<p>The <strong>Government of India</strong>, through <strong>Circular No. 220/14/2024-GST</strong>, issued on <strong>June 26, 2024</strong>, has provided <strong>clarification on the place of supply for custodial services provided by banks to Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)</strong> under the <strong>IGST Act, 2017</strong>. This clarification ensures uniformity in GST treatment across financial institutions.</p><h3><strong>1. Background of the Issue</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Custodial services</strong> provided by banks include <strong>safekeeping of securities, managing accounts, collecting benefits, and reconciling records</strong> for FPIs.</li><li><strong>Some tax authorities</strong> considered custodial services to be covered under <strong>Section 13(8)(a) of the IGST Act</strong>, meaning that the <strong>place of supply</strong> would be the <strong>location of the service provider (banks/financial institutions)</strong>.</li><li><strong>This interpretation led to concerns</strong> among financial institutions and FPIs regarding tax treatment.</li></ul><h3><strong>2. Clarification on Place of Supply</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>As per Section 13(8)(a) of the IGST Act</strong>, services provided by banks to an <strong>“account holder”</strong> have their <strong>place of supply as the service provider’s location</strong>.</li><li>However, an <strong>“account holder”</strong> refers to <strong>accounts bearing interest</strong> (such as savings accounts, term deposits, NRE, and NRO accounts).</li><li><strong>Custodial services do not qualify as services to account holders</strong>, as they involve managing securities, not deposit accounts.</li></ul><h3><strong>3. Reference to Service Tax Regime</strong></h3><ul><li>Similar provisions existed in <strong>Rule 9(a) of the Service Tax Place of Provision of Supply Rules, 2012</strong>.</li><li>Under <strong>Service Tax</strong>, custodial services were <strong>not considered services to account holders</strong>.</li><li>The <strong>same principle applies to GST</strong>, meaning that custodial services <strong>do not fall under Section 13(8)(a) of the IGST Act</strong>.</li></ul><h3><strong>4. Final GST Treatment</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Custodial services provided to FPIs are NOT covered under Section 13(8)(a) of the IGST Act</strong>.</li><li>Instead, their <strong>place of supply must be determined under Section 13(2) of the IGST Act</strong>.</li><li>This means the <strong>place of supply will be the location of the recipient (FPI), not the service provider</strong>.</li></ul><h3><strong>5. Implications for the Financial Sector</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) benefit</strong> as custodial services will now be <strong>treated as exports</strong> when provided to FPIs outside India.</li><li><strong>Banks and financial institutions will charge IGST based on the recipient’s location</strong>, ensuring compliance with international trade principles.</li><li>This <strong>reduces tax uncertainty</strong> and brings <strong>clarity in financial services taxation</strong> under GST.<a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/nisha/circular-no-220-14-2024.pdf">circular-no-220-14-2024</a><br> </li></ul>