TNGST Demand Order on Suppressed Turnover and Seigniorage Fees: Madras HC directs Expeditious Disposal of Rectification Application [Read Order]

A Single Bench of the Madras High Court has disposed of a writ petition recently, directing the disposal of the TNGST rectification application filed by the petitioner within three months. The petitioner is registered under the provisions of TNGST Act and has been running his business in the name and style of “Sri Malleswara Enterprises” and has been filing returns and paying taxes. While so, the respondent had issued an intimation on 03.11.2022 under Section 74(5) alleging tax due under Section 9 (1) & Section 9(3) of the Act. The demand was raised based on the seigniorage fee details allegedly collected from the Mines Department which showed that the petitioner did not show the correct turn over of disposal of minerals and the seigniorage fee paid to the department. Therefore, a demand was proposed on forward charge for alleged suppressed turnover and on reverse charge for seigniorage fees. Adithya Reddy appeared for the petitioner whereas V Prashanth Kiran appeared as Government Advocate (Taxes) for the revenue-respondent. The grievance expressed by the petitioner was that he has filed annual returns wherein he has mentioned the seigniorage charges paid to the Department. The figures mentioned in the intimation did not belong to the petitioner and hence he had immediately approached the Mines Department for confirmation regarding the details. However, the respondent had issued the Show Cause Notice. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the intimations received by the petitioner from the Mines Department are matching with the returns filed with the respondent Department. As per the annual returns, they have paid the entire tax dues. However, the respondent now has re-determined the turn over so as to impose more tax on the petitioner based on the seigniorage charges details said to have been received by the respondent Department from the Mines Department. Since the petitioner also received the said details from the Mines Department and the same are matching with the annual returns filed by the petitioner, without providing above details of the application of seigniorage charges received by the Department, now the sales turnover has been determined by the respondent. In this regard, he would submit that he has filed a rectification application on 30.05.2023. On the other hand, the Government Advocate pointed out that the acknowledgement filed by the petitioner in the typed set of papers for having filed the rectification application on 03.04.2023 whereas, according to the petitioner, he has filed the application on 30.05.2023. By way of reply, the counsel for the petitioner submitted that it would suffice if liberty is granted to the petitioner to pursue the rectification application and the Court may direct the respondent to dispose of the said application to enable the petitioner to file reply to the impugned orders. The Government Advocate submitted that no such application has been filed by the petitioner and in the event of any such application being filed by the petitioner, the same would be considered. Heard the counsel for the petitioner as well as the Government Advocate (Taxes) appearing for the respondent and perused the materials on record. Considering the submissions made by the counsel for the petitioner, as well as the Government Advocate (Taxes) appearing for the respondent, since the petitioner has restricted his submission to the extent of disposal of the rectification application dated 30.05.2023 filed by him or any other applications, if any already filed, the respondent was directed by the Madras High Court Bench to dispose of the rectification application filed by the petitioner, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates