Single Show Cause Notice Can be Issued for Multiple Financial years Under Section 74 of the GST Act

Summary in Key Points:

Issue: Whether a single show cause notice (SCN) can be issued for multiple financial years under Section 74 of the GST Act.
Facts: The assessee challenged a show cause-cum-demand notice issued for multiple periods, arguing that separate notices should have been issued for each financial year.
Decision: The High Court held that a single SCN for multiple periods is permissible under Section 74, as long as it is issued within the prescribed time limit.

Decision:

The High Court ruled in favor of the revenue department, stating that there is no prohibition in Section 74 of the GST Act against issuing a single SCN for multiple periods. The court clarified that the only condition is that the notice must be issued at least six months prior to the time limit specified in Section 74(10) for issuing the order. Since there was no issue of limitation in this case, the court held that the writ petition challenging the single SCN was not maintainable.

Important Note: This case clarifies that a single SCN can cover multiple periods under Section 74 of the GST Act, as long as it is issued within the time limit. This allows the tax authorities to consolidate proceedings for different periods into a single notice, streamlining the process and potentially reducing administrative burden.

HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY

RioCare India (P.) Ltd.

Assistant Commissioner CGST

B.P. COLABAWALLA and FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ.

WRIT PETITION NO.19381 OF 2024

JANUARY 6, 2025

Virendrasinh V. Tapkir, Adv. for the Petitioner. Subir Kumar and Ashita Aggarwal, Advs. for the Respondent.

ORDER

1. The above Writ Petition seeks Writ of Certiorari to quash and set aside the show cause-cum-demand notice dated 4^th December 2024 issued to the Petitioner under Section 74 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 for the period 1^st July 2018 to 31^st March 2023. The other relief sought is to restrain the Respondents or prohibit them from acting further and/or taking any steps and/or act pursuant to the said impugned show cause notice.

2. The only ground canvassed before us by the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the Petitioner is that the impugned show cause notice relates to different financial years and therefore for each financial year a separate show cause notice ought to have been issued. One show cause notice for the period 1^st July 2018 to 31^st March 2023 was impermissible, was the argument.

3. At least prima facie we are not impressed with this argument. There is nothing in Section 74 and more particularly 74(1) which would prohibit the Authority from issuing a notice calling upon the assessee to pay tax that has not been paid or short paid or erroneously refunded or where input tax credit has been wrongly availed or utilised, by reason of fraud, or any wilful misstatement or suppression of facts to evade tax. At least prima facie, a notice under Section 74(1) can be issued for any period provided said notice is given at least 6 months prior to the time limit specified in sub-section (10) of Section 74 for issuance of the order.

4. In the present case, admittedly there is no issue of limitation as contemplated under Section 74(10). In these circumstances, at least prima facie we are not satisfied that this Writ Petition ought to be entertained and which is challenging the show cause notice. The Petitioner will have to face the show cause notice and can canvass all arguments before the authority concerned, including the issues raised in the present Writ Petition.

5. The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of. However, there shall be no order as to costs.

6. This order will be digitally signed by the Private Secretary/Personal Assistant of this Court. All concerned will act on production by fax or email of a digitally signed copy of this order.