GUJARAT AUTHORITY FOR ADVANCE RULING

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX

A/5, RAJYA KAR BHAVAN, ASHRAM ROAD,

AHMEDABAD - 380 009.

(IN APPLICATION NO. Advance Ruling/SGST&CGST/2018/AR/33)

BRIEF FACTS

The applicant M/s. Adarsh Plant Protect ltd. vide their application for Advance Ruling has submitted that they are engaged in manufacturing of Sprayer Pumps and Adarsh Clean Stove and Adarsh Clean Cook Stove (Community size). They have stated that the sprayer pumps manufactured by them fall under Chapter-84 having HSN code: 8424 and all the sprayer pumps manufactured by them are manually operated except model ANM-516 (which is battery operated). The applicant has enlisted the details of the sprayer pumps (manually operated) as well as that of the stoves manufactured by them along with their HSN code as under:

The applicant has submitted that they are collecting GST of 12% (6% SGST + 6% CGST) on the above items and paying the same to the Government. They have stated that under the VAT Act, no tax was levied on sprayer pumps as the same was used for agricultural purpose. They have also stated that the above items are taxable now but the said items are purely used manually for only agriculture purpose, hence the said items should be treated as agriculture implements manually operated and the rate of tax should be NIL. He has requested to give advance ruling on the same.

DISCUSSION & FINDINGS

2. We have considered the issue involved, on which advance ruling is sought by the applicant, relevant facts, the applicant's interpretation of law as well as the arguments/discussions made by their representative Shri Ketanbhai at the time of personal hearing.

3. At the outset, we would like to state that the provisions of both the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the Gujarat Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 are the same except for certain provisions. Therefore, unless a mention is specifically made to such dissimilar provisions, a reference to the CGST Act would also mean a reference to the same provisions under the GGST Act.

4. The applicant has submitted a list of 9 sprayer pumps (all manually operated) along with their production code and HSN code i.e. SH 8424 as well as a list of 4 stoves (all manually operated) along with their production and HSN code i.e. SH 7321 and have asked the following question for the purpose of advance ruling:

"The applicant are collecting GST of 12% (6% SGST + 6% CGST) on their items namely Sprayer pumps (manually operated) and stoves and paying the same to the Government. As per their view, the said items are used manually for only agriculture purpose so the rate of tax should be NIL. Please give advance ruling on the same"

5. First of all, we are required to examine as to what sprayer pumps and stoves are. As per definition:

(i) Sprayer pumps are mechanical devices designed to generate a pressure differential to drive spray fluid from a storage tank, through system plumbing, and out to the spray nozzle(s). (ii) Stove is an apparatus for cooking or heating that operates by burning fuel or using electricity. The applicant has submitted that the said items are used manually for agriculture purpose only. Also, from the details submitted by the applicant, it is seen that the sprayer pumps manufactured and supplied by them are used by them to spray pesticides on the field crops whereas the stoves are used for mixing pesticides. On going through the sample invoices submitted by the applicant, it is found that they are (i) classifying 'Sprayer pumps' (manually operated) under Sub-heading 8424 (sample invoice No.440 dated 15.03.2018) and (ii) classifying 'stoves' under Sub-heading 7321 (sample invoice No.T/082/18-19 dated 11.06.2018) and paying GST of 12% (6% SGST + 6% CGST) during their supply. Further, when the representative of the applicant was asked during the course of personal hearing about the fuel used for operating the stoves manufactured by the applicant, he stated that wood was used as fuel in the said stoves.

6. The applicant has submitted pamphlets containing details of the products manufactured and supplied by him. The details of some of their products are described hereunder:

7. The next thing required to be examined is as to whether the products manufactured by the applicant have been correctly classified and whether the tax paid by them is correct or otherwise. In order to determine the tax liability on the supply of 'Sprayer pumps' and 'Stoves' by the applicant, we will be required to refer to the Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 containing the sub-headings as well as the rates of Central Tax GST applicable to various goods, which are covered under 6 schedules, as under:-

(i) 2.5 per cent. in respect of goods specified in Schedule I,

(ii) 6 per cent. in respect of goods specified in Schedule II,

(iii) 9 per cent. in respect of goods specified in Schedule III,

(iv) 14 per cent. in respect of goods specified in Schedule IV,

(v) 1.5 per cent. in respect of goods specified in Schedule V, and

(vi) 0.125 per cent. in respect of goods specified in Schedule VI

Further, Explanation (iii) and (iv) of the said Notification reads as under:-

(iii) "Tariff item", "sub-heading" "heading" and "Chapter" shall mean respectively a tariff item, sub-heading, heading and chapter as specified in the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975).

(iv) The rules for the interpretation of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), including the Section and Chapter Notes and the General Explanatory Notes of the

First Schedule shall, so far as may be, apply to the interpretation of this notification.

8. On going through the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), it is observed that there is no specific entry for 'Sprayer pumps'. However, looking at the definition of 'sprayer pumps' as well as to the uses of the product mentioned in the pamphlets as well as in the submission of the applicant, wherein it is mentioned that it is used as a sprayer on the agricultural field crops, it would fall under Sub-heading 8424, which reads as under:

On going through the above details, we find that 'Sprayer pumps' are specifically covered under Tariff item no.84248100 (agricultural or horticultural) based on their use.

