CBIC clarifies various issues on availment of benefit u/s 128A of the CGST Act, 2017

CBIC clarifies various issues related to availment of benefit of Section 128A of the CGST Act, 2017

Based on the recommendations of the GST Council made in its 53rd and 54^th meetings, a new section 128A was inserted in the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and Rule 164 has been inserted in the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 w.e.f.  1^st November 2024 to provide for waiver of interest or penalty or both relating to demands raised under Section 73 for the period from 1^st July 2017 to 31^st March 2020. In this regard, circular No. 238/32/2024-GST dated 15^th October 2024 had also been issued clarifying various issues related to implementation of the said provisions.

According to CBIC, it had received representations from trade and industry highlighting  certain issues being faced in availing the benefit provided under section 128A of the CGST  Act, 2017 such  as  eligibility of cases for benefit under section 128A, where payment has  been made through GSTR-3B instead of DRC-03 and treatment of withdrawal of appeals filed by the taxpayer against consolidated adjudication order covering periods beyond the one specified under section 128A of the CGST Act, 2017 for the purpose of availing the said benefit.

Accordingly, CBIC has issued Circular No. 248/05/2025-GST dated 27.03.2025 to clarify various issues related to availment of benefit of Section 128A of the CGST Act, 2017 as under:

Question 1: Whether the cases where tax has been paid through return in FORM GSTR-3B instead of through FORM GST DRC-03, prior to the notification of section 128A i.e. 1st November 2024, would be eligible for the benefit under section 128A of the CGST Act?

Answer: The cases where the payment of tax has been made through FORM GSTR 3B prior to the issuance of demand notice and/or adjudication order before the date 1^st November 2024, shall also be eligible for benefit under section 128A of the CGST Act, subject to verification by the proper officer.

Question 2: Whether (i) the entire amount of tax demanded is required to be discharged and (ii) the appeal is required to be withdrawn for the entire period, where notices/statements/orders issued to taxpayers, pertains to period covered partially under Section 128A and partially by those outside it?

Answer: In cases where the notice/statement or order etc. pertains to the period partially covered under Section 128A and partially beyond the said period, Rule 164 (4) and proviso to Rule 164(7) have been amended vide Notification No. 11/2025-Central Tax dated 27.03.2025 to allow the taxpayer to file an application under FORM SPL-01 or FORM SPL-02 as the case may be after making payment of his tax liability for the periods covered under section 128A. The taxpayer after filing FORM SPL-01 or FORM SPL-02 as the case may, shall intimate the appellate authority or Tribunal his intent to avail the benefit of Section 128A and that he does not intend to pursue the appeal for the period covered under the said Section i.e. FY 2017-18 to 2019-20. The Appellate Authority or Appellate Tribunal as the case may, shall after taking note of the said request, pass such order for the period other than that mentioned in the said sub-section, as it thinks just and proper.

Clarification issued vide point 6 of the Table at para 4 of circular No. 238/32/2024-GST dated 15th October 2024 is accordingly withdrawn

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