The court established that computers/laptops used for providing services do not qualify as capital goods under the KVAT Act, thus entitling the petitioner to transitional credit under Section 140(3) of the KSGST Act.

JUDGMENT

The petitioner, stated to be engaged in providing various financial services, has filed the captioned writ petition seeking to challenge Ext.P4 order issued by the Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling, Kerala, under the provisions of the CGST/SGST, Act, 2017.

2. The petitioner states that as on 30.06.2017, it had a stock of computers, laptops etc. purchased from within the State of Kerala, paying the tax due under the provisions of the Kerala Value Added Tax Act, 2003 (for short “KVAT Act”). It states that during the pre-GST period, it was not having registration under the KVAT Act, since it was only a service provider not covered thereunder. However, when GST was introduced on 01.07.2017, it claimed that it was eligible for availing transitional credit under Chapter XX of the Kerala State Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as “KSGST Act”) as regards the tax paid on the purchase of computers/laptops. Therefore, the petitioner submitted Ext.P1 application seeking an advance ruling as seen from Ext.P1. The questions posed for consideration by the authority under the statute, which read as under:

14 Question(s) on which advance ruling is required Whether computers, laptops etc. used by the applicant for providing output service would qualify as inputs for the purpose of availing transitional input tax credit under Section 140(3) of Chapter XX of the Kerala State Goods and Service Tax Ordinance, 2017?

If the said goods are physically available as closing stock with the Applicant as on 30th June, 2017, can the Applicant avail input tax credit of the VAT paid on the same?

The authority under the statute issued Ext.P2 dated 19.09.2018, finding that the petitioner had no liability under the VAT period and hence, it is not entitled to transitional credit under Chapter XX of the KSGST Act. The authority referred to the provisions of Section 2(59) of the KSGST Act providing for the definition of the term “input” as also the definition of the term “capital goods” under the KVAT Act and answered the query raised, holding that the computers/laptops used by the petitioner would not qualify for transitional credit under Section 140(2) and (3) of the KSGST Act.

3. Though the petitioner preferred a further appeal, the Appellate Authority under the Act dismissed the appeal filed as above by Ext.P4 dated 14.12.2018.

4. It is in the afore circumstances that the captioned writ petition is filed by the petitioner seeking a declaration as to its entitlement for transitional credit under the KSGST Act.

5. I have heard Sri.Jose Jacob, the learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri.Arun Ajay Shankar, the learned Government Pleader and Sri.P.R.Sreejith, the Senior Standing Counsel (CBIC).

6. Sri.Jose Jacob, the learned counsel for the petitioner, would contend that:

i. The claim raised by the petitioner was under Section 140(3) and not under Section 140(2) of the KSGST Act.

ii. Hence, the very consideration of the issues in Ext.P2/P3 was flawed.

iii. He relies on the provisions of the KSGST Act, KVAT Act, etc., to contend that the expression “capital goods” has a different connotation with respect to the claim under Chapter XX of the KSGST Act as regards the extension of transitional credit.

7. Sri.Arun Ajay Shankar, the learned Government Pleader, would contend that:

i. Since the petitioner was not entitled to the input credit under the existing law (KVAT), it cannot be extended under GST.

ii. The petitioner is not entitled to the benefits of transitional credits since computers/laptops are admittedly “capital goods” which are ex