Supreme Court Allows Telcos to Claim CENVAT Credit for Mobile Towers and Shelters

Source: This post on Supreme Court Allows Telcos to Claim CENVAT Credit for Mobile Towers and Shelters has been created based on the article “Telcos can claim CENVAT credit for towers, shelters: SC” ublished in The Hindu on 21st November 2024.

Why in news?

The Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment allowing telecom companies to claim CENVAT credit for mobile towers and pre-fabricated buildings (PFBs).

Key Highlights of the Judgment

1. Recognition of Mobile Towers and Shelters as Capital Goods: Mobile towers and PFBs fall under the definition of “capital goods” or “inputs” as per CENVAT Rules. These structures provide critical support for efficient mobile signal transmission, enabling telecommunication services.

2. Functional Utility Test: The court applied the “functional utility test” to determine that:

i) Mobile towers and PFBs are indispensable for the provision of telecommunication services.

ii) These items are integral to the functioning of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS), antenna, and other components of the telecom system.

3. Entitlement to CENVAT Credit: As per Rule 3(1)(i) of the CENVAT Rules, MSPs can claim credit for excise duties paid on goods used to provide telecommunication services. Mobile towers and PFBs, as part of the telecom infrastructure, qualify as “goods” under Rule 2(k).

About CENVAT Credit (Central Value Added Tax Credit)

1. CENVAT credit (Central Value Added Tax Credit) is a mechanism in Indian taxation that allows manufacturers and service providers to avail a credit of the taxes paid on inputs, input services, and capital goods used in the production of goods or provision of services.

2. It aims to reduce the cascading effect of taxes, ensuring that only the value addition is taxed at each stage.

3. Applicability: It applies to excise duties and service taxes (relevant before the introduction of GST in India). Manufacturers and service providers registered under the Central Excise or Service Tax laws could avail the credit.

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