GST on Real Estate, A number of issues have been raised regarding the new GST rate structure notified for real estate sector effective from 01-04-2019. A compilation of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)containing 41 questions was issued on 7thMay, 2019.Part II of the FAQ is presented below. The answers to the FAQs have been given in simple language for guidance and easy understanding of all stakeholders in the real estate sector. They do not have force of law. In case of conflict, the gazette notifications, which have legal force,shall have precedence.
GST on Real Estate
Question 1: In case of an area sharing arrangement between a Landowner-Promoter and a Developer-Promoter, where the Project qualifies to be considered an “Ongoing Project”, whether an option of 1% or 5% (without ITC) vis-à-vis 8% or 12% (with ITC) as prescribed in Notification No. 3/2019 can be exercised by the Developer-Promoter and Landowner-Promoter independently?
Answer: The legal and operational harmony necessitates that both the Landowner-Promoter and the Developer-Promoter exercise identical option for a project.
Question 2: In case of an area sharing arrangement between a Landowner-Promoter and a Developer-Promoter in a New Project undertaken on or after 1/4/2019, whether the new rate of 1% or 5% is applicable in case of the Landowner-Promoter who sells the under-construction premises before completion of the project? Will the Landowner-Promoter be entitled to ITC in respect of tax charged to him by the Developer-Promoter on such supply? Whether the Landowner-Promoter shall be entitled to avail ITC on any other services or goods used by him in furtherance of his business (such as brokerage on sales etc.)?
Answer: The new effective rates of 1% and 5% without ITC are applicable to the apartments booked by the land owner promoter in an ongoing project as well as a new project which commences on or after 01-04-2019. The land owner promoter shall be entitled to ITC in respect of tax charged to him by the developer promoter on construction of such apartments. However, the land owner promoter shall not be entitled to avail ITC on any other services or goods used by him.
Question 3: Residential Real Estate Project (RREP) shall mean a REP in which the carpet area of the commercial apartments is not more than 15% of the total carpet area of all the apartments in the REP (Clause xix). “Carpet area” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (k) of Section 2 of the RERA, 2016. Whether non-saleable areas such as society office, club house, etc., are to be taken into consideration for determining 15% for deciding whether the project is RREP or not?
Answer: The term “Residential Real Estate Project (RREP)has been defined in the notification to mean a REP in which the carpet area of the commercial apartments is not more than 15 per cent. of the total carpet area of all the apartments in the REP. Apartments shall be taken as commercial or residential apartments as declared to RERA authority.
Question 4: For the purpose of determining the threshold of Rs.45 lakhs in case of “affordable residential apartment”, whether the following charges generally recovered by the developer from the buyer shall be included? • Amenity Charges• Society formation charges• Advance maintenance • Legal Charges
Answer: For the purpose of determining the threshold of the gross amount of Rs.45.00 lakh for affordable residential apartments, all the charges or amounts charged by the promoter from the buyer of the apartments shall form part of the gross amount charged. Clause xvi, sub-clause (a)(ii)(C) of paragraph 4 of notification No. 11/2017-CT(R) dated 28.06.2017, reproduced below,refers.“C. Any other amount charged by the promoter from the buyer of the apartment including preferential location charges, development charges, parking charges, common facility charges etc.” However the value shall not include stamp duty payable to the statutory authority, maintenance charges / deposits for maintenance of apartment or maintenance of common infrastructure
Question 5: In case of a Real Estate Project, comprising of Residential as well as Commercial portion (more than 15%), how is the minimum procurement limit of 80% to be tested, evaluated and complied with where the Project has single RERA Registration and a single GST Registration and it is not practically feasible to get separate registrations due to peculiar nature of building(s)?
Answer: The promoter shall apportion and account for the procurement for residential and commercial portion on the basis of the ratio of the carpet area of the residential and commercial apartments in the project
Question 6: In an area sharing model, a promoter has to handover constructed flats/ apartments to the land owner who supplied TDR for the project. Value of TDR at the time when the landowner transferred it to the promoter is not known. How would the promoter determine GST on TDR?
Answer: Value of TDR, shall be equal to the amount charged by the promoter for similar apartments from the independent buyers booked on the date that is nearest to the date on which such development rights or FSI is transferred by the land owner to the promoter.
Source http://www.cbic.gov.in