Circular No. 38/12/2018-GST

Circular No.38/12/2018

F. No. 20/16/03/2017-GST
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Excise and Customs
GST Policy Wing

New Delhi, Dated the 26th March, 2018

To,

The Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners/Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Central Tax (All)/The Principal Directors General/ Directors General (All)

Madam/Sir,

Subject: Clarification on issues related to Job Work
Various representations have been received regarding the procedures to be followed for sending goods for job work and the related compliance requirements for the principal and the job worker. In view of the difficulties being faced by the taxpayers 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 Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, (hereinafter referred to as the “CGST Act”) hereby clarifies the various issues raised as below:

¹[2.As per clause (68) of section 2 of the CGST Act, 2017, “job work” means any treatment or process undertaken by a person on goods belonging to another registered person and the expression “job worker” shall be construed accordingly. The registered person on whose goods (inputs or capital goods) job work is performed is called the “Principal” for the purposes of section 143 of the CGST Act. The said section which encapsulates the provisions related to job work, provides that the registered principal may, without payment of tax, send inputs or capital goods to a job worker for job work and, if required, from there subsequently to another job worker and so on. Subsequently, on completion of the job work (by the last job worker), the principal shall either bring back the goods to his place of business or supply (including export) the same directly from the place of business/premises of the job worker within the time specified under section 143 .

^[helldod^old[2. As per clause (68) of section 2 of the CGST Act, 2017, “job work” means any treatment or process undertaken by a person on goods belonging to another registered person and the expression “job worker” shall be construed accordingly. The registered person on whose goods (inputs or capital goods) job work is performed is called the “Principal” for the purposes of section 143 of the CGST Act. The said section which encapsulates the provisions related to job work, provides that the registered principal may, without payment of tax, send inputs or capital goods to a job worker for job work and, if required, from there subsequently to another job worker and so on. Subsequently, on completion of the job work (by the last job worker), the principal shall either bring back the goods to his place of business or supply (including export) the same directly from the place of business/premises of the job worker within one year in case of inputs or within three years in case of capital goods (except moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools).] ^helldod]

¹[3.It may be noted that the responsibility of keeping proper accounts of the inputs and capital goods sent for job work lies with the principal. Moreover, if the time frame specified under section 143 for bringing back or further supplying the inputs / capital goods is not adhered to, the activity of sending the goods for job work shall be deemed to be a supply by the principal on the day when the said inputs / capital goods were sent out by him. Thus, essentially, sending goods for job work is not a supply as such, but it acquires the character of supply only when the inputs/capital goods sent for job work are neither received back by the principal nor supplied further by the principal from the place of business / premises of the job worker within the specified time period (under section 143) of being sent out. It may be noted that the responsibility for sending the goods for job work as well as bringing them back or supplying them has been cast on the principal.]

^[helldod^old[3. It may be noted that the responsibility of keeping proper accounts of the inputs and capital goods sent for job work lies with the principal. Moreover, if the time frame of one year / three years for bringing back or further supplying the inputs / capital goods is not adhered to, the activity of sending the goods for job work shall be deemed to be a supply by the principal on the day when the said inputs / capital goods were sent out by him. Thus, essentially, sending goods for job work is not a supply as such, but it acquires the character of supply only when the inputs/capital goods sent for job work are neither received back by the principal nor supplied further by the principal from the place of business / premises of the job worker within one/three years of being sent out. It may be noted that the responsibility for sending the goods for job work as well as bringing them back or supplying them has been cast on the principal. ]^helldod]

4. With respect to the above legal requirements, various issues have been raised on the following aspects:
a. Scope / ambit of job work;
b. Requirement of registration for a principal / job worker;
c. Supply of goods by the principal from the job worker’s place of business / premises;
d. Movement of goods from the principal to the job worker and the documents and intimation required therefor;
e. Liability to issue invoice, determination of place of supply and payment of GST; and
f. Availability of input tax credit to the principal and the job worker.

