Thursday, December 10, 2009

Clarification on issues related to reversal of cenvat credit on WIP/ finished goods written off in the books of accounts

Excise Circular : Circular No. 907/27/2009-CX

As per Rule 3(5B) of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004, if the value of inputs is fully written off, then the manufacture is required to pay an amount equal to cenvat credit taken. However, there is no provision to demand reversal of credit taken on inputs which have gone into manufacture of work in progress (WIP), semi finished goods and finished goods which have also been written off fully in the books of accounts.

As far as finished goods in concerned, it is stated that excise duty is chargeable on the activity of manufacture or production. Even though liability for payment of tax has been postponed to the time of removal of goods for the factory, but still the legal liability to pay the excise duty has been fastened on the goods, when it has been manufactured or produced. Therefore, normally all goods manufactured suffer excise duty at the time of removal, but if the manufactured goods are destroyed due to natural causes etc., Rule 21 of Central Excise Rules, 2002, provides for remission of duty.

As regard writing off work in progress (WIP), it is stated that if the WIP has reached the stage, when it can be considered as manufactured goods, in that case, the same treatment as applicable to finished goods, discussed in para2 above would apply. However, if the activity carried out on the WIP goods cannot be considered as amounting to manufacture, in that case, the said goods should be considered as input and the treatment for reversal of credit applicable to input would be applicable.

Click the title for the text of the circular.

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