REVERSE CHARGE MECHANISM (RCM)

Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM)

What is Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM):

Reverse Charge means the liability to pay tax is on the recipient of supply of goods or services instead of the supplier of such goods or services in respect of notified categories of supply. Generally, the supplier of goods or services is liable to pay GST. However, in specified cases like imports and other notified supplies, the liability may be cast on the recipient under the reverse charge mechanism.

Reverse Charge Scenarios:

There are two type of reverse charge scenarios provided in law. First is dependent on the nature of supply and/or nature of supplier. This scenario is covered by section 9 (3) of the CGST/SGST (UTGST) Act and section 5 (3) of the IGST Act. Second scenario is covered by section 9 (4) of the CGST/SGST (UTGST) Act and section 5 (4) of the IGST Act where taxable supplies by any unregistered person to a registered person is covered.

  • As per the provisions of section 9(3) of CGST / SGST (UTGST) Act, 2017 / section 5(3)of IGST Act, 2017, the Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, specify categories of supply of goods or services or both, the tax on which shall be paid on reverse charge basis by the recipient of such goods or services or both.

  • As per the provisons of section 9(4) of CGST / SGST (UTGST) Act, 2017 / section 5(4) of IGST Act, 2017 provides that the tax in respect of the supply of taxable goods or services or both by a supplier, who is not registered, to a registered person shall be paid by such person on reverse charge basis as the recipient.

  • The provisions of section 9(4) of the CGST Act, 2017, will not be applicable to supplies made to a TDS deductor in terms of notification no.9/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017. Thus, Government entities who are TDS Deductors under Section 51 of CGST Act, need not pay GST under reverse charge in case of procurements from unregistered suppliers.

Registration:

A person who is required to pay tax under reverse charge has to compulsorily register under GST and the threshold limit of Rs. 40 lakhs (Rs. 20 Lakhs in the state of Telangana)(Rs. 20 lakhs for special category states) is not applicable to them.

Input Tax Credit (ITC):

A supplier cannot take ITC of GST paid on goods or services used to make supplies on which recipient is liable to pay tax. However, after discharging reverse charge liability, credit of the same can be taken by the recipient, if he is otherwise eligible.

Payment of GST under RCM:

Any amount payable under reverse charge shall be paid by debiting the electronic cash ledger. In other words, reverse charge liability cannot be discharged by using input tax credit.

Time of Supply:

In reverse charge, recipient is liable to pay GST. Thus time of supply for supplies under reverse charge is different from the supplies which are under forward charge.

Time of Supply for Supply of Goods: The earliest of the following dates.

  • date of receipt of goods; or

  • date of payment as per books of account or date of debit in bank account, whichever is earlier; or

  • the date immediately following thirty days from the date of issue of invoice or similar other document.

Time of Supply for Supply of Services: The earliest of the following dates.

  • date of payment as per books of account or date of debit in bank account, whichever is earlier; or

  • the date immediately following sixty days from the date of issue of invoice or similar other document.

Where it is not possible to determine time of supply using above methods, time of supply would be date of entry in the books of account of the recipient.

Compliances for RCM:

  • Every tax invoice has to mention whether the tax in respect of supply in the invoice is payable on reverse charge. Similarly, this also needs to be mentioned in receipt voucher as well as refund voucher, if tax is payable on reverse charge.

  • Every registered person is required to keep and maintain records of all supplies attracting payment of tax on reverse charge.

  • Any amount payable under reverse charge shall be paid by debiting the electronic cash ledger. In other words, reverse charge liability cannot be discharged by using input tax credit. However, after discharging reverse charge liability, credit of the same can be taken by the recipient, if he is otherwise eligible.

  • Invoice level information in respect of all supplies attracting reverse charge, rate wise, are to be furnished separately in the table 4B of GSTR-1.

  • Advance paid for reverse charge supplies is also leviable to GST. The person making advance payment has to pay tax on reverse charge basis.