5. Scope/ambit of job work: Doubts have been raised on the scope of job work and whether any inputs, other than the goods provided by the principal, can be used by the job worker for providing the services of job work. It may be noted that the definition of job work, as contained in clause (68) of section 2 of the CGST Act, entails that the job work is a treatment or process undertaken by a person on goods belonging to another registered person. Thus, the job worker is expected to work on the goods sent by the principal and whether the activity is covered within the scope of job work or not would have to be determined on the basis of facts and circumstances of each case. Further, it is clarified that the job worker, in addition to the goods received from the principal, can use his own goods for providing the services of job work.

6. Requirement of registration for the principal/ job worker: It is important to note that the provisions of section 143 of the CGST Act are applicable to a registered person. Thus, it is only a registered person who can send the goods for job work under the said provisions. It may also be noted that the registered person (principal) is not obligated to follow the said provisions. It is his choice whether or not to avail or not to avail of the benefit of these special provisions.

¹[6.1 Doubts have been raised about the requirement of obtaining registration by job workers when they are located in the same State where the principal is located or when they are located in a State different from that of the principal. It may be noted that the job worker is required to obtain registration only if his aggregate turnover, to be computed on all India basis, in a financial year exceeds the specified threshold limit as specified in sub-section (1) of section 22 of the said Act, read with clause (iii) of the Explanation to the said section in case both the principal and the job worker are located in the same State. Where the principal and the job worker are located in different States, the requirement for registration flows from clause (i) of section 24 of the CGST Act which provides for compulsory registration of suppliers making any inter-State supply of services. However, exemption from registration has been granted in case the aggregate turnover of the inter-State supply of taxable services does not exceed the specified threshold limit as specified in sub-section (1) of section 22 of the said Act, read with clause (iii) of the Explanation to the said section in a financial year vide notification No. 10/2017 – Integrated Tax dated 13.10.2017 as amended vide notification No 3/2019- Integrated Tax, dated 29.01.19. Therefore, it is clarified that a job worker is required to obtain registration only in cases where his aggregate turnover, to be computed on all India basis, in a financial year exceeds the threshold limit regardless of whether the principal and the job worker are located in the same State or in different States.]

^[helldod^old[6.1 Doubts have been raised about the requirement of obtaining registration by job workers when they are located in the same State where the principal is located or when they are located in a State different from that of the principal. It may be noted that the job worker is required to obtain registration only if his aggregate turnover, to be computed on all India basis, in a financial year exceeds the specified threshold limit (i.e. Rs 20 lakhs or Rs. 10 lakhs in case of special category States except Jammu & Kashmir) in case both the principal and the job worker are located in the same State. Where the principal and the job worker are located in different States, the requirement for registration flows from clause (i) of section 24 of the CGST Act which provides for compulsory registration of suppliers making any inter-State supply of services. However, exemption from registration has been granted in case the aggregate turnover of the interState supply of taxable services does not exceed Rs 20 lakhs or Rs. 10 lakhs in case of special category States except Jammu & Kashmir in a financial year vide notification No. 10/2017 – Integrated Tax dated 13.10.2017. Therefore, it is clarified that a job worker is required to obtain registration only in cases where his aggregate turnover, to be computed on all India basis, in a financial year exceeds the threshold limit regardless of whether the principal and the job worker are located in the same State or in different States.]^helldod]

7. Supply of goods by the principal from job worker’s place of business/ premises:
Doubts have been raised as to whether the principal can supply goods directly from the job worker’s place of business / premises to its end customer and if yes, whether the supply will be regarded as having been made by the principal or by the job worker. It is clarified that the supply of goods by the principal from the place of business / premises of the job worker will be regarded as supply by the principal and not by the job worker as specified in section 143(1)(a) of the CGST Act.

8. Movement of goods from the principal to the job worker and the documents and intimation required therefor:
8.1 Issues: Doubts have been raised about the documents required to issued for sending the goods (i) by the principal to the job worker, (ii) from one job worker to another job worker; and (iii) from the job worker back to the principal.

