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2021 (7) TMI 225 - HC - VAT and Sales TaxInput Tax Credit - failure to register as VAT dealer - Constitutional Validity of Section 17(3) and Section 49(2) of A.P. VAT Act, 2005 - Assessment Order passed an order imposing tax @ 12.5% as treating the petitioner as VAT dealer instead of imposing @ 1% tax treating as turnover tax dealer - HELD THAT - Since the turnover of the petitioner for the 1st quarter ending 30.06.2006 was ₹ 13,14,724/- which exceeded ₹ 10 lakhs, the petitioner had an opportunity to apply for registration as VAT dealer - the petitioner should have applied before 15.07.2006 for VAT registration since the turnover for the 1st quarter ending 30.06.2006 exceeded ₹ 10 lakhs. He did not avail that opportunity but waited for completion of 12 months period. The total turnover for 12 months period from 01.04.2006 to 31.03.2007 was ₹ 43,47,418/-. As per the second leg of Section 17(3), he has to apply for VAT registration since the total turnover for 12 preceded months exceeded ₹ 40 lakhs. As per Rule-5 (b), he has to apply for VAT registration before 15.04.2007. However, he applied for VAT registration only on 18.05.2007 i.e., long after the expiry of stipulated period. Therefore, the 2nd respondent rightly rejected his claim and passed the impugned order directing the petitioner to pay VAT @ 12.5% and also treating him as VAT dealer - In the instant case, since the petitioner was liable to be registered as a VAT dealer, the 2nd respondent rightly levied the tax @ 12.5%. The petitioner cannot plead any illegality or irregularity in the order impugned. So also the petitioner cannot challenge the provision under Section 17(3) and Section 49(2) of A.P. VAT Act. There are no merits in the petitioner s case - petition dismissed.
Issues:
Challenge to Section 17(3) of A.P. VAT Act, 2005 and Section 49(2) on grounds of discrimination, legality, and arbitrariness. Analysis: 1. Challenge to Section 17(3): The petitioner, a wholesale distributor, sought a mandamus against Section 17(3) of the A.P. VAT Act, 2005, which mandates registration for dealers with taxable turnover exceeding specified limits. The petitioner's turnover for the first quarter exceeded the threshold, requiring VAT registration by 15.07.2006. However, the petitioner applied for VAT registration only on 18.05.2007, after the 12-month period also exceeded the limit. The court held that the delay in registration justified the respondent's imposition of VAT at 12.5% and denial of input tax credit, as per the provisions of the Act. 2. Denial of Input Tax Credit under Section 49(2): The petitioner contested the denial of input tax credit under Section 49(2) for failing to register as a VAT dealer. The respondent argued that the petitioner's failure to timely apply for VAT registration led to the correct assessment at 12.5% VAT rate. The court found that since the petitioner was liable to be registered as a VAT dealer, the imposition of 12.5% tax was justified, and there was no illegality in the impugned order. The court dismissed the petitioner's claim of arbitrariness or illegality in the provisions of Section 17(3) and Section 49(2) of the A.P. VAT Act. 3. Legal Analysis: The court analyzed the petitioner's turnover data and the relevant provisions of the A.P. VAT Act. It noted the requirements for VAT registration based on turnover thresholds and timelines for application submission. The court highlighted the petitioner's failure to adhere to the prescribed deadlines for VAT registration, leading to the rejection of the claim for input tax credit and the imposition of VAT at 12.5%. The judgment emphasized the legal obligations of dealers under the Act and upheld the respondent's assessment based on the petitioner's non-compliance with registration requirements. 4. Conclusion: After considering the arguments presented by both parties, the court found no merit in the petitioner's case. The writ petition challenging Section 17(3) and Section 49(2) of the A.P. VAT Act was dismissed, with no costs awarded. The court affirmed the respondent's actions in assessing the petitioner for VAT at 12.5% and upheld the denial of input tax credit due to the petitioner's failure to comply with the registration provisions within the stipulated timelines.
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