Whether service tax is leviable on security deposit given for lease?

PJ/CASE LAW/2015-16/2703

Case:- SAMIR RAJENDRA SHAH VS COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE, KOLHAPUR

Citation:-2015 (37) S.T.R. 154 (Tri. - Mumbai)

Brief Facts:-The appellant is in appeal against the impugned order demanding Service Tax on security deposit paid on Renting of Immovable Property, the lower authorities not quantified the interest on Service Tax paid by them and consequent penalties imposed on them.
Brief facts of the case are that the appellant is owner of immovable property and the same was given on rent to various parties. As per the agreement entered between the lessee and the owner, the lessee has to pay some amount towards security deposit and monthly rent on the agreed terms. There was a clause in the agreement that the Service Tax shall be borne by the lessee. In these set of facts, demand of Service Tax was confirmed against the appellant on the total amount i.e. security deposit and rent received by the appellant from lessee during the period 1-6-2007 to 31-3-2012. During adjudication, the appellant pleaded that they should be given the benefit of Section 80(2) of the Finance Act, 1994 as they have paid the entire amount of Service Tax prior to 28-11-2012, therefore, penalties cannot be imposed. Adjudication took place and Service Tax was demanded on whole of the amount of security deposit and rent received from the lessee by the appellant and benefit of Section 80(2) was not given to the appellant. Aggrieved by the said order, the appellant is before Tribunal.

Appellant contentions:- The learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant submits that no Service Tax is payable on the security deposit received by the appellant from the lessee as the said amount is refundable at the time of termination of lease/rent agreement of the property. Therefore, the same does not form a part of services provided by the appellant. It is further submitted that the appellant was under bonafide belief that the Service Tax on renting of immovable property is not payable by them as the dispute, whether on renting of immovable property the service is taxable, is still pending before the Hon’ble Apex Court. Therefore, they have not collected the Service Tax from the lessee. In these circumstances, the amount collected by the appellant as rent may be treated as cum-Service Tax amount. If this is to be taken into consideration then they have paid the whole of the Service Tax before 28-11-2012 therefore, they are entitled for the benefit of Section 80(2) of the Finance Act, 1994. In these circumstances, he prays that the impugned order is required to be set aside.

Respondent contentions:- On the other hand, the learned A.R. submits that as per the agreement, the Service Tax is to be paid separately. In these circumstances, the amount paid by the appellant has not to be considered as cum-Service Tax. Therefore, on that component, the appellant is required to pay Service Tax. As the appellant has not paid full Service Tax, therefore, they are not entitled for the benefit of Section 80(2) of the Finance Act, 1994.

Reasoning of Judgment:- Considered the submissions made by both sides.
The appellant has contested only the quantum of Service Tax but not the levy of Service Tax. Therefore, we have to consider the issue of quantum of tax on which the appellant has to pay the Service Tax. Admittedly, the security deposit collected by the appellant is refundable at the time of termination of lease/rent agreement. Therefore, the said security deposit cannot form a part of service provided by the appellant. Therefore, on the said amount, Service Tax is not payable. We have examined the copy of the agreement produced by the appellant. As per the agreement, the Service Tax is payable separately by the lessee. As the appellant has not recovered Service Tax from the lessee, they may recover separately. Therefore, the contention of the appellant as they have not recovered the Service Tax from the lessee, the rent recovered by them be treated as cum-Service Tax is not acceptable. In these circumstances, we hold that the rent received by the appellant shall be treated as gross value of taxable service and on the said amount the appellant is required to pay Service Tax.
We further find that on the understanding of the appellant that what amount of rent they received the same is treatable as cum-Service Tax, therefore, they have not paid full amount of Service Tax. This understanding by the appellant is not acceptable. In these circumstances, substantial benefit of Section 80(2) cannot be denied. In these circumstances, we hold that the appellant is entitled for the benefit of dropping the penalty on the appeal as per Section 80(2) of the Finance Act, 1994.
With these terms, we hold as under:-
(a) On Security Deposit no Service Tax is payable.
(b) Rent received by the appellant shall be treated as the value of taxable service and Service Tax is payable separately.
(c) No penalty is leviable on the appellant.
Appeal is disposed of in the above terms.

Decision:- Appeal disposed off.

Comment:- The Crux of the case is that Service Tax is not leviable on the amount deposited as “Security Deposit” in case of Renting of Immovable Property service because Security amount is refundable at the time of termination of lease/rent agreement of property, therefore, it will not form part of services provided.Moreover if the agreement contains condition that Service Tax will be paid separately by lessee & may be recovered separately by assessee i.e; the owner of property, then in such case, Rent to be treated as gross value of taxable service & assessee will be liable to pay Service Tax on that amount. In such case, the benefit of cum-tax is not available to the assessee.

Prepared By: Meet Jain

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PJ/CASE LAW/2015-16/2703

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