8.2 Legal provisions: Section 143 of the CGST Act provides that the principal may send and/or bring back inputs/capital goods for job work without payment of tax, under intimation to the proper officer and subject to the prescribed conditions. Rule 45 of the CGST Rules provides that the inputs, semi-finished goods or capital goods being sent for job work (including that being sent from one job worker to another job worker for further job work or those being sent directly to a job worker) shall be sent under the cover of a challan issued by the principal, containing the details specified in rule 55 of the CGST Rules. This rule has been amended vide notification No. 14/2018-Central tax dated 23.03.2018 to provide that a job worker may endorse the challan issued by the principal. The principal is also required to file FORM GST ITC-04 every quarter stating the said details. Further, as per the provisions contained in rule 138 of the CGST Rules, an e-way bill is required to be generated by every registered person who causes movement of goods of consignment value exceeding fifty thousand rupees even in cases where such movement is for reasons other than for supply (e.g. in case of movement for job work). Further, the third proviso to rule 138(1) of the CGST Rules provides that the e-way bill shall be generated either by the principal or by the registered job worker irrespective of the value of the consignment, where goods are sent by a principal located in one State/Union territory to a job worker located in any other State/ Union territory.

8.3 As mentioned above, rule 45 of the CGST Rules provides that inputs, semi-finished goods or capital goods shall be sent to the job worker under the cover of a challan issued by the principal, including in cases where such goods are sent directly to a job worker. Further, rule 55 of the CGST Rules provides that the consignor may issue a delivery challan containing the prescribed particulars in case of transportation of goods for job work. It may be noted that rule 45 provides for the issuance of a challan by the principal whereas rule 55 provides that the consignor may issue the delivery challan. It is also important to note that as per the provisions contained in rule 138 of the CGST Rules, an e-way bill is required to be generated by every registered person who causes movement of goods of consignment value exceeding fifty thousand rupees even in cases where such movement is for reasons other than for supply (e.g. in case of movement for job work). The third proviso to rule 138(1) of the CGST Rules provides that the e-way bill shall be generated either by the principal or by the registered job worker irrespective of the value of the consignment, where goods are sent by a principal located in one State/Union territory to a job worker located in any other State/ Union territory. It may also be noted that as per Explanation 1 to rule 138(3) of the CGST Rules, where the goods are supplied by an unregistered supplier to a registered recipient, the movement shall be said to be caused by such recipient if the recipient is known at the time of commencement of the movement of goods. In other words, the e-way bill shall be generated by the principal, wherever required, in case the job worker is unregistered.

8.4 Clarification: On conjoint reading of the relevant legal provisions, the following is clarified with respect to the issuance of challan, furnishing of intimation and other documentary requirements in this regard:

(i) Where goods are sent by principal to only one job worker: The principal shall prepare in triplicate, the challan in terms of rules 45 and 55 of the CGST Rules, for sending the goods to a job worker. Two copies of the challan may be sent to the job worker along with the goods. The job worker should send one copy of the said challan along with the goods, while returning them to the principal. The FORM GST ITC-04 will serve as the intimation as envisaged under section 143 of the CGST Act, 2017.

(ii) Where goods are sent from one job worker to another job worker: In such cases, the goods may move under the cover of a challan issued either by the principal or the job worker. In the alternative, the challan issued by the principal may be endorsed by the job worker sending the goods to another job worker, indicating therein the quantity and description of goods being sent. The same process may be repeated for subsequent movement of the goods to other job workers.

(iii) Where the goods are returned to the principal by the job worker: The job worker should send one copy of the challan received by him from the principal while returning the goods to the principal after carrying out the job work.

(iv) Where the goods are sent directly by the supplier to the job worker: In this case, the goods may move from the place of business of the supplier to the place of business/premises of the job worker with a copy of the invoice issued by the supplier in the name of the buyer (i.e. the principal) wherein the job worker’s name and address should also be mentioned as the consignee, in terms of rule 46(o) of the CGST Rules. The buyer (i.e., the principal) shall issue the challan under rule 45 of the CGST Rules and send the same to the job worker directly in terms of para (i) above. In case of import of goods by the principal which are then supplied directly from the customs station of import, the goods may move from the customs station of import to the place of business/premises of the job worker with a copy of the Bill of Entry and the principal shall issue the challan under rule 45 of the CGST Rules and send the same to the job worker directly.

(v) Where goods are returned in piecemeal by the job worker: In case the goods after carrying out the job work, are sent in piecemeal quantities by a job worker to another job worker or to the principal, the challan issued originally by the principal cannot be endorsed and a fresh challan is required to be issued by the job worker.

