In terms of Schedule I of the Central Goods and Services TaxAct,2017 (hereinafter referred to as the “CGST Act”), thesupply of goods by an agent on behalf of the principal without consideration has been deemed to be a supply. In this connection, various representations have been received regarding the scope and ambit of the principal-agent relationship under GST. In order to clarify some of the issues and to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of the law across the field formations, the Board, in exercise of its powers conferred under section 168 (1) of the CGST Act hereby clarifies the issues in the succeeding paras.

2. As per section 182 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, an “agent” is a person employed to do any act for another, or to represent another in dealings with third person. The person for whom such act is done, or who is so represented, iscalled the “principal”. As delineated in the definition, an agent can be appointed for performing any act on behalf of the principal which may or may not have the potential for representation on behalf of the principal. So, the crucial element here is therepresentative character of the agent which enables him to carry out activities on behalf of the principal.

3.The term “agent” has been defined under sub-section (5) of section 2 of the CGST Act as follows:

“agent” means a person, including a factor, broker, commission agent, arhatia, del credere agent, an auctioneer or any other mercantile agent, by whatever name called, who carries on the business of supply or receipt of goods or services or both on behalf of another.

4.The following two key elements emerge from the abovedefinitionof agent:

a) the term „agent? is defined in terms of the various activities being carried out by the person concerned in the principal-agent relationship; and

b) the supply or receipt of goods or services has to be undertaken by the agent on behalf of the principal.

From this, it can be deduced that the crucial component for covering a person within the ambit of the term “agent” under the CGST Act is corresponding to the representative character identified in the definition of “agent” under the Indian ContractAct, 1872.

5. Further, the two limbs of any supply under GST are “consideration” and “in the course or furtherance of business”. Where the consideration is not extant in a transaction, such a transactiondoesnotfall within the ambit of supply. But, in certain scenarios, as elucidated in Schedule I of the CGST Act, the key element of consideration is not required to be present for treating certain activities as supply. One such activity which has been detailed inpara 3 of Schedule I (hereinafter referred to as “the said entry”) is reproduced hereunder:

3. Supply of goods -

(a) by a principal to his agent where the agent undertakes to supply such goods on behalf of the principal; or

(b) by an agent to his principal where the agent undertakes to receive such goods on behalf of the principal.

6. Here also, it is worth noticing that all the activities between the principal and the agent and vice versa do not fall within the scope of thesaidentry. Firstly, the supply of services between the principal and the agent and vice versa is outside the ambit of the saidentry, and would therefore require “consideration” to consider it as supply and thus,be liable to GST. Secondly, the element identified in the definition of “agent”, i.e., “supply or receipt of goods on behalf of the principal” has been retained in this entry.

7. It may be noted that the crucial factoris how to determine whether the agent is wearing the representative hat and is supplying or receiving goods on behalf of the principal. Since in the commercial world,there are various factors that might influence this relationship, it would be more prudent that an objective criteria is used to determine whether a particular principal-agent relationship falls within the ambit of the said entryor not. Thus, the key ingredient for determining relationship under GST would be whether the invoice for the further supply of goods on behalf of the principal is being issued by the agent ornot. Where the invoice for further supply is being issued by the agentin his namethen,any provision of goods from the principal to the agent would fall within the fold of the said entry. However, it may be noted that in cases where the invoice is issued by the agent to the customer in the name of the principal, such agent shall not fall within the ambitof Schedule I of theCGST Act. Similarly,where the goods being procured by the agent on behalf of the principal are invoiced in the name of the agent then further provision of the said goods by the agent totheprincipal would be covered by the said entry. In other words, the crucial point is whether or not the agent has the authority to pass or receive the title of the goods on behalf of the principal.

8. Looking at the convergence point between the character of the agent under both the CGST Actand the Indian Contract Act, 1872, the following scenarios are discussed:

Scenario 1

Mr. A appoints Mr. B to procure certain goods from the market. Mr. B identifies various suppliers who can provide the goods as desired by Mr. A, and asks the supplier (Mr. C) to send the goods and issuethe invoice directly to Mr. A. In this scenario, Mr. B is only acting as the procurement agent, and has in no way involvedhimself in the supply or receipt of the goods. Hence, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, Mr.B is not an agent of Mr. A for supply of goods in terms of Schedule I.

Scenario 2

M/s XYZ, a banking company,appoints Mr. B (auctioneer) to auction certain goods. The auctioneer arranges for the auction and identifies the potential bidders. The highest bid is accepted and the goods are sold to the highest bidder by M/s XYZ. The invoice for the supply of the goods is issued by M/s XYZ to the successfulbidder. In this scenario, the auctioneer is merely providing theauctioneeringservices with no role played in the supply of the goods. Even in this scenario,Mr.B is not an agent of M/s XYZ for the supply of goods in terms of Schedule I.

