Blog on Circular No. 83/02/2019-GST: GST Exemption for Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC)
<p><a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/nisha/circular-cgst-83.pdf">circular-cgst-83</a><br><strong>Introduction</strong></p><p>The <strong>Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)</strong> issued <strong>Circular No. 83/02/2019-GST</strong> on <strong>January 1, 2019</strong>, to clarify the <strong>GST applicability on services provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC)</strong>. This circular affirms that <strong>services provided by ADB and IFC are exempt from GST</strong>, based on provisions of the <strong>ADB Act, 1966</strong> and the <strong>IFC Act, 1958</strong>.</p><hr><h3><strong>Key Highlights of the Circular</strong></h3><h4><strong>1. Legal Basis for GST Exemption</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>ADB Act, 1966</strong>: Section 5(1) and Article 56(1) of its schedule state that <strong>ADB, its assets, properties, income, operations, and transactions are exempt from all taxes and duties</strong>.</li><li><strong>IFC Act, 1958</strong>: Section 3(1) and Article VI, Section 9(a) grant <strong>immunity from taxation to IFC, covering its assets, operations, and transactions</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>2. Confirmation of Tax Exemption</strong></h4><ul><li>The <strong>Department of Economic Affairs (DEA)</strong>, via letter <strong>No. 1/28/2002-ADB dated January 22, 2004</strong>, had already confirmed that <strong>ADB’s taxable services were exempt from Service Tax</strong>.</li><li>The same logic <strong>extends to GST exemption</strong> under <strong>existing international agreements and sovereign laws</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>3. Tribunal Ruling Supporting Exemption</strong></h4><ul><li>The <strong>CESTAT Mumbai</strong> in <strong>M/s Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd. (October 17, 2016)</strong> ruled that:<ul><li><strong>International agreements granting tax immunity override domestic tax laws</strong>.</li><li><strong>If an entity (ADB/IFC) is immune from taxation, its recipients cannot be subjected to tax either</strong>.</li></ul></li></ul><h4><strong>4. Scope of GST Exemption</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Only services directly provided by ADB and IFC are exempt from GST</strong>.</li><li><strong>Entities appointed by or working on behalf of ADB or IFC are NOT exempt</strong>.</li></ul>