FAQ on GST on Passenger Transportation Service by Airline, Train, Bus etc.

GST DOST's BLOG

FAQ on GST on Passenger Transportation Service by Airline, Train, Bus etc.
Jan, 2018
By GST DOST
Resource Chapter 34            
Resource GST Discussion            

Q.1 What is the place of supply of passenger transportation services?

As per sec. 12(9) of IGST Act 2017, the place of supply of passenger transportation service to,-

(a) a registered person, shall be the location of such person;

(b) a person other than a registered person, shall be the place where the passenger embarks on the conveyance for a continuous journey.

Provided that where the right to passage is given for future use and the point of embarkation is not known at the time of issue of right to passage, the place of supply of such service shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2).

Q.2 What does a “continuous journey” mean?

As per sec. 2(3) of IGST Act 2017, “Continuous Journey” means a journey for which a single or more than one ticket or invoice is issued at the same time, either by a single supplier of service or through an agent acting on behalf of more than one supplier of service, and which involves no stopover between any of the legs of the journey for which one or more separate tickets or invoices are issued.

Q.3 What is the meaning of a stopover? Do all stopovers break a continuous journey?

“Stopover” means a place where a passenger can disembark either to transfer to another conveyance or break his journey for a certain period in order to resume it at a later point of time. All stopovers do not cause a break in continuous journey. Only such stopovers will be relevant for which one or more separate tickets are issued. Thus a travel on Delhi-London-New York-London-Delhi on a single ticket with a halt at London on either side, or even both, will be covered by the definition of continuous journey. However if a separate ticket is issued, say New York-Boston-New York, the same will be outside the scope of a continuous journey.

Q.4 How GST is to be charged on a multi-leg international journey, say Delhi-Dubai-Boston-Dubai-Delhi? Is GST chargeable for the entire journey and discharged at Delhi, or the GST is to be charged for Delhi-Dubai sector alone and discharged at Delhi,

In this case if a single ticket or invoice has been issued for the Delhi-Dubai-Boston then it is a continuous journey even if there is a stopover at Dubai and the tax (CGST + SGST) would be charged at Delhi. The return journey of Boston-Dubai-Delhi would not be a continuous journey. The return journey not being a continuous journey and its place of supply being outside India, the said journey, would be liable to tax if the location of the supplier is in India.

Q.5 Is the electronic ticket receipt acceptable as a tax invoice for the purpose of GST? Is there any requirement for the Airlines to issue a proper tax invoice?

Yes, the electronic ticket in the global standard format (and without further modifications) is acceptable as a tax compliant invoice for GST purposes, regardless of the value of the transaction. Rule 54 (4) of the CGST Rules, 2017 read to understand more:

Quote

(4) Where the supplier of taxable service is supplying passenger transportation service, a tax invoice shall include ticket in any form, by whatever name called, whether or not serially numbered, and whether or not containing the address of the recipient of service but containing other information as mentioned under rule 46.

Un-quote

However, for B2B supplies, a tax invoice may be provided to enable the registered business customer to claim input tax credits.

 

Q.6 Is there any requirement for electronic ticket receipts issued to be signed or digitally signed for GST purposes?

No. In terms of Rule 54 (4) of the CGST Rules, 2017 in the case of passenger transportation service, a tax invoice shall include ticket in any form, whether or not serially numbered, and whether or not containing the address of the recipient of service but containing other information as mentioned under Rule 46 of the Rules ibid. As the electronic tickets issued by the Airlines are in the global standard format, such electronic ticket receipts are not required to be signed or digitally signed.

Q.7 Whether the Airlines are required to issue invoice to the customers transaction-wise, (i.e. Airway Bill-wise, Ticket Journey-wise) or a consolidated invoice, capturing the details of all individual invoices for a particular entity, can be issued

A single invoice incorporating the details of all the supplies for a particular entity can be issued subject to provisions of section 31 of the CGST Act, 2017. In such a case the ticket issued by the Airlines would not take the character of an invoice.

Q.8 : Would GST be applicable on air travel undertaken on or after 1st July 2017 on tickets issued prior to 1st July 2017 on which service tax was collected and discharged.

As service tax has already been collected and discharged by the Airlines on tickets issued prior to 1st July, 2017, there shall be no GST on such tickets even though the travel date is on or after 1st July 2017.

Q.9 Does the GST treatment on fees for ancillary services in relation to air transport follow that of the underlying air transport service?

Yes, ancillary services are part of the service of transporting a passenger by air and do not constitute a separate supply of service. In this respect, ancillary services include services that are incidental to the transport of passengers by air (e.g., excess baggage charges, date change charges, un-accompanied minor fees, preferred seat charges, cancellation fees etc.).

Consequently, ancillary services shall be treated within the same category of service as „transport of passengers by air‟ and shall attract the same rate of GST as applicable to the transport of passengers by air.

Q.10 Will Airlines be entitled to input tax credits under the GST transitional rules if the liability to pay service tax arises, due to resolution of litigation or disputes, after implementation of GST?

Yes, Section 142 6 (a) of the CGST Act, 2017 provides that every proceeding of appeal, review or reference relating to a claim for CENVAT credit initiated whether before, on or after the appointed day under the existing law shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the existing law, and any amount of credit found to be admissible to the claimant shall be refunded to him in cash, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained under the provisions of the existing law other than the provisions of section 11B (2) of the Central Excise Act, 1944.