Scenario 3

Mr. A, an artist,appoints M/s B (auctioneer) to auction his painting. M/s B arranges for the auction and identifies the potential bidders. The highest bid is accepted and the painting is sold to the highest bidder. The invoice for the supply of the painting is issued by M/s B on the behalf of Mr. A but in his own name and the painting is delivered to the successful bidder. In this scenario, M/s B is not merely providing auctioneering services, but is also supplying the painting on behalf of Mr. A to the bidder, and has the authority to transfer the title of the painting on behalf of Mr. A. This scenario is covered under ScheduleI.

A similar situation can exist in case of supply of goods as well where the C&F agent or commission agent takes possession of the goods from the principal and issues the invoice in his own name. In such cases, the C&F/commission agent is an agent of the principal for the supply of goods in terms of Schedule I. The disclosure or non-disclosure of the name of the principal is immaterial in such situations.

Scenario 4

Mr A sells agricultural produceby utilizing the services of Mr B who is a commission agent as per the Agricultural Produce Marketing CommitteeAct (APMC Act) of the State. Mr B identifies the buyers and sells theagricultural produce on behalf of Mr. A for which he charges a commission from Mr. A. As per the APMC Act, the commission agent is a person who buys or sells the agricultural produce on behalf of his principal, or facilitates buying and selling of agricultural produce on behalf of his principal and receives,by way of remuneration,a commission or percentage upon the amount involved in such transaction.

In cases where the invoice is issued by Mr. B to the buyer, the formeris anagent covered under Schedule I. However, in cases where the invoice is issued directly by Mr. A to the buyer, the commission agent (Mr. B) doesn?t fall under the category of agent covered under Schedule I.

9. In scenario 1 and scenario 2, Mr. B shall not be liable to obtain registration in terms of clause (vii) of section 24 of the CGST Act. He,however,would be liable for registration if his aggregate turnover of supply of taxable services exceeds the threshold specified in sub-section (1) of section 22 of the CGST Act. In scenario 3, M/s B shall be liable forcompulsory registration in terms of the clause (vii) of section 24 of theCGST Act. In respect of commission agents in Scenario 4, notification No. 12/2017 Central Tax (Rate) dated 24.06.2017 has exempted “services by any APMC or board or services provided by the commission agents for sale or purchase of agricultural produce”from GST. Thus, the „services? provided by the commission agent for sale or purchase of agricultural produce is exempted. Such commission agents (even when theyqualify as agent under Schedule I) are not liable to be registeredaccording to sub-clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 23 of the CGST Act, ifthe supply of the agricultural produce, and /or other goods or services supplied by themare not liable to tax or wholly exempt under GST.However, in cases where the supply of agricultural produce is not exempted and liable totax, such commission agent shall be liable for compulsory registration under sub-section (vii) of section 24 of the CGST Act.

10.It is requested that suitable trade notices may be issued to publicize the contents of this Circular.

11. Difficulty, ifany, in implementation ofthis Circularmay please be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version would follow.
 

(Upender Gupta)
Commissioner (GST)

CBEC-20/16/4/2018-GST
 

In para 9 of the CircularNo. 57/31/2018-GST dated 4th September, 2018,

for

“However, in cases where the supply of agricultural produce is not exempted and liable to tax, such commission agent shall be liable for compulsory registration under sub-section (vii) of section 24 of the CGST Act.”

read,

“Further, according to clause (vii) of section 24 of the CGST Act, a person is liable for mandatory registration if he makes taxable supplyof goods or services or both on behalf of other taxable persons.Accordingly, the requirement of compulsory registration for commission agent, under the said clause shall arise when both the following conditions are satisfied, namely: -

(a) the principal should be a taxable person;and

(b) the supplies made by the commission agent should betaxable.

Generally, a commission agent under APMC Act makes supplies on behalf of an agriculturist. Further, as per provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 23 of the CGST Act an agriculturist who supplies produce out of cultivation of land is not liable for registration and therefore does not fall within the ambit ofthe term„taxable person?. Thus a commission agent who is making supplies on behalf of such an agriculturist, who is not a taxable person,is not liable for compulsory registration under clause (vii) of section 24 of the CGST Act.However, where a commission agent is liable to pay tax under reverse charge, such an agent will be required to get registered compulsorily under section 24 (iii)of the CGST Act.”

2. It is requested that suitable trade notices may be issued to publicize the contents of this Circular.

3. Difficulty, if any, in implementation of this Circular may please be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version would follow.
 

(Upender Gupta)

Commissioner (GST)