GOVERNMENT OF TRIPURA FINANCE DEPARTMENT

 

NO.F.1-1(43)-TAX/2005

Dated, Agartala the 26th March,2005

 

NOTIFICATION

 

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 87 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Ordinance, 2005( Tripura Ordinance No.1 of 2005),  the Governor is pleased to make the following Rules namely:

            1.         Short title and commencement :

(1)        These Rules may be called the Tripura Value Added Tax Rules, 2005.

(2)        They shall come into force with effect from the 1st day of April, 2005.

2.            Definitions :-

In these Rules, unless there is anything repugnant in   the subject or context: -

(i)        “Act” means the Tripura Value Added Tax Ordinance, 2005.

(ii)      “Agent” means a person authorized, in writing by a dealer to appear or act on his behalf before the Inspector, Superintendent, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Addl. Commissioner, Commissioner or the Tripura Value Added Tax Tribunal as the case may be.

(a)     a relative of the dealer, or

(b)     a person regularly appointed by the dealer, or

(c)     any person entitled to plead in any Court of Law under the Advocates Act, 1961.

(d)    a person who has been enrolled as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, or a Cost Accountant within the meaning of the Cost and Works Accountant Act, 1959.

(iii)     “Additional Commissioner” means an Additional Commissioner of Taxes referred to in Rule 8 and any person appointed as such by the State   Government under section 18.

(iv)       “Joint Commissioner” means a Joint Commissioner of Taxes referred to in Rule 8 and any person appointed as such by the State Government under section18.

(v)     “Deputy Commissioner” means a Deputy Commissioner of Taxes referred to in rule 8 and any person appointed as such by the State Govt. under section 18.

(vi)        “Assistant Commissioner” means an Assistant Commissioner of Taxes referred to under Rule 8 or any person appointed as such by the State Government under Section 18.

(vii)      “Superintendent of Taxes” means (in respect of dealer a Superintendent of Taxes referred to in Rule 8 or) any person appointed as such by the State Government under section 18 and within whose jurisdiction the dealer’s place of business is situated or if the dealer has more than one such place, the Superintendent within whose jurisdiction the general branch or Head office in Tripura of such business is situated, or if the dealer has no place of business within the State of Tripura, the Superintendent who has been so notified by the Commissioner under Rule.8.

(viii)     “Inspector” means the Inspector of Taxes referred to in Rule 8 or any person appointed as such by the State Government under section 18.

(ix)       “Officer” means an officer mentioned in Rule 8.

(x)       “Form” means a form prescribed in the schedule appended to the rules or a translation thereof in any language  recognized by the         Constitution of India published under the authority of the Governor.

(xi)      “Government Treasury”  means in respect of a dealer, the treasury or Sub-treasury or head office, main office, branch or branches of any bank in Tripura as may be authorized by the State Government of the area where the dealer has a place of business or, if he has more than one such place where his chief branch or Head office in Tripura is situated.

(xii)      “Place of business” means any place where a dealer sells any goods or keeps accounts of sales (and includes warehouse and factory).

(xiii)    “Return period” means the period for which the returns are to be furnished by a dealer.

(xiv)       “Rule” means a rule made under Tripura Value Added Tax Rules.

(xv)      “Section” means a section of the Act.

(xvi)       “Warehouse” means any enclosure, building or vessel in which the dealer keeps his stock of taxable goods for sale.    

                   Provided any expression used in these rules, which is not defined, but defined in the Act shall have the same meaning as in the Act.

3.(a)                 (i)     Every dealer shall be required to pay tax under Tripura Value Added Tax Act on the sale value of taxable goods at every stage of sale of those goods till the sale to consumer, at the rate specified in the schedule of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005 other than the dealers whose taxable turnovers during a period of 12 months immediately preceding the commencement of the Act do not exceed Rs.3.00 lacs.                

