News Update

Cus - Warehousing of imported solar panels/solar modules - Instruction dated 9 th July 2022 appears to travel far beyond the advisory and clarificatory function which stands placed in the Board by virtue of s.151A of CA, hence quashed: HCCus - Petitioner had opted for conversion from a less rigorous procedure of availing Duty Drawback Scheme to a more rigorous procedure under Advance Authorisation Scheme and as per Circular 36/10-Customs, same was not possible: HCCX - Respondents cannot go beyond the Reward Scheme as no discretion is vested with them to release any amount towards the reward, before finalization of the proceedings against assessee: HCGST - Petitioner is given liberty to manually file an appeal against impugned order regarding transitional credit of SGST for which they had valid evidence for payment of VAT of same amount: HCGST - For the period for which return was filed, registration cannot be cancelled retrospectively: HCHas Globalisation favoured capital more than labour? Can taxing super-rich help?GST - SC asks Govt not to use coercion for recovering arrearsChanging Tax Landscape in IndiaPrivate equity funds pouring in India’s healthcare sectorInterpretation of StatutesGoogle, Microsoft move Delhi HC against order to erase non-consensual intimate images16th Finance Commission invites views from general public on terms of referenceEvery party committed to ensure PoK returns to India; Jaishankar695 candidates to contest LS elections in Phase 5Astronomers’ efforts lead to discovery of a rocky planet with atmosphereCSIR hosts Student-Science Connect program on Climate ChangeVolkswagen asks EU not to raise tariffs on EVs from ChinaI-T - Assessee given insufficient time to file reply to Show Cause Notice; assessment order quashed; matter remanded for reconsidering assessee's replies: HCChina blocks imports from Intel & QualcommI-T - Assessee has 5 email IDs & responded to communications received on one of these IDs; Assessee cannot claim to have been denied an opportunity of personal hearing before passing of order: HCRecord rainfall damages over 1 lakh homes in Brazil; over 100 lives lostI-T- Additions framed u/s 68 r/w Section 115BBE are unwarranted where assessee duly explains nature & source of cash receipts, through sufficient documentation: ITATRussia bombards Ukraine’s power supply; Serious outages fearedI-T- Re-assessment cannot be resorted to beyond 4 years from end of relevant AY, where assessee has not failed to file ITR or to make full & true disclosure of facts necessary for assessment: ITATIndia received foreign remittance of USD 111 bn in 2022, says UNI-T- Receipt of subscription fees can't be considered as commercial activity: ITATPitroda resigns as Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress over racist remarkST - In case of payment received through cheque, it is the date of honouring cheque, which has to be construed as date of receipt of advance payment and since amount was received by appellant on or after appointed date, appellant would not be entitle to benefit of exemption notification: CESTAT86 flights of AI Express cancelled as crew goes on mass sick leaveCus - When undervaluation of goods is alleged solely based on value of contemporaneous imports, all details relating to such imports are to be necessarily established by Revenue: CESTAT
 
CX - Valuation - Section 4 - Liquidated damages not to form part of transaction value: CESTAT Larger Bench

By TIOL News Service

CHENNAI, DEC 02, 2013: THE assessee was engaged in manufacture of electrical transformers. During the relevant period, respondent supplied transformers to various Distribution Companies (discoms) of the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (APSEB). Clause (2) of the purchase order provides for variation in the price, by way of revision (upward or downward) ab initio, to accommodate variations in prices of raw materials in terms delineated in the said clause. Clause (12) of the purchase order stipulates that for supplies made beyond the agreed delivery schedule, penalty shall be levied for an amount equivalent to ½% of the value of the material not delivered within the prescribed time limit for every week of delay or part thereof, subject to a maximum of 5% of the total contract value. This clause also contains a provision which enables the purchaser (APSEB) to purchase the balance quantity (undelivered within the delivery schedule) from the open market and recover the expenditure incurred thereof from the assessee.

The period in dispute is after 1.7.2000, when the new valuation provisions- transaction value - came into existence.

Section 4 (3) (d) of the Central Excise Act defines the expression "transaction value" as follows;

"Means the price actually paid or payable for the goods, when sold, and includes in addition to the amount charged as price, any amount that the buyer is liable to pay to, or on behalf of, the assessee, by reason of, or in connection with the sale, whether payable at the time of the sale or at any other time, including, but not limited to, any amount charged for, or to make provision for, advertising or publicity, marketing and selling organization expenses, storage, outward handling, servicing, warranty, commission or any other matter; but does not include the amount of duty of excise, sales tax and other taxes, if any, actually paid or actually payable on such goods."

The issue before the Larger Bench is:

"Whether any deduction claimed by the buyer of excisable goods as compensation for the delay in the supply of the goods by its manufacturer (assessee) under the contract between them, during any period after 01.07.2000, is liable to be included in the assessable value of the goods under Section 4 of the Central Excise Act?"

The Larger Bench observed,

"In our considered view, post the amendment of Section 4 and the statutory definition of 'transaction value' in sub-section (3) (d) thereof, of the Act, the eventual value payable after factoring in any liquidated damages contractually stipulated for delayed supply would be the transaction value and this value would be the value relevant for levy of duty.

On the aforesaid analysis, we answer the reference by holding that wherever the assessee, as per the terms of the contract and on account of delay in delivery of manufactured goods is liable to pay a lesser amount than the generically agreed price as a result of a clause (in the agreement), stipulating variation in the price, on account a the liability to "liquidated damages", irrespective of whether the clause is titled "penalty" or "liquidated damages", the resultant price would be the “transaction value”; and such value shall be liable to levy of excise duty, at the applicable rate."

(See 2013-TIOL-1794-CESTAT-MAD-LB)


POST YOUR COMMENTS
   

TIOL Tube Latest

Shri N K Singh, recipient of TIOL FISCAL HERITAGE AWARD 2023, delivering his acceptance speech at Fiscal Awards event held on April 6, 2024 at Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.


Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon'ble 14th President of India, addressing the gathering at TIOL Special Awards event.