Refund of Accumulated ITC on Fabrics: Key Highlights of Circular No. 56/30/2018-GST
<h4><strong>Introduction</strong></h4><p>The <strong>Ministry of Finance</strong> issued <strong>Circular No. 56/30/2018-GST</strong> on <strong>August 24, 2018</strong>, clarifying the removal of restrictions on the <strong>refund of accumulated Input Tax Credit (ITC)</strong> on <strong>fabrics</strong> due to the <strong>inverted duty structure</strong>. The circular also addresses <strong>lapsing of ITC</strong> accumulated until <strong>July 31, 2018</strong>, providing clarity on its applicability, exclusions, and calculation methods.</p><hr><h3><strong>Key Highlights</strong></h3><h4><strong>1. Background: Inverted Duty Structure in the Fabric Sector</strong></h4><ul><li>Under <strong>Notification No. 5/2017-Central Tax (Rate)</strong>, refund of <strong>accumulated ITC on fabrics</strong> due to the <strong>inverted duty structure</strong> was <strong>restricted</strong>.</li><li>The <strong>28th GST Council Meeting</strong> decided to <strong>remove this restriction prospectively</strong>, while also <strong>lapsing unutilized ITC accumulated until July 31, 2018</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>2. Categories of Fabrics Affected</strong></h4><ul><li>The restriction applied to <strong>10 categories of fabrics</strong>, including:<ul><li><strong>Woven fabrics of silk, wool, cotton, manmade fibers, and vegetable textile fibers.</strong></li><li><strong>Knitted/crocheted fabrics, corduroy fabrics, and narrow woven fabrics.</strong></li></ul></li></ul><h4><strong>3. Key Amendments via Notification No. 20/2018-CT (Rate)</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Refund allowed prospectively</strong> for ITC accumulated from <strong>August 1, 2018</strong> onwards.</li><li><strong>ITC accumulated until July 31, 2018, shall lapse</strong>, provided it was due to the <strong>inverted duty structure</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>4. Clarifications on ITC Lapsing</strong></h4><p>The circular addresses multiple doubts regarding the <strong>lapsing of ITC</strong>:</p><ol><li><strong>Will all unutilized ITC lapse?</strong><ul><li><strong>No</strong>, only ITC accumulated due to the <strong>inverted duty structure</strong> on <strong>inputs</strong> will lapse.</li><li>ITC on <strong>input services and capital goods</strong> will <strong>not lapse</strong>.</li></ul></li><li><strong>Will ITC on exports lapse?</strong><ul><li><strong>No</strong>, since <strong>exports fall under zero-rated supplies</strong>, <strong>refunds for ITC on exports remain valid</strong>.</li></ul></li><li><strong>Applicability to fabrics with no inverted duty structure (cotton, silk, etc.)?</strong><ul><li><strong>No impact</strong> unless there was an <strong>accumulation of ITC due to inverted duty rates</strong>.</li></ul></li><li><strong>Impact on stock as of July 31, 2018?</strong><ul><li>ITC related to <strong>closing stock of inputs and finished goods</strong> will <strong>not lapse</strong>.</li></ul></li></ol><h4><strong>5. ITC Calculation and Reporting</strong></h4><ul><li>ITC to be <strong>lapsed</strong> should be <strong>self-assessed</strong> using the <strong>formula in Rule 89(5)</strong> of the CGST Rules.</li><li>The <strong>lapsed amount</strong> must be reported in <strong>GSTR-3B (August 2018) under Column 4B(2)</strong>.</li><li>Verification of lapsed ITC will be done at the time of the <strong>first refund application</strong> for inverted duty structure.<a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/nisha/circular-no-56.pdf">circular_no_56</a><br> </li></ul>