Page 142 - GSTL_2nd April 2020_Vol 35_Part 1
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44                            GST LAW TIMES                      [ Vol. 35
                                     So the definition of “recipient” makes it clear that the the recipient is the one who
                                     is liable to pay consideration, etc. Further, it is also noted that as per the ar-
                                     rangement, the customers are obliged to make payment to the principal company
                                     incorporated in USA based on the invoices of the service and in turn, the corpo-
                                     rate head office of the principal company reimburses the cost to perform such
                                     services to India branch. Further that thus the consideration in foreign exchange
                                     is received by the India  branch based on the  intra-office invoice  as per the
                                     abovesaid intra-company agreement as between the principal company and the
                                     petitioner which is an India branch. In that regard, it is to be noted that going by
                                     the definition of “recipient” (service receiver)  as per Section 2(93) is a person,
                                     who is liable to make the payment irrespective of the fact as to whether or not,
                                     he/she actually makes payment or someone else makes payment on his/her be-
                                     half.
                                            7.  Section 2(6) of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax [Act], 2017 de-
                                     fines “export of services” as follows :
                                            “Section 2. Definitions. -  In this Act, unless the  context otherwise re-
                                            quires, -
                                            (1) ……
                                                               xxx    xxx   xxx
                                            (6)  ”export of services” means the supply of any service when, -
                                                  (i)   the supplier of service is located in India;
                                                  (ii)  the recipient of service is located outside India;
                                                  (iii)  the place of supply of service is outside India;
                                                  (iv)  the payment for such service has been received by the supplier
                                                      of service in convertible foreign exchange; and
                                                  (v)  the supplier of service and  the recipient of service are  not
                                                      merely establishments of a distinct person in accordance with
                                                      Explanation 1 in Section 8.”
                                            8.  Going by the definition of “export of services” as per Section 2(6) of
                                     the IGST Act, the the supplier of service and the  recipient of service shall not
                                     merely be establishments of a distinct person in accordance with Explanation 1 in
                                     Section 8 of the IGST Act. Section 8 of the IGST Act, more particularly Explana-
                                     tion 1 thereof provides as follows :
                                            “Section 8. Intra-State supply. - (1)  Subject to the provisions of Section 10,
                                            supply of goods where the location of the supplier and the place of supply
                                            of goods are in the same State or same Union territory shall be treated as in-
                                            tra-State supply :
                                            Provided that the following supply of goods shall not be treated as intra-
                                            State supply, namely :-
                                                  (i)   supply of goods to or by a Special Economic Zone developer
                                                      or a Special Economic Zone unit;
                                                  (ii)  goods imported into the territory of India  till they cross the
                                                      customs frontiers of India; or
                                                  (iii)  supplies made to a tourist referred to in Section 15.
                                            (2)  Subject to the provisions of Section 12, supply of services where the lo-
                                            cation of the supplier and the place of supply of services are in the same
                                            State or same Union territory shall be treated as intra-State supply :


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