(vi) Submission of intimation: Rule 45(3) of the CGST Rules provides that the principal is required to furnish the details of challans in respect of goods sent to a job worker or received from a job worker or sent from one job worker to another job worker during a quarter in FORM GST ITC-04 by the 25th day of the month succeeding the quarter or within such period as may be extended by the Commissioner. It is clarified that it is the responsibility of the principal to include the details of all the challans relating to goods sent by him to one or more job worker or from one job worker to another and its return therefrom. The FORM GST ITC-04 will serve as the intimation as envisaged under section 143 of the CGST Act.

9. Liability to issue invoice, determination of place of supply and payment of GST:

9.1 Issues: Doubts have been raised about the time, value and place of supply in the hands of principal or job worker as also about the issuance of invoices by the principal or job worker, as the case may be, with regard to the supply of goods from principal to the recipient from the job worker’s place of business / premises and the supply of services by the job worker.

9.2 Legal provisions: As mentioned earlier, section 143 of the CGST Act provides that the inputs/capital goods may be sent for job work without payment of tax and unless they are brought back by the principal, or supplied from the place of business / premises of the job worker within a period of one / three years, as the case may be, it would be deemed that such inputs or capital goods (other than moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools) have been supplied by the principal to the job worker on the day when the said inputs or capital goods were sent out. Further, the job worker is liable to pay GST on the supply of job work services.

9.3 The provisions relating to time of supply are contained in sections 12 and 13 of the CGST Act and that for determining the value of supply are in section 15 of the CGST Act. The provisions relating to place of supply are contained in section 10 of the IGST Act, 2017. Further, the provisions relating to the issuance of an invoice are contained in section 31 of the CGST Act read with rule 46 of the CGST Rules.

9.4 On conjoint reading of all the provisions, the following is clarified with respect to the issuance of an invoice, time of supply and value of supply:

¹[(i) Supply of job work services :The job worker, as a supplier of services, is liable to pay GST if he is liable to be registered. He shall issue an invoice at the time of supply of the services as determined in terms of section 13 read with section 31 of the CGST Act. The value of services would be determined in terms of section 15 of the CGST Act and would include not only the service charges but also the value of any goods or services used by him for supplying the job work services, if recovered from the principal. Doubts have been raised whether the value of moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools which have been provided by the principal to the job worker and have been used by the latter for providing job work services would be included in the value of job work services. In this regard, attention is invited to section 15 of the CGST Act which lays down the principles for determining the value of any supply under GST. Importantly, clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 15 of the CGST Act provides that any amount that the supplier is liable to pay in relation to the supply but which has been incurred by the recipient will form part of the valuation for that particular supply, provided it has not been included in the price for such supply. Accordingly, it is clarified that the value of such moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools may not be included in the value of job work services provided its value has been factored in the price for the supply of such services by the job worker.]

^[helldod^old[(i) Supply of job work services: The job worker, as a supplier of services, is liable to pay GST if he is liable to be registered. He shall issue an invoice at the time of supply of the services as determined in terms of section 13 read with section 31 of the CGST Act. The value of services would be determined in terms of section 15 of the CGST Act and would include not only the service charges but also the value of any goods or services used by him for supplying the job work services, if recovered from the principal. Doubts have been raised whether the value of moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools which have been provided by the principal to the job worker and have been used by the latter for providing job work services would be included in the value of job work services. In this regard, attention is invited to section 15 of the CGST Act which lays down the principles for determining the value of any supply under GST. Importantly, clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 15 of the CGST Act provides that any amount that the supplier is liable to pay in relation to the supply but which has been incurred by the recipient will form part of the valuation for that particular supply, provided it has not been included in the price for such supply. Accordingly, it is clarified that the value of such moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools may not be included in the value of job work services provided its value has been factored in the price for the supply of such services by the job worker. It may be noted that if the job worker is not registered, GST would be payable by the principal on reverse charge basis in terms of the provisions contained in section 9(4) of the CGST Act. However, the said provision has been kept in abeyance for the time being.]^helldod]

