Blog on Circular No. 86/05/2019-GST: GST Applicability on Business Facilitators (BF) & Business Correspondents (BC) in Banking Services
<h4><strong>Introduction</strong></h4><p>The <strong>Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)</strong> issued <strong>Circular No. 86/05/2019-GST</strong> on <strong>January 1, 2019</strong>, to clarify the <strong>GST implications on services provided by Business Facilitators (BF) and Business Correspondents (BC) to banking companies</strong>. The circular addresses key concerns regarding <strong>valuation of services for GST computation</strong> and the <strong>scope of GST exemption for services related to rural banking</strong>.</p><hr><h3><strong>Key Highlights of the Circular</strong></h3><h4><strong>1. GST on Services Provided by Business Facilitators (BF) & Business Correspondents (BC)</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>As per RBI guidelines</strong>, banks pay <strong>BFs/BCs a commission or fee</strong> for providing banking services.</li><li><strong>BFs/BCs are prohibited from charging fees directly to customers</strong>; banks charge customers directly.</li><li><strong>GST Liability:</strong><ul><li>The <strong>banking company is considered the service provider</strong>.</li><li><strong>Banks are responsible for paying GST on the entire service charge collected from customers</strong>—whether received directly or through BFs/BCs.</li></ul></li></ul><h4><strong>2. GST Exemption for Rural Banking Services</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Sl. No. 39 of Notification No. 12/2017-Central Tax (Rate)</strong> provides <strong>GST exemption for services related to accounts in rural branches of banks</strong>.</li><li><strong>Clarification on Scope:</strong><ul><li>Services <strong>must be provided under Heading 9971</strong>.</li><li>Exemption applies <strong>only to services linked to accounts in branches located in rural areas</strong>.</li><li><strong>RBI guidelines determine whether a bank branch is classified as a rural branch</strong>.</li><li>If a <strong>bank categorizes a branch as rural under RBI norms</strong>, the classification <strong>should be accepted for GST exemption</strong>.<a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/nisha/circular-cgst-86.pdf">circular-cgst-86</a><br> </li></ul></li></ul>