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2021 (12) TMI 676 - AT - Service TaxRefund of accumulated/unutilised Cenvat Credit of Service Tax - denial on the ground of ‘no nexus’ between the input services and the export services - initiation of proceedings under Rule 14 of CCR - Rule 5 of Cenvat Credit Rules - HELD THAT:- It is well settled legal position that denial of Cenvat Credit can be done only by issuing notice under Rule 14 ibid. Having allowed the Cenvat Credit or by not denying the same, the department cannot reject refund of Cenvat Credit under Rule 5. It is well settled principle that availment of Cenvat Credit, its utilisation and refund are different aspects dealt with under CCR, 2004. Rule 5 provides for any refund of Cenvat Credit and nowhere in this Rule there is a provision to determine the correctness about the availment of Cenvat Credit. Its only Rule 14 ibid which provides for recovery of irregularly availed Cenvat Credit. It is well settled principle that availment of Cenvat Credit, its utilisation and refund are different aspects dealt with under CCR, 2004. Rule 5 provides for any refund of Cenvat Credit and nowhere in this Rule there is a provision to determine the correctness about the availment of Cenvat Credit. Its only Rule 14 ibid which provides for recovery of irregularly availed Cenvat Credit. There are force in the submission of learned Counsel that since availment of credit has not been questioned by the department in terms of Rule 14 ibid, the refund benefit cannot be denied on the ground of non-establishment of nexus between input and the output services. Indisputably, in the refund proceedings under Rule 5 ibid as amended, any such attempt to deny or to vary the credit availed during the period under consideration is not permissible. If the quantum of the Cenvat Credit is to be varied or to be denied on the ground that certain services do not qualify as input services or on the ground of ‘no nexus’, then the same could have been done only by taking recourse to Rule 14 ibid - since the provisions of Rule 14 ibid have not been invoked, the refund of Cenvat Credit as claimed by the Appellant under Rule 5 ibid cannot be denied to them and the same is admissible. Appeal allowed - decided in favor of appellant.
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