By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 05, 2018: TO help taxpayers avoid confusion about some of the services the CBEC has issued a detailed Circular. In this Circular the CBEC has clarified that entry to casinos and gambling are two different services and GST is leviable at 28% on both these services (14% CGST and 14% SGST) on the value determined as per section 15 of the CGST Act. Thus, GST @ 28% would apply on entry to casinos as well as on betting/ gambling services being provided by casinos on the transaction value of betting, i.e. the total bet value, in addition to GST levy on any other services being provided by the casinos (such as services by way of supply of food/ drinks etc. at the casinos). Betting, in pre-GST regime, was subjected to betting tax on full bet value.

GST would be leviable on the entire bet value i.e. total of face value of any or all bets paid into the totalisator or placed with licensed book makers, as the case may be. Illustration: If entire bet value is Rs. 100, GST leviable will be Rs. 28/-.

Whether homestays providing accommodation through an Electronic Commerce Operator, below threshold limit are exempt from taking registration? Answering this question, the Circular states that Notification No. 17/2017-Central Tax (Rate), has been issued making ECOs liable for payment of GST in case of accommodation services provided in hotels, inns guest houses or other commercial places meant for residential or lodging purposes provided by a person having turnover below Rs. 20 lakhs (Rs. 10 lakhs in special category states) per annum and thus not required to take registration under section 22(1) of CGST Act. Such persons, even though they provide services through ECO, are not required to take registration in view of section 24(ix) of CGST Act, 2017.

The supply of books shall be treated as supply of goods as long as the supplier owns the books and has the legal rights to sell those books on his own account.