            Provided no deduction would be allowed for expenses in arriving at the sale price (base price) upon which Tripura Value Added Tax is calculated. However, to compute the tax base the price would be exclusive of Tripura Value Added Tax, provided expenditure in relation to sale such as freight, insurance etc. incurred by the selling dealer shall be included in arriving at the taxable sale price. On the other hand, where seller has merely incurred expenditure as an agent on behalf of his purchaser who subsequently re-imburse him, these re-imbursement are not deductable. The treatment of delivery charges will depend on the time at which titles to the goods passes. Delivery charge will be included in the taxable sale value wherein it is charged before passing the title of the goods to the purchaser.

(ii)      Every dealer other than the dealer under sub-section (2) and (3) of section 4 of the Act to whom sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Act does not apply shall be liable to pay tax under this Act in respect of sales or supplies of goods effected by him in Tripura w.e.f. the date on which his turnover in a year first exceeds the limit specified in Sub-section (1) of Section 3 but for the purpose of assessment of the tax for that year, his entire turnover shall be taken into consideration.

  (b)     Under this Act tax would be charged on all transactions of sales which include transfer of property in goods involved in execution of works contract and transfer of right to use any goods. However, in case of zero rated goods such as exports, the tax on inputs is refundable Provided that input tax credit shall be allowed by the concerned assessing authority only. In determining the turnover for transfer of goods involved in the execution of works contract, the amounts specified below shall be excluded.

  (c)      The amounts representing the purchase price of such goods involved in the execution of such works contract, as are exempt from tax under section 5 of the Act.

  (d)      The amounts representing the value of such goods, involved in the execution of such works contract as were supplied to the contractor by the contractee himself, provided the property in such goods remains under the terms of the contract throughout with the contractee and the contractor is bound to return the unused goods to the contractee. Provided no value of such goods is realised or realiseable in any way by the contractee from the contractor.

Explanation :-  For the purpose of this rule, ‘Contractual transfer price of goods’ means the amounts which have been received or receivable by a dealer for transfer of property in goods.

4.         Section 10 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act provides inputs tax credit. Taxes paid on inputs used for producing taxable goods or purchases are deductible from the tax payable on the taxable sales whether the inputs or purchases are used only partly for production or sale of taxable goods, credit would be given for a fraction of input tax equal to the proportion of the taxable sales to total sales. Provided credit for input tax may be enjoyed under the following circumstances:-

(1)     Purchasers and sellers shall be registered under the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005;

(2)     Tax credit should be provided for production input and goods for sale;

(3)     In case of production, tax credit may be allowed for not only raw materials and components, but also for plant, machinery and equipments, provided purchases of such plant, machinery and equipment could be made eligible for input tax credit if these are acquired for use exclusively for taxable production, manufacturing or processing activities. Provided further that no input tax credit will be allowed for office equipment and building materials for use in residential or commercial construction. Though materials for factory construction may be eligible for tax credit. Tax credit will be denied for transportation of equipments and supplies (as transportation services are exempt from the tax).

(4)     Manufacturers and producers (including mining companies) are eligible to claim tax credit for the tax paid on virtually all of the materials used in their production or manufacturing processes. This would include raw materials, component, parts, packaging materials, consumables, chemicals, additives, lubricants and explosives but would not include motor fuels (petroleum and diesels but not furnace fuel) and coal and coke.

(5)        Goods brought from outside the State shall not be entitled to get input tax credit in respect of tax paid in             the other State.

(6)     Subject to sub-section (4) of Section 10 an input tax credit allowed  under this section can not be claimed  by a dealer in a tax period unless the dealer has an original  tax invoice  for the taxable supply.

(7)     Where a dealer does not have an original tax invoice evidencing the input tax paid, the Commissioner may allow an input tax credit in the tax period in which the credit arises, where the Commissioner is satisfied: -

(a)    that the dealer took  all reasonable steps    to obtain a tax invoice : and

(b)    that the failure  to obtain a tax invoice  was not due to any fault of  the dealer ; and

(c)    that the amount of input tax claimed by the taxable person is correct.

