COVID-19 consequences have already been faced by the business concerning the ability to honour their commitments. Several businesses are left with no other choices but to accommodate with inadequate and undistinguished options namely contract termination due to non-performance, delay in supplies, re-negotiation concerning prices or contracts terms & conditions, advances forfeited or adjusted against a penalty for non-performance, etc.

The article aims to encapsulate germane issues faced by businesses concerning default in contractual obligations due to COVID-19 and GST implication on same.

Case 1: In case contract canceled due to non-performance during COVID-19, however the advances against supply received before a pandemic. As per Goods and Service Tax law in India, GST liability arises at the time of receipt of advance against supply of goods/ services based on invoice/ receipt voucher.

In case, invoice was issued at the time of receipt of the advance, the supplier is eligible for a credit of GST paid on such advance by issuing the credit note. The adjustment is required to be done in GSTR-1 mentioning the credit note details and subsequently in GSTR-3B latest by the date of filing of GSTR-9 in which the invoice was issued  OR 30th September of the financial year (FY) immediately succeeding the FY in which the invoice was issued whichever is earlier.

In case, receipt voucher was issued at the time of receipt of the advance, the supplier is required to file a refund claim of GST paid to the Government of India. Since the contract is canceled, therefore GST deposited represents Excess payment of Tax, therefore refund in RFD-01 to file accordingly.

Case 2: Liquidated damages paid on cancellation of contract due to non-performance or delayed a project as a result of COVID-19 impact. In case liquidated damages are paid due to non-performance of the contract or delayed in project, Entry 5(e) in Schedule II of the Central Goods and Service Tax Act (CGST Act) gets attracted. Schedule II of CGST Act provides for activities to be treated as supply of goods or services which categorically includes agreeing to the obligation to tolerate an act or a situation.

Further, in this respect Central Board of Indirect tax And Customs (CBIC) in one of its sectorial FAQ series mentioned as under:
non-performance of a contract or breach of contract is one of the conditions normally stipulated in the Government contracts for the supply of goods or services. The agreement entered into between the parties stipulates that both the service provider and service recipient abide by the terms and conditions of the contract.

In case any of the parties breach the contract for any reason including the non- performance of the contract, then such person is liable to pay damages in the form of fines or penalty to the other party.

Non-performance of a contract is an activity or transaction which is treated as a supply of service and the person is deemed to have received the consideration in the form of fines or penalty and is, accordingly, required to pay tax on such amount

Thus, GST is applicable on liquidated damages or penalty or fine or accidental damages (by whatever name called) for non-performance of contract or delay in supply of goods or service. A similar position has been taken by Maharastra AAR in the case of North American Coal Corpn India (P.) Ltd. and in the case of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd.

At this point, it is pertinent to mention here that few Advance Rulings are holding a split view of taxability on liquidated damages. Moreover, globally, no GST or VAT is levied on liquidated damages. Till the time, Government clarification is issued in this respect, proper evaluation of contract is of supreme importance in such cases.

However, it is to be noted that consideration received by the Government from any person or supplier for non-performance of the contract is exempt from tax as per GST law.
Case 3: In a case where businesses offered discounts and took the pandemic impact to save the contract. As per GST law in India, no tax is levied on discounts agreed at the time of the contract between supplier and buyer, and said discount amount is also reflected in the tax invoice. However, post-sales discounts (i.e. any discount provided after the sale has taken place), GST will not be levied on such discount only if the below conditions are met

1. Such discount is established in terms of an agreement entered into at or before the time of such supply
2. Such discount is linked to the original invoice
3. The recipient of the supplier has reversed the Input tax credit (ITC) of GST about said the amount of discount offered by the supplier via relevant document.

Further, Circular No. 92/11/2019-GST dated 07th March 2019 also observed that there are discounts that are not known at the time of supply or are offered after the supply is already over. A credit note will be issued with the discount amount alone without GST in such a case. Nevertheless, Circular No. 105/24/2019-GST dated 28th June 2019 provides that it is crucial to examine the true nature of the discount given by the manufacturer or wholesaler, etc. to the dealer.

Therefore till the time representations are presented before GST councils and clarifications are passed in this respect, every discount offered to vendors during COVID should be evaluated vis-a-vis identification of relevant clause in the agreement/ contract to identify:

1. The clause about discount policy if payment made within a prescribed period
2. The clause about cash discount policy
3. The clause about a post-sale discount given by the supplier to the dealer without any further obligation/ action required at the dealer’s end.
4. Any other similar/ related clauses.

Case 4: In case interest paid on delay in payment of contract due to financial crises and no/ slow turnover due to pandemic
As per GST law - Section 15(2) (d) of the CGST Act provides that value of supply includes interest or late fee or penalty for delayed payment of any consideration for any supply
Further, the Central Board of Indirect tax And Customs has clarified in its Circular no 102/21/2019-GST dated 28th June 2019 that interest as well as penal interest charged concerning the supply of goods and services shall be included in the value of goods and services and will be liable to GST. Said circular clarified with an illustration as mentioned below.

AMC Mart sells refrigerator to the customer XYZ having a price of INR 40,000/-. Further AMC Mart provides an option to XYZ to pay the amount for the refrigerator under an installment of INR 10000/- monthly over 5 months. Further, if XYZ makes default in payment of installment of a loan then in such case an additional amount of penal charges amounting to INR 500/- pm shall also be collected from XYZ. Further AMC Mart will raise a separate invoice for recovery of interest amount as embedded in monthly installments as well as for the amount of penal interest.

As per the provisions of sub-clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 15 of the CGST Act, the amount of penal interest is to be included in the value of supply. The transaction between AMC Mart and XYZ is for the supply of taxable goods i.e. Refrigerator. Accordingly, the original amount of interest, as well as penal interest, would be taxable as it would be included in the value of the Refrigerator, irrespective of the manner of invoicing.

Conclusion
Time is crucial as the COVID-19 is still going on. Businesses must stimulate internal policy as well as a strategy with the third party in executing current and future dealings by re-evaluating the terms & conditions of the contract to mitigate future litigation.