(ii) Supply of goods by the principal from the place of business/premises of job worker: Section 143 of the CGST Act provides that the principal may supply, from the place of business / premises of a job worker, inputs after completion of job work or otherwise or capital goods (other than moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools) within one year or three years respectively of their being sent out, on payment of tax within India, or with or without payment of tax for exports, as the case may be. This facility is available to the principal only if he declares the job worker’s place of business / premises as his additional place of business or if the job worker is registered.
Since the supply is being made by the principal, it is clarified that the time, value and place of supply would have to be determined in the hands of the principal irrespective of the location of the job worker’s place of business/premises. Further, the invoice would have to be issued by the principal. It is also clarified that in case of exports directly from the job worker’s place of business/premises, the LUT or bond, as the case may be, shall be executed by the principal.
Illustration: The principal is located in State A, the job worker in State B and the recipient in State C. In case the supply is made from the job worker’s place of business / premises, the invoice will be issued by the supplier (principal) located in State A to the recipient located in State C. The said transaction will be an inter-State supply. In case the recipient is also located in State A, it will be an intra-State supply.

(iii) Supply of waste and scrap generated during the job work: Sub - section (5) of Section 143 of the CGST Act provides that the waste and scrap generated during the job work may be supplied by the registered job worker directly from his place of business or by the principal in case the job worker is not registered. The principles enunciated in para (ii) above would apply mutatis mutandis in this case.

9.5 Violation of conditions laid down in section 143: As per the provisions contained in Section 143 of the CGST Act, if the inputs or capital goods (other than moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools) are neither received back by the principal nor supplied from the job worker’s place of business within the specified time period, the inputs or capital goods (other than moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures or tools) would be deemed to have been supplied by the principal to the job worker on the day when such inputs or capital goods were sent out to the first job worker.

¹[9.6 Thus, if the inputs or capital goods are neither returned nor supplied from the job worker’s place of business / premises within the specified time period, the principal would issue an invoice for the same and declare such supplies in his return for that particular month in which the time period of one year / three years has expired. The date of supply shall be the date on which such inputs or capital goods were initially sent to the job worker and interest for the intervening period shall also be payable on the tax. If such goods are returned by the job worker after the stipulated time period, the same would be treated as a supply by the job worker to the principal and the job worker would be liable to pay GST if he is liable for registration in accordance with the provisions contained in the CGST Act read with the rules made thereunder. Further, there is no requirement of either returning back or supplying the goods from the job worker’s place of business/premises as far as moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures, or tools are concerned.]

^[helldod^old[9.6 Thus, if the inputs or capital goods are neither returned nor supplied from the job worker’s place of business / premises within the specified time period, the principal would issue an invoice for the same and declare such supplies in his return for that particular month in which the time period of one year / three years has expired. The date of supply shall be the date on which such inputs or capital goods were initially sent to the job worker and interest for the intervening period shall also be payable on the tax. If such goods are returned by the job worker after the stipulated time period, the same would be treated as a supply by the job worker to the principal and the job worker would be liable to pay GST if he is liable for registration in accordance with the provisions contained in the CGST Act read with the rules made thereunder. It may be noted that if the job worker is not registered, GST would be payable by the principal on reverse charge basis in terms of the provisions contained in section 9 (4) of the CGST Act. However, the said provision has been kept in abeyance for the time being. Further, there is no requirement of either returning back or supplying the goods from the job worker’s place of business/premises as far as moulds and dies, jigs and fixtures, or tools are concerned.]^helldod]

10. Availability of input tax credit to the principal and job worker: Doubts have been raised regarding the availability of input tax credit (ITC) to the principal in respect of inputs / capital goods that are directly received by the job worker. Doubts have also been raised whether the job worker is eligible for ITC in respect of inputs, etc. used by him in supplying job work services. It is clarified that, in view of the provisions contained in clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 16 of the CGST Act, the input tax credit would be available to the principal, irrespective of the fact whether the inputs or capital goods are received by the principal and then sent to the job worker for processing, etc. or whether they are directly received at the job worker’s place of business/premises, without being brought to the premises of the principal. It is also clarified that the job worker is also eligible to avail ITC on inputs, etc. used by him in supplying the job work services if he is registered.

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

12. Difficulty, if any, in implementation of the above instructions may please be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version would follow.

(Upender Gupta)
Commissioner (GST)

1. Substituted Vide Circular No. 88/07/2019 Central Tax dt. 01/02/2019 [Para 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8 & 4.10]