Input Service Distributor (isd) In Gst: Understanding The Basics And Procedures

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Input Service Distributor (ISD) is a unique category of taxpayer under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, designed to facilitate the distribution of Input Tax Credit (ITC) to various units or branches of a business that operate under the same Permanent Account Number (PAN). An ISD effectively allocates the ITC accumulated at one GSTIN to different GSTINs within the same organization.

Why is an Input Service Distributor Needed?
Businesses with widespread operations and common expenses, such as large corporations with multiple branches, benefit significantly from the ISD mechanism. The ISD simplifies the process of claiming ITC for entities by ensuring that the credit is distributed appropriately among all units. This not only streamlines the credit-taking process but also supports the seamless flow of credit under GST.

Conditions for Registration as an ISD
To distribute ITC, a taxpayer must register as an ISD, separate from their normal GST taxpayer registration. This involves specifying the ISD status under serial number 14 of the REG-01 form. Once registered, the ISD can distribute credit through ...
... ISD invoices to the recipients.

The ISD must also comply with several conditions:

Registration: The taxpayer must compulsorily register as an ISD.
Invoicing: Distribution of tax credit is done through ISD invoices.
Returns: ISDs must file returns in Form GSTR-6 by the 13th of the succeeding month. The distribution cannot exceed the ITC available at the end of the month. Recipients can view the distributed credit in GSTR-6A, which is auto-populated from the supplier's return and can be claimed by declaring it in GSTR-3B.
Notably, ISDs are not required to file annual returns in Form GSTR-9. Additionally, the credit for tax payments made under the reverse charge mechanism cannot be distributed and must be utilized by the ISD as a normal taxpayer.

When is ISD Not Applicable?
ISD is not applicable in cases where ITC is paid on inputs and capital goods. Additionally, ITC cannot be distributed to outsourced manufacturers or service providers.

Example of ISD in Action
To understand how ITC distribution works, consider ABC Private Limited, which has its corporate office in Bangalore and principal branches in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. All branches use software licenses and maintenance services billed to the Bangalore office. Since the service benefits all locations, the ITC cannot be claimed solely by Bangalore. Instead, the Bangalore office, acting as an ISD, distributes the ITC proportionally among all branches.

Suppose the corporate office receives an invoice of Rs. 4 lakhs each for Central GST and State GST, and Rs. 7 lakhs for Integrated GST. The Bangalore office can distribute this Rs. 15 lakhs of CGST, SGST, and IGST as IGST credit among the branches in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai through an ISD invoice.

Ratio of ITC Distribution
The distribution ratio of ITC is based on the unit to which the supply is directly attributable. If input services are attributable to multiple recipients, the distribution is done on a pro-rata basis according to the turnover in the respective State/Union Territory.

For example, Ram Sons Co., with its head office in Delhi, operates as an ISD and has units in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. Here’s how they distribute ITC for May 2024:

CGST for Himachal Pradesh: Rs. 300,000
IGST, CGST & SGST for all units: Rs. 1,200,000
Total Turnover:

Himachal Pradesh: Rs. 5,00,00,000 (50%)
Punjab: Rs. 3,00,00,000 (30%)
Haryana: Rs. 2,00,00,000 (20%)
Credit distribution (pro-rata):

Himachal Pradesh: 50% of Rs. 1,200,000 = Rs. 600,000
Punjab: 30% of Rs. 1,200,000 = Rs. 360,000
Haryana: 20% of Rs. 1,200,000 = Rs. 240,000
Conclusion
The ISD mechanism is a valuable facility for businesses with significant common expenditures and centralized billing/payment systems. It simplifies the ITC claim process, ensuring a seamless credit flow under GST, thus benefiting large-scale businesses by streamlining their tax processes and improving compliance efficiency.