Provided that the dealer shall give affidavit showing the reason of failure to obtain the tax invoice and disclose the details particulars of seller. If the Commissioner is satisfied that non-issuance of tax invoice is intentional and deliberate, the Commissioner may take penal action against the selling dealer as per provision.

(8)        No person shall be entitled for input tax credit on capital goods if such person is the second or subsequent purchaser of capital goods.

(9)        No person shall be entitled to input tax credit on the stock of goods remaining unsold at the time of discontinuance or closure of his business.

5.         Registered dealers are eligible to claim input tax credit only to the extent the tax was actually paid on the purchase and the payment must be evidenced by a valid tax invoice from the supplier/seller.  

When total tax paid on input purchased in any period exceeds the total tax collected on sales, the excess credit is to be carried forward to future periods. But excess credit related to exporters shall be refunded under tax invoice system.

6.      Input Tax credit :-

(1)        For the purposes of calculating the net tax payable by a registered person for a tax period, an input tax credit as determined under sub-section (5) of section 10 shall be allowed to the registered person for the tax payable in respect of sale of all taxable commodities other than the commodities mentioned in Schedule II(d) of the Act or any other goods which the State Government may notify from time to time.

(2)        For the purpose of calculating the net tax payable by a registered person for his first tax period after becoming registered, an input tax credit as determined under sub-section (5) of section 10 shall be allowed to the registered person for the tax payable in respect of :-

(a)     all taxable sale of goods (excluding capital goods) made to the person prior to the person becoming registered, or

(b)     purchase of goods made by the person prior to becoming registered.

           Provided that the purchase was for use in the business of the dealer, and the sale or purchase occurred not more than three months prior to becoming liable to pay tax and the goods are in stock at the date of registration.

(c)     The particulars of goods in stock purchased not more than three months before the dealer is liable to pay tax shall be in Form XXXII.

(3)        The tax invoice against which tax credit is claimed or the certificate granted by the Commissioner for exemption thereof, as the case may be, shall be furnished by a dealer before the concerned Assessing Authority at the time of hearing for assessment under section 29 or section 30 or section 31 and or auditing authority at the time of auditing under section 28 by such authority, as the case may be.

(4)     Inadmissibility of invoices for input tax credit in certain cases:-  Any claim by a dealer for input tax credit shall not be admissible if he accepts from any dealer or person invoice or invoices -

(a)     which has not been duly obtained from a registered dealer against a bonafide transaction;

(b)     which has not been issued in accordance with the prescribed format in original giving full particulars therein ;

(c)     which has been issued by a dealer whose certificate of registration has been cancelled under sub-section (7) of section 19 or suspended under sub-section (8) of section 19 of the Act and the invoice / invoices have been issued during the period under such suspension or after cancellation.

(d)     which does not show the amount of tax charged separately.

(5)     Exemption from furnishing invoices reported loss of invoices due to thefts, or destruction by fire or by natural calamity ;

(i)      Where on account of loss of any invoice due to theft or destruction by fire or by natural calamity, a dealer is not in a position to substantiate his claim in terms of clause (vi) of sub-section (6) of section 10, and where he claims an order of the Commissioner to exempt him from furnishing such invoices, such dealer may, ordinarily within three months from the date of theft, fire, natural calamity as the case may be, make an application in writing to the Commissioner requesting him to pass an order in this matter.

(ii)      In his application to the Commissioner under clause (i) of this sub-rule the dealer shall furnish, interalia, the following particulars :-

(a)     the year comprising period or periods to which the claim relates ;

(b)     the nature of claim covered by the invoices specifying the relevant provision of the Act ;

(c)     name of the selling dealer and his registration certificate under the Act ;

(d)     amount of the claim for each period under each provision of the Act for which invoices are claimed to have been lost ;

(e)     particulars of first information report, if any, lodge with local Police Station or any report of Fire Service Station or any other authority ;

(f)      extent of damage caused by fire or natural calamity or theft on the basis of certificate from the Authorities concerned ;

(g)     any other evidence that the dealer wishes to adduce.

