GST on unregistered purchases

As per section 9(4), if you buy anything from an unregistered dealer then you are liable to pay the tax on his behalf on the goods/services purchased by you. Further, if you also an unregistered dealer and went on to buy inputs from another unregistered dealer then your exemption shall cease and you shall be liable to register under GST mandatorily and pay tax accordingly.

Central Government had come up with an exemption to the small miscellaneous transactions from unregistered persons. Notification No. 8/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dt 28.06.2017 issued by Central Government has exempted intra-State supplies of goods or services or both received by a registered person from any supplier, who is not registered, from the whole of the central tax leviable thereon under sub-section (4) of section 9 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017).

The said exemption shall not be applicable where the aggregate value of such supplies of goods or service or both received by a registered person from any or all the suppliers, who is or are not registered, exceeds five thousand rupees in a day. To sum up, the supply should be intra state supply (within the state) and can be for goods as well as services or both. Moreover the supply should be received by the registered person from an unregistered dealer only and upto a daily limit of Rs. 5000/-

FAQ's
 Whether these 5000 limit be availed for those cases where compulsory tax is payable in RCM basis as per section 9(3) of CGST act?

 Where Compulsory tax is to be paid under the Reverse Charge Mechanism under 9(3) of CGST Act, and as per Notification N0o. 13/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dt 28.06.2017 the benefit of this limit cannot be availed.
 Reason being these notification cover only cases of 9(4) and not 9(3). Mr. X purchased following items from unregistered dealer, all are dated 01.07.2017 as under: 1st bill - From Ram: Stationery = 2000/- 2nd bill - From Shyam: Lunch = 1000/- 3rd bill - From Madhu: Goods Transport Agency = 3000/- In this case, The bills from Mr Ram and Mr Shyam will get covered under this notification as aggregate value of all supplies does not exceed 5000/- on a single date (01.07.2017). 

For the Third bill from Madhu Reverse charge is payable u/s 9(3) without any exemption threshold. Whether this daily limit benefits would be available if the goods/services received from persons covered under 9(4) are blocked credits?

The benefit of daily limit would be available. Output Tax under reverse charge would be payable if it crosses the daily limit even though they are covered under blocked credits. 

What if the limit crosses 5000 in a day, is GST payable over and above the value or from rupee 1? 
If the value of taxable supplies exceeds Rs5000 per day for all suppliers, then GST would be payable on the Total value of the supplies received from unregistered persons. 

Is this limit applicable to all supplies? 

The limit is applicable to only taxable supply of goods or services or both. Exempt supplies are out of the preview of this notification. Mr. X purchased following items from unregistered dealer, all are dated 01.07.2017 as under: 1st bill - From Ram: Stationery = 2000/- 2nd bill - From Shyam: Hotel Room = 1000/- 3rd bill - From Madhu: Books = 3000/- In this case, the bills of Mr. X will not get covered under this notification as aggregate value of all supplies does not exceed 5000/- on a single date (01.07.2017) as the supplies from Shyam for Hotel room booking are exempt under Entry 14 of the exemption notification (12/2017). 

What if the supplies are procured from Interstate supply from unregistered? 

Benefit of this notification is available only for Intra State Purchase. If any transactions are done on an interstate basis the same are covered under the forward charge and in any case the reverse charge provisions are not applicable. 

Goods and services both inclusive 5000 or separate?


Yes, the benefit is inclusive for all goods or services or both. 

What rate GST should be payable then? 

GST should be payable as per the schedules rate of the product/service. 

What if procured from Composition persons? 

Since Composition persons are registered person, reverse charge is not applicable on such supplies.


Can credit be availed for these taxes paid and on what basis, any invoice issue requirement? 


Credits can be availed on payment of GST in cash. A consolidated monthly tax invoice can be raised if supplies are received from a single vendor. The Invoice shall be raised on the date of receipt of goods or services or both. Also a payment voucher needs to be issued on the date of making any advance payment as the time of supply is invoice of payment whichever is earlier.