In a significant relief for taxpayers, the Jharkhand High Court has held that no further pre-deposit is required for filing an appeal before the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) when a sufficient amount has already been deposited at the first appellate stage. The Court permitted Ranchi-based manufacturer Ashirwad …
The Madras High Court, in a significant ruling reported in [2026] 182 taxmann.com 771 (Madras), has held that issuance of a single composite show cause notice (SCN) and passing of one consolidated assessment order covering multiple financial years under Section 73 of the CGST Act, 2017 is legally impermissible. The Court …
India’s newly constituted Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) has passed its first order, marking an important milestone in the evolution of GST dispute resolution. The Tribunal dealt with a GSTR-1 vs GSTR-3B mismatch dispute relating to FY 2018-19, and adopted a practical and taxpayer-friendly …
The Madras High Court recently dealt with an important dispute involving a taxpayer registered under the GST composition scheme. The tax department alleged short payment of tax and proceeded to assess turnover by adding a notional gross profit, ultimately demanding tax …
Refund of accumulated Input Tax Credit (ITC) arising from an inverted duty structure has been one of the most litigated issues under the GST regime, largely due to anomalies in the computation formula prescribed under Rule 89(5) of the CGST …
In a significant ruling under GST law, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to a company director accused of evasion of GST exceeding ₹11 crores. The Court observed that since the investigation had already been completed and the evidence was …
The Calcutta High Court, in a significant ruling, held that delay in filing a GST appeal due to the illness of the assessee’s accountant constitutes a sufficient cause for condonation. The Court observed that since the assessee was neither grossly …
In a major relief for businesses facing legacy VAT disputes, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has barred the Punjab tax department from taking any coercive recovery action against a proprietorship firm after the State admitted that the VAT assessment record was destroyed …
The GST regime is largely driven by technology, with notices, replies, and adjudication proceedings being conducted through the online GST portal. While this digital system aims to ensure transparency and efficiency, it also creates challenges when technical glitches prevent proper …
In a significant relief for the real estate sector, the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), New Delhi, has ruled that Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) does not constitute a taxable service under the Finance Act, 1994. The tribunal has set aside a …
The Jharkhand High Court has reiterated the settled principle that a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution cannot be entertained against a GST order-in-original when an effective statutory appellate remedy is available and no violation of the principles …
The Union Budget 2026–27, presented on 1 February 2026 by the Finance Minister, places a clear emphasis on tax certainty, simplification of laws, and ease of compliance, rather than major rate changes. Both direct and indirect tax proposals aim to reduce …
The Bombay High Court, in [2026] 182 taxmann.com 664, has reiterated an important procedural safeguard under the GST law by holding that clubbing of different financial years or tax periods while issuing a show cause notice under Section 74 of the CGST Act, 2017 …
Under GST law, Input Tax Credit (ITC) is a statutory benefit, not an absolute right. Fake ITC arises when credit is: Availed without actual supply of goods or services, or Availed based on invoices issued by fake / non-existent suppliers, or Availed with intent to evade …
The Madras High Court set aside a GST assessment order on the ground that the show cause notice (SCN) was not validly served as per Section 169 of the CGST Act. The Court held that mere uploading of SCN and reminders …
The Karnataka High Court examined whether an assessment order passed without considering the assessee’s reply—due to alleged non-receipt of the show-cause notice (SCN)—could be sustained. The assessee pleaded bona fide and unavoidable circumstances arising from a change in registered email …
The Kerala High Court, in S. Ajith Kumar v. Union of India, WP(C) No. 38316/2025, examined the scope of GST exemption on health insurance premiums in the context of group health insurance policies availed by retired bank employees. The petitioners challenged the …
The concept of intermediary under GST has been a frequent subject of litigation, particularly in cases involving cross-border service arrangements between Indian entities and their foreign affiliates. One of the major consequences of classification as an intermediary is the denial of export …
The Andhra Pradesh High Court, in [2026] 182 taxmann.com 89 (decided on 24-12-2025), has clarified the legal position regarding GST assessment proceedings initiated after the death of a taxpayer. The Court held that assessment or demand proceedings cannot be validly concluded against a deceased …
The Karnataka High Court has reaffirmed that minor procedural lapses in e-way bill compliance cannot be the basis for harsh penal action under the GST regime. In a significant ruling, the Court held that detention of goods and imposition of …