In case of auction of tea, coffee, rubber etc., whether the books of accounts are required to be maintained at every place of business by the principal and the auctioneer, and whether they are eligible to avail input tax credit?

Reply:  As per Circular No.47/21/2018 Dated: 8th June, 20181 The requirement of maintaining the books of accounts at the principal place of business and additional place(s) of business is clarified as below:

(a) For the purpose of auction of tea, coffee, rubber, etc, the principal and the auctioneer may declare the warehouses, where such goods are stored, as their additional place of business. The buyer is also required to disclose such warehouse as his additional place of business if he wants to store the goods purchased through auction in such warehouses. For the purpose of supply of tea through a private treaty, the principal and an auctioneer may also comply with the said provisions.

(b) The principal and the auctioneer for the  purpose of auction of tea, coffee, rubber etc., or the principal and the auctioneer for the purpose of supply of tea through a private treaty, are required to maintain the books of accounts relating to each and every place of business in that place itself in terms of the first proviso to sub-section (1) of section 35 of the CGST Act. However, in case difficulties are faced in maintaining the books of accounts, it is clarified that they may maintain the books of accounts relating to the additional place(s) of business at their principal place of business instead of such additional place(s).

(c) The principal and the auctioneer for the purpose of auction of tea, coffee, rubber etc., or the principal and the auctioneer for the purpose of supply of tea through a private treaty, shall intimate their jurisdictional officer in writing about the maintenance of books of accounts relating to the additional place(s) of business at their principal place of business.

2 It is further clarified that the principal and the auctioneer for the purpose of auction of tea, coffee, rubber etc., or the principal and the auctioneer for the purpose of supply of tea through a private treaty, shall be eligible to avail input tax credit subject to the fulfilment of other provisions of the CGST Act read with the rules made thereunder.