks or fly ash aggregate with 90 per cent. or more fly ash content; Fly ash blocks” attracts a GST rate of 12%. Confusion has arisen about the applicability of 90 per cent. condition on fly ash aggregates and fly ash bricks. As per the recommendations of the GST Council in the 23^rd Meeting, the condition of 90% or more fly ash content was applicable only for fly ash
• Therefore, it is clarified that the condition of 90 per cent. or more fly ash content applied only to Fly Ash Aggregates and not to fly ash bricks and fly ash blocks. Further, with effect from 18^th July, 2022 the condition is omitted from the

8. Applicability of GST on by-products of milling of Dal/ Pulses such as Chilka, Khanda and Churi:

• Representations have   been   received    seeking clarification regarding the applicable GST rate on by-products of milling of Dal/ Pulses such as Chilka, Khanda and
• The by-products of milling of pulses/ dal such as Chilka, Khanda and Churi are appropriately classifiable under heading 2302 that consists of goods having description as bran, sharps and other residues, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other working of cereals or of leguminous
• The applicable GST rate on goods falling under heading 2302 is detailed in the Table below:

Entry and notification No.	Description	GST Rate
S. No. 102 of notification No. 2/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28th June, 2017	Aquatic feed including shrimp feed and prawn feed, poultry feed & cattle feed, including grass, hay & straw, supplement & husk of pulses, concentrates & additives, wheat bran & de-oiled cake[other than rice bran]	Nil
S. No. 103A of Schedule- I of notification No. 1/2017-Central                       Tax (Rate), dated 28th June, 2017	Bran, sharps and other residues, whether or not in the form of pellets, derived from the sifting, milling or other working of cereals or of leguminous plants [other than aquatic feed including shrimp feed and prawn feed, poultry feed and cattle feed, including grass, hay and straw, supplement and husk of pulses, concentrates and additives, wheat bran and de-oiled cake]	5%
S. No. 103B of Schedule- I of notification No. 1/2017-Central                       Tax (Rate), dated 28th June, 2017	Rice bran (other than de-oiled rice bran)	5%

• The dispute in applicable GST rate revolves around the central argument as to whether the above-mentioned by-products are meant for direct consumption as cattle feed and therefore attract exemption under No. 102 of notification No. 2/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28^th June, 2017 or are otherwise not meant for direct consumption and thus covered under S. No. 103A of notification No. 1/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dated 28^th June, 2017 attracting a GST rate of 5%.
• While milling of pulses/ dal, a wide range of by-products such as chilka, khanda, churi, among others, are obtained which are preferred as cattle feed by dairy industry for better palatability and higher nutritive The mentioned by-products are required to go through varying degrees of processing in order to customize the color, size, aroma, nutrition, purity, etc., of the cattle feed so produced, depending upon the dietary and nutritional requirement of the cattle and the budget availability of the customer(s). Further, as per the Indian Standards 2052:2009 -Compounded Feeds for Cattle — Specification, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, grain by-products have been categorized as one of the ingredients of the compounded cattle feed.

• The GST Council examined the issue and recommended that a clarification be issued in this regard. It also recommended that in view of the prevailing multiple interpretations and genuine doubts regarding the applicability of GST, the issue for past periods may be regularized on as is
• Accordingly, it is hereby clarified that the subject goods which inter alia is used as cattle feed ingredient are appropriately classifiable under heading 2302 and attract GST at the rate of 5% vide No. 103A of Schedule-I of notification no. 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated the 28^th June, 2017 and that for the past, the matter would be regularized on as is basis as mentioned in para 8.6.

9. Difficulty if any, in the implementation of this circular may be brought to the notice of the

Yours faithfully,