Know the FAQs on TCS

Ans. TCS (Tax Collected at Source) under GST is nothing but the tax collected by an e-commerce operator from the consideration received by it on behalf of the supplier of goods or services or both who makes supplies through their e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart or Amazon.

Ans. TCS is charged as a percentage on the net taxable supplies.

Ans. An operator who owns operates and manages e-commerce websites are eligible to collect TCS. However, it shall be noted that TCS provision applies to those e-com operators who collect the consideration from the buyers on behalf of vendors or suppliers.

Ans. Here is a list of few exceptions to the TCS provisions:

a. Hotel or clubs that are unregistered b. Passengers transportation – radio taxi, engine taxi, or motorcycle c. Unregistered housekeeping services.

Ans. As per the notification no. 52/2018 under CGST Act and 02/2018 under IGST Act, the dealers or traders providing goods or services or both through e-commerce platforms will receive payment after deduction of TCS @ 1%.

Ans. The e-commerce operator liable to collect TCS have to obligatorily register under GST and there is no threshold limit exemption for it. Likewise, the sellers giving goods through the online portals need to compulsorily required to get registered under GST except for a few exceptions.

Ans. Here are the pre-requisites for TCS registration:

a. Every e-commerce operator who is required to collect TCS ought to mandatorily register under GST b. Every person who supplies through an e-commerce operator, except those who make supplies notified U/S 9(5) of the CGST Act. c. Moreover, note that the suppliers who render services through an e-commerce platform are exempt from registration if their aggregate turnover does not exceed 20 Lakhs INR. However, this rule does not apply for those service provider that makes inter-state supplies. d. Suppliers of goods giving through an e-commerce platform are not exempt from registration. e. An e-comm operator needs to obtain registration in every state in which it supplies goods or services or both.

Ans. TCS will be deducted during the month in which the supply is made. Refer below-mentioned table to know the due date for the payment of TCS:

Note: a. IGST and CGST will be paid to the central government. b. SGST needs to be paid to the respective state governments.

Ans. E-commerce operators have to file GSTR-8 by the 15th of the next month in which the tax was collected. This return may be filed once the tax collected has been deposited to the respective credit of the government.

Ans. Refer to the below-mentioned table to know the due date of filing TCS Return:

Q11. What is the impact of the TCS provision?

Ans. From the government point of view, TCS has significantly decreased the cases of tax evasion under GST as tax is collected for each and every transaction by the e-com operators. However, from the e-com operators’ viewpoint, the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have to be well integrated to apply provisions in the day to day business activities. Moreover, supplier’s working capital selling goods or/and services through an e-com operator until they file their TCS return and guarantee the excess taxes paid. This has prevented many SMEs vendor to sell goods or provide services online through e-com platforms.