(iii)     The Commissioner may, on the application made by a dealer under clause (1) of sub-rule (5) of Rule 6 may cause such enquiries as he considers necessary or call for any evidence from the dealer or any other person or authorities which may be deemed necessary for disposal of such application.

(iv)     Where the Commissioner is satisfied that the dealer is not in a position to furnish all or any of the tax invoices on account of loss of such evidences due to fire or any natural calamity or theft beyond the control of such dealer the Commissioner may, by an order in writing exempts such dealer from furnishing such tax invoice subject to conditions, if any, as he may specify in the said order.

Provided that the Commissioner may refuse to exempt any dealer from furnishing invoices where the dealer is found to have not furnished return relating to relevant period of claims under sub-section (1) of section 24.

(6)        (i)      Tax Invoice as referred to in section 50 shall be in Form XXIX.

(ii)      Credit note referred to in section 17(1) shall be in Form XXX.

(iii)     Debit note referred to in section 17(2) shall be in Form XXXI.

(7)       Every dealer claiming input tax credit under sub-section (5) of section 10 shall submit along with return a statement of purchase in Form XXXVII and a statement of sales in Form XXXVIII.

(8)     (1)     A registered dealer eligible to pay a lump sum in lieu of tax by way of composition may opt for such composition and give his option in form XXXIX to the appropriate Superintendent of Taxes within the period specified in section 15.

(2)     The lump sum payable by a registered dealer will be fixed at such percentage of his entire taxable turnover of goods as the Government may by order notify for every quarter of the year for which the option has been given. Such lumpsum shall be paid by chalan in form XVIII within fifteen days, of the expiry of the quarter. A copy of chalan in proof of such payment shall be sent to the appropriate Superintendent of Taxes within seven days of such payment.

7.      (1)           Every person responsible for making payment to any person (here-in-after in this rule referred to as the contractor) for discharge of any liability on account of valuable consideration payable for the transfer of property in goods (whether in goods or in any other form) in pursuance of the works contract shall at the time of making such payment to the contractor either in cash or in any manner, deduct 4% of the gross amount of the bill towards tax payable in respect of all types of works under section 4(3) of the Act on account of such works contract :

(2)        Every person responsible for making payment to any person for discharge of any liability on account of valuable consideration payable for any transfer of the right to use any goods other than the goods in exempted list of the Act for any purpose (whether or not for a specified period) for cash or in any manner, shall at the time of making such payment deduct an amount equal to four percentum of the payment on account of such transfer of right: Provided no such deduction shall be made from the bill(s) or invoice(s) of the transferer where the amounts received as penalty for defaults in payment or as damages for any loss or damage caused to the goods by the person to whom such transfer was made, and

(3)        The amount deducted under Sub-rules(1) and (2) shall be deposited into the Government Treasury by challan in Form XVIII by the person making such deduction within 7th day of the month following that in which the deduction is made.

(4)     The person making such deduction under sub-rule(1) and (2) shall, at the time of payment or discharge, furnish to the person from whose bill(s) and invoice(s) such deduction is made, a certificate in Form XI specifying the amount deducted and the rate(s) at which it has been deducted.

(5)        A copy of the challan showing the deposit of the amount referred to in sub-rule(3) shall be made over by the person making the deduction to the person from whom the deduction is made within 7(seven) days of such deposit.

(6)        The person making such deduction shall furnish to the Superintendent of Taxes, having jurisdiction over the area, a report of such deduction within 15(fifteen) days from the date of deposit of such amount in Form XI.

