Applicability of GST on Certain Services

Notification No.: 234/28/2024 – GST

Notification Date: 11th October 2024

Relevant Act/Rule : Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017

Clarifications regarding applicability of GST on certain services

 

  1. Service of affiliation provided by universities to college

 

It has been clarified that affiliation services provided by universities to their constituent colleges are not covered within the ambit of exemptions provided to educational institutions in the notification No. 12/2017-CT(R) and GST at the rate of 18% is applicable on the affiliation services provided by the universities.

 

The activity of affiliation is to monitor and ensure whether the institution possesses the required infrastructure in terms of space, technical prowess, financial liquidity, faculty strength, etc. and is thereby eligible for the privileges to conduct the course/program of study for the degree/title extended by the University to the students enrolled in such institutions. The affiliation services provided by the universities to colleges are not by way of services related to the admission of students to such colleges or the conduct of examinations by such colleges.

 

 

  1. Service of affiliation provided by Central and State educational boards or Councils, or other similar bodies, to schools

 

The activity of affiliation carried out by educational boards or councils, or other similar bodies, is to monitor and ensure whether the schools possess the required infrastructure, finances, faculty strength etc. and are thereby eligible for the privileges to operate under the aegis of said boards or councils.

The services of affiliation provided to schools by educational boards or councils, or other similar bodies, are not by way of services related to the admission of students to such schools or the conduct of examinations by such schools.

 

It is clarified by the GST Council, that services of affiliation, provided to schools by Central or State educational boards or councils, or other similar bodies, by whatever name called, are taxable. Further, as recommended by the Council, the payment of GST on the services of affiliation provided by Central and State educational boards or Councils, or other similar bodies, to all schools is regularized on ‘as is where is’ basis for the period from 01.07.2017 to 17.06.2021.

 

Note: It is also clarified that supply of affiliation services provided by Central and State educational boards or Councils, or other similar bodies, by whatever name called to government schools i.e. schools established, owned or controlled by the Central Government, State Government, Union Territory, local authority, Governmental authority or Government entity is fully exempt from GST.

 

  1. Applicability of GST on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved flying training courses conducted by Flying Training Organizations approved by the DGCA

 

Aircraft Rules, 1937, provides for ‘approved training’, i.e. training the curriculum of which has been approved by the DGCA, and ‘approved training organization’, i.e. a flying training organization which shall obtain the approval of DGCA before the students are enrolled to acquire flying experience.

 

Aircraft Rules further states that flying experience required for the issue of private pilot and commercial pilot licenses shall be acquired at the Flying Training Organization (FTO) approved/ recognized by the DGCA.

 

The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) issued under the said rules also provide for a completion certificate to be issued by an approved FTO to each student who completes its approved course of training.

 

It is evident from the above that the DGCA not only approves FTOs but also flying training courses and mandates the requirement of course completion certificates to be issued to successful candidates.

 

Therefore, the approved flying training courses conducted by FTOs approved by DGCA, wherein the DGCA mandates the requirement of a completion certificate, are covered under Sl. No. 66 of Notification No. 12/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and are hence, exempt.

 

  1. GST on transport of passengers by helicopter

 

Transport of passengers, with or without accompanied baggage, by helicopter on seat share basis is chargeable to GST @ 5%.

However, charter of helicopter attracts GST at the rate of 18%. Thus, it is thus clarified that transport of passengers by helicopter on other than seat share basis, i.e. for charter operations attracts GST at the rate of 18%.

 

  1. Treatment of incidental/ ancillary services such as loading/ unloading, packing, unpacking, transshipment, temporary warehousing etc., provided in relation to transportation of goods by road, as part of Goods Transport Agency service, being composite supply, or these services are to be treated as separate independent supplies

 

Last para of Question No. 6 of the FAQ issued by CBIC states that “If such incidental services are provided as separate services and charged separately, whether in the same invoice or separate invoices, they shall be treated as separate supplies”.

 

However, ancillary or incidental services provided by GTA in the course of transportation of goods by road are not to be treated as separate service if provided in the course of transportation.

 

It is clarified that ancillary or incidental services provided by GTA in the course of transportation of goods by road, such as loading/unloading, packing/unpacking, transshipment, temporary warehousing etc. will be treated as composite supply of transport of goods. The method of invoicing used by GTAs will not generally alter the nature of the composite supply of service. However, if such services are not provided in the course of transportation of goods and are invoiced separately, then these services will not be treated as composite supply of transport of good

 

 

  1. Applicability of GST on Preferential Location Charges (PLC) collected along with consideration for sale/ transfer of residential / commercial properties

 

Allowing choice of location of apartment is integral part of supply of construction services and therefore, location charge is nothing but part of consideration charged for supply of construction services before issuance of completion certificate.

Being charged along with supply of construction services for the apartment, the same attract GST at same rate as of construction services before issuance of completion certificate.

 

Therefore, based on the recommendations of the 54th GST Council, it is hereby clarified that location charges or Preferential Location Charges (PLC) paid along with the consideration for the construction services of residential /commercial/industrial complex forms part of composite supply where supply of construction services is the main service and PLC is naturally bundled with it and are eligible for same tax treatment as the main supply of construction service.

 

  1. GST on certain support services provided by an electricity transmission or distribution utility

 

Supply of services by way of providing metering equipment on rent, testing for meters/ transformers/capacitors etc., releasing electricity connection, shifting of meters/service lines, issuing duplicate bills etc., which are incidental or ancillary to the supply of transmission and distribution of electricity provided by transmission and distribution utilities to their consumers, are exempt from GST.

The same have been exempted vide notification No. 08/2024- Central Tax (Rate) dated 08.10.2024 effective from 10.10.2024.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this Article is intended solely for personal non-commercial use of the user who accepts full responsibility of its use. The information in the article is general in nature and should not be considered to be legal, tax, accounting, consulting or any other professional advice. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied regarding the accuracy, adequacy, reliability or completeness of any information on our page/article. 

To stay updated Subscribe to our newsletter today

Explore other Legal updates on the 1-Comply and follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated 

Schedule A Demo