9. Further, on going through the entry of the above item in the Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax(Rate) dated 28.06.2017 (hereinafter referred to as the said notification), we find that the same appears at entry No.325 in Schedule-III of the said notification, on which the applicable rate of GST is 18% (9% SGST + 9% CGST). The same reads as under:

10. Notification No: 01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 has been amended vide Notification No.27/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 22.09.2017, wherein the following amendment has been made in respect of entry no.325 of Schedule-III of said notification:

"(ix) in S. No. 325, in column (3), for the words " other than fire extinguishers, whether or not charged", the words, " other than fire extinguishers, whether or not charged and Nozzles for drip irrigation equipment or nozzles for sprinklers" shall be substituted;"

Notification No:01/2017-Central Tax(Rate) dated 28.06.2017 has been further amended vide Notification No.41/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 14.11.2017 wherein the following amendment has been made in respect of entry no.325 of Schedule-III of said notification:

"(lxxxii) in S. No. 325, for the entry in column (3), the entry "Mechanical appliances (whether or not hand-operated) for projecting, dispersing or spraying liquids or powders; fire extinguishers, whether or not charged; spray guns and similar appliances; steam or sand blasting machines and similar jet projecting machines [other than Nozzles for drip irrigation equipment or nozzles for sprinklers]" shall be substituted;;"

11. Notification No:01/2017-Central Tax(Rate) dated 28.06.2017 has been further amended vide Notification No.06/2018-Central Tax (Rate) dated 24.01.2018 (effective from 25.01.2018) wherein the following amendment has been made in respect of entry no.325 of Schedule-III of said notification.

"(xi) in S. No. 325, for the entry in column (3), the entry "Mechanical appliances

(whether or not hand-operated) for projecting, dispersing or spraying liquids or

powders; fire extinguishers, whether or not charged; spray guns and similar appliances; steam or sand blasting machines and similar jet projecting machines [other than sprinklers; drip irrigation systems including laterals; mechanical sprayer; nozzles for drip irrigation equipment or nozzles for sprinklers]" shall be substituted;"

Further, the following entry has been inserted vide Notification No: 06/2018-Central Tax (Rate) dated 24.01.2018 (effective from 25.01.2018) in Schedule-II of Notification No:01/2017-Central Tax(Rate) dated 28.06.2017 which reads as under:

((xiii) after S. No. 195A, and entries relating thereto the following serial number and the entries shall be inserted, namely:

12. In view of the above, it is observed that vide Notification No: 06/2018-Central Tax (Rate) dated 24.01.2018, the word 'mechanical sprayers' has been inserted vide Entry No.195B in Schedule-II of Notification No:01/2017-Central Tax(Rate) dated 28.06.2017, whereas Entry No.325 in Schedule-III of the said notification has been amended to the effect that the words "(other than sprinklers; drip irrigation systems including laterals; mechanical sprayer; nozzles for drip irrigation equipment or nozzles for sprinklers]" have replaced the earlier entry "[other than Nozzles for drip irrigation equipment or nozzles for sprinklers]". It can therefore be concluded that the product 'sprayer pumps' falling under Tariff item No.84248100 would be classified under Entry No.325 of Schedule-III of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 up to 24.01.2018 and the GST applicable during this period would be 18% (9% SGST + 9% CGST). However, with effect from 25.01.2018, the said product would be classified under Entry No.195B of Schedule-II of the said notification and the GST applicable would be 12% (6% SGST + 6% CGST).

13. Further, the applicant has also submitted that they are manufacturing and supplying stoves of product code ASD-20G, ASDM-20, Adarsh Clean Stove (Domestic) and Adarsh Clean Cook Stove (Community size). Also, when the representative of the applicant was asked during the course of personal hearing about the fuel being used by the applicant in these stoves, he stated that the fuel being used was wood. On going through the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), it is observed that stoves are classified at Subheading 7321 which reads as under:

On going through the above details, we find that 'stoves' manufactured and supplied by the applicant would be classified under Tariff item No.73218990.

14. Further, on going through the entry of the above item in the Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax(Rate) dated 28.06.2017, we find that the same appears at entry No.183 in Schedule-II of the said notification on which the applicable rate of GST is 12% (6% SGST + 6% CGST). The same reads as under:

It can, therefore, be concluded that the product 'stoves' falling under Tariff item No.73218990 would be classified under Entry at 183 of Schedule-II of Notification No.01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and the GST applicable would be 12% (6% SGST + 6% CGST). .

15. The applicant have mentioned in their question for advance ruling that the products manufactured and supplied by them are used manually for only agricultural purpose and therefore the rate of tax should be NIL. In this regard, we have also gone through the provisions and entries of the exemption Notification No. 2/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 and found that the above items manufactured and supplied by the applicant do not find mention under any of the entries of the said notification.

16. In view of the discussions as detailed above, we rule as under -

RULING

(1) The product 'Sprayer pumps' (manually operated) manufactured and supplied by M/s. Adarsh Plant Protect ltd. are classifiable under Tariff item No.84248100 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975). Applicability of GST rate on the said product would be 18% GST (9% SGST + 9% CGST) upto 24.01.2018 and 12% GST (6% SGST + 6% CGST) with effect from 25.01.2018 as per Notification No:01/2017-Central Tax(Rate) dated 28.06.2017 (as amended from time to time) issued under the CGST Act, 2017.

(2) The product 'Stoves' manufactured and supplied by M/s. Adarsh Plant Protect ltd. are classifiable under Tariff item No.73218990 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975). Applicability of GST rate on the said product would be 12% gSt (6% SgSt + 6% CGST) as per Notification No: 01/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 issued under the CGST Act, 2017.

(3) The aforementioned products of the applicant do not find mention under any of the entries of the exemption notification No.02/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 issued under the CGST Act, 2017.