Supply of Goods under RCM:

Sl No Description of supply of Goods Supplier of goods Recipient of Goods
1 Cashew nuts, not shelled or peeled Agriculturist Any registered person
2 Bidi wrapper leaves (tendu) Agriculturist Any registered person
3 Tobacco leaves Agriculturist Any registered person
4 Silk yarn Any person who manufactures silk yarn from raw silk or silk worm cocoons for supply of silk yarn Any registered person
5 Raw cotton Agriculturist Any registered person
6 Supply of lottery State Government, Union Territory or any local authority Lottery distributor or selling agent
7 Used vehicles, seized and confiscated goods, old and used goods, waste and scrap Central Government, State Government, Union territory or a local authority Any registered person

Supply of Services under RCM:

Sl No Description of supply of Service Supplier of service Recipient of service
1 Any service supplied by any person who is located in a non-taxable territory to any person other than nontaxable online recipient. Any person located in a non-taxable territory Any person located in the taxable territory other than nontaxable online recipient.
2 GTA Services Goods Transport Agency (GTA) who has not paid integrated tax at the rate of 12% Any factory, society, cooperative society, registered person, body corporate, partnership firm, casual taxable person located in the taxable territory
3 Legal Services by advocate An individual advocate including a senior advocate or firm of advocates Any business entity located in the taxable territory
4 Services supplied by an arbitral tribunal to a business entity An arbitral tribunal Any business entity located in the taxable territory
5 Services provided by way of sponsorship to any body corporate or partnership firm Any person Any body corporate or partnership firm located in the taxable territory
6 Services supplied by the Central Government, State Government, Union territory or local authority to a business entity excluding, (1) renting of immovable property, and (2) services specified below: (i) services by the Department of Posts by way of speed post, express parcel post, life insurance, and agency services provided to a person other than Central Government, State Government or Union territory or local authority (ii) services in relation to an aircraft or a vessel, inside or outside the precincts of a port or an airport (iii) transport of goods or passengers. Central Government, State Government, Union territory or local authority Any business entity located in the taxable territory
7 Services supplied by a director of a company or a body corporate to the said company or the body corporate A director of a company or a body corporate The company or a body corporate located in the taxable territory
8 Services supplied by an insurance agent to any person carrying on insurance business An insurance agent Any person carrying on insurance business, located in the taxable territory
9 Services supplied by a recovery agent to a banking company or a financial institution or a non-banking financial company A recovery agent A banking company or a financial institution or a non-banking financial company, located in the taxable territory
10 Services supplied by a person located in non taxable territory by way of transportation of goods by a vessel from a place outside India up to the customs station of clearance in India A person located in non-taxable territory Importer, as defined in clause (26) of section 2 of the Customs Act, 1962, located in the taxable territory
11 Supply of services by an author, music composer, photographer, artist or the like by way of transfer or permitting the use or enjoyment of a copyright covered under section 13(1) (a) of the Copyright Act, 1957 relating to original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works to a publisher, music company, producer or the like Author or music composer, photograph her, artist, or the like Publisher, music company, producer or the like, located in the taxable territory
12 Supply of services by the members of Overseeing Committee to Reserve Bank of India Members of Overseeing Committee constituted by the Reserve Bank of India Reserve Bank of India.
13 Services provided by business facilitator (BF) to a banking company Business facilitator (BF) A banking company, located in the taxable territory
14 Services provided by an agent of business correspondent (BC) to business correspondent (BC). An agent of business correspondent (BC) A business correspondent, located in the taxable territory.
15 Security services (services provided by way of supply of security personnel) provided to a registered person:

Provided that nothing contained in this entry shall apply to:

(i)(a) a Department or Establishment of the Central Government or State Government or Union territory; or
(b) local authority; or
(c) Governmental agencies;

which has taken registration under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 only for the purpose of deducting tax under section 51 of the said Act and not for making a taxable supply of goods or services;

or

(ii) a registered person paying tax under section 10 (ie. Composite Dealer) of the said Act.		 Any person other than a body corporate A registered person, located in the taxable territory.

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