GST Circular No. 176/08/2022-GST: Withdrawal of Circular No. 106/25/2019-GST
<p data-start="88" data-end="345">The <strong data-start="92" data-end="146">Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)</strong> issued <strong data-start="154" data-end="186">Circular No. 176/08/2022-GST</strong> on <strong data-start="190" data-end="207">6th July 2022</strong>, announcing the <strong data-start="224" data-end="270">withdrawal of Circular No. 106/25/2019-GST</strong> related to <strong data-start="282" data-end="342">tax refunds for retail outlets at international airports</strong>.</p><p data-start="347" data-end="604">This change is linked to the <strong data-start="376" data-end="400">omission of Rule 95A</strong> from the <strong data-start="410" data-end="430">CGST Rules, 2017</strong>, which was originally introduced to provide <strong data-start="475" data-end="547">GST refunds on inward supply of goods sold to international tourists</strong> at airport retail outlets beyond the immigration area.</p><hr><h2 data-start="611" data-end="651"><strong data-start="614" data-end="649">Key Highlights & Clarifications</strong></h2><h3 data-start="653" data-end="710"><strong data-start="657" data-end="708">1. What Was Circular No. 106/25/2019-GST About?</strong></h3><p data-start="711" data-end="1075">✔ Circular No. 106/25/2019, issued on <strong data-start="749" data-end="767">29th June 2019</strong>, clarified <strong data-start="779" data-end="791">Rule 95A</strong>, which allowed <strong data-start="807" data-end="875">tax refunds on purchases made by outgoing international tourists</strong> at retail outlets beyond <strong data-start="901" data-end="925">immigration counters</strong> in international airports.<br>✔ The refund was available <strong data-start="982" data-end="1010">only on indigenous goods</strong> and was to be processed <strong data-start="1035" data-end="1072">against foreign exchange payments</strong>.</p><hr><h3 data-start="1082" data-end="1127"><strong data-start="1086" data-end="1125">2. Why Was This Circular Withdrawn?</strong></h3><p data-start="1128" data-end="1410">✔ <strong data-start="1130" data-end="1170">Rule 95A was omitted retrospectively</strong> from <strong data-start="1176" data-end="1193">1st July 2019</strong> via <strong data-start="1198" data-end="1259">Notification No. 14/2022-Central Tax, dated 5th July 2022</strong>.<br>✔ Since the <strong data-start="1275" data-end="1313">legal provision itself was removed</strong>, the <strong data-start="1319" data-end="1354">2019 circular became irrelevant</strong> and was <strong data-start="1363" data-end="1407">withdrawn ab-initio (from the beginning)</strong>.</p><hr><h3 data-start="1417" data-end="1450"><strong data-start="1421" data-end="1448">3. Impact of Withdrawal</strong></h3><p data-start="1452" data-end="1713"><strong data-start="1452" data-end="1500">For Retail Outlets at International Airports</strong><br>❌ <strong data-start="1505" data-end="1528">No more GST refunds</strong> on sales made to international tourists at airport retail stores.<br>❌ Businesses operating in <strong data-start="1623" data-end="1661">departure areas beyond immigration</strong> will now <strong data-start="1671" data-end="1693">have to charge GST</strong> on such supplies.</p><p data-start="1715" data-end="1915"><strong data-start="1715" data-end="1745">For International Tourists</strong><br>❌ <strong data-start="1750" data-end="1822">GST paid on purchases at airport retail outlets will not be refunded</strong> anymore.<br>❌ <strong data-start="1836" data-end="1913">Increased costs for international travelers purchasing goods at airports.</strong></p><p data-start="1917" data-end="2107"><strong data-start="1917" data-end="1940">For Tax Authorities</strong><br>✔ Simplifies GST administration as <strong data-start="1978" data-end="2008">Rule 95A no longer applies</strong>.<br>✔ Eliminates complications around <strong data-start="2046" data-end="2074">processing refund claims</strong> for these retail transactions.<a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/cir-176-08-2022-cgst.pdf">cir-176-08-2022-cgst</a><br><a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/cir-176-08-2022-cgst.pdf">cir-176-08-2022-cgst</a><br> </p>