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2023 (1) TMI 992 - AT - Service TaxAdjustment of excess service tax paid - ‘succeeding month or quarter’ used in Rule 6(4A) of Service Tax Rules, 1994 - whether the said term means immediate succeeding month/quarter or it can be anytime even after couple of years? - whether the assessee can claim any adjustment without complying with the conditions contained in Rule 6(4B) ibid? - HELD THAT:- A perusal of the aforesaid Rule 6(4A) would make it clear that the word used is succeeding month or quarter as the case may be. Succeeding month denotes the month, which succeeds the current month, i.e., the next month and dictionary meaning of succeeding means immediately following. The aforesaid clause (4A) do not uses the word ‘any’ before the words ‘succeeding month or quarter’ as the case may be. Rule 6(4B) provides that the adjustment shall be subject to this condition that the excess amount paid was not on account of taxability. As per the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in catena of decisions, in a taxing statute, it is the plain language of the provision that has to be preferred, where language is plain, unambiguous and is capable of determining a defined meaning. Purposive interpretation can be given only when there is an ambiguity in the statutory provision, which is not found in the present case. It cannot be said that this interpretation lead to absurdity as the procedure is prescribed in the statute itself. While interpreting the taxing statute, the importance has to be given to the clear expression used therein and no intent can be examined in case of any unambiguity in the wordings of the Notification. There is no ambiguity in the wording of Rule 6(4A) ibid. It is not that the appellant is not aware about the filing of refund claim of excess payment as the learned Commissioner has observed that in the year 2011 the appellant has applied for the refund of the excess payment made which was sanctioned by the Adjudicating Authority - thus, the filing of refund claim is not mandatory but then the adjustment under Rule 6(4A) ibid has to be done within a reasonable period if not in the immediate succeeding month or quarter. Article 265 of the Constitution of India - HELD THAT:- The said Article provides that no tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law. Here levy of tax is not disputed, what is disputed is the alleged excess payment by the Appellant in this era of self-assessment and since no documentary evidence has been placed on record except the arithmetical calculation, therefore it cannot be concluded that any extra payment of tax has been made by the Appellant. There are no infirmity in the impugned order - appeal dismissed.
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