(7)        The person from whose bill(s) or invoice(s) the deduction was made shall furnish the returns along with the challan to the Superintendent of Taxes having jurisdiction over the area, in accordance with the provisions of the Rules.

(8)        All such deductions and deposits into the Government Treasury shall be deemed to be provisional payment of tax which shall be adjusted at the time of assessment under section 29 or 30 or 31 of the Act as the case may be.

(9)        Any deduction made in accordance with the provisions of this rule and credited into the Government Treasury shall be treated as a payment of tax on behalf of the person from whose bill(s) or invoice(s) the deduction has been made and credit shall be given to him for the amount so deducted as per deposit challan submitted to the Superintendent of Taxes along with the returns in the assessment made for the assessment year.

(10)      If any person as is referred to in sub-rule (1) and (2) of this Rule fails to make deduction or after deducting, fails to deposit the amount so deducted as required by sub-rule (3) the Superintendent of Taxes may after giving such person opportunity of being heard, by order in writing, direct that such person shall pay, by way of penalty a sum not exceeding one and a half times the amount not so deducted and / or deposited into the Government Treasury.

(11)      Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-rule(10), if any such person fails to make the deduction or, after deducting fails to deposit the amount so deducted, he shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rates contained in section 44 of the Act, on the amount so deducted, and / or deposited from the date on which such amount was deductible to the date on which the amount is actually deposited.

(12)      Where the amount has not been deposited after deduction, such amount together with interest and penalty, if any, shall be recoverable from the person in default as an arrear of land revenue as per provision of sub-section (6) of section 37 of the Act.

8.         (1)   There shall be the following authorities to assist the Commissioner :-

(i)                Additional Commissioner of Taxes.

(ii)              Joint Commissioner of Taxes.

(iii)            Deputy Commissioner of Taxes.

(iv)            Assisstant Commissioner of Taxes.

(v)              Superintendent of Taxes.

(vi)            Inspector of Taxes.

(vii)          Any other person appointed as such by the State Government.

(2)        Subject to the provisions of the Act and the Rules made there under, the Commissioner, may, by notification in the official Gazettee, delegate the powers to be exercised by above classes of officers and shall specify the area of the person in respect of which powers are to be exercised by each of the above class of officers.

Provided that the power of revision conferred upon the Commissioner under Section 70 of the Act shall not be delegated.

9.      TRIBUNAL :

(1)       A member of the Tribunal shall be :-

(a)     A person who has for a period of 10 years held a Civil Judicial Post or a serving member of the Tripura Judicial Service (not below Grade –I) who has served as an Addll. District Judge or a District Judge for at least one year.

(b)     An officer of the Finance Department not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of Tripura.

(c)     A person who has for at least 7 years been practicing as a Chartered Accountant under the Chartered Accountant Act, 1949, or as a Registered Accountant under any Law formerly in force or who is or has been a member of the Indian Audit & Accounts service or Audit and Accounts Service of any State.

(d)     A person who is or has been a member of the Indian Administrative Service and has held a post, not below the rank of Secretary under the Government of Tripura or any other State Government.

(2)     The members of the Tribunal shall ordinarily hold office for a period of three years from the date of their appointment, and the terms and conditions of their service shall be such as may be determined by the State Government from time to time.

Provided that the State Government may from time to time renew the period of appointment of any of the members for such period as it may think fit.

10.       REGISTRATION OF DEALER :

An application for registration under section 19 shall be in Form I and it shall be addressed to the Superintendent of Taxes.

(1)     An application for registration shall be signed and verified in the case of :-

(i)      individual, by the proprietor of the business.

(ii)              an association of persons, by an adult member of the association.

(iii)            a firm, by the managing partner or an adult member of the firm.

(iv)            a Hindu undivided or joint family, by the Manager or Karta or any adult member of the family.

(v)           a company, by the Managing Director or the Secretary or Manager or the Principal or Chief Executive Officer of the Company in India.

(vi)            any Government Department, by the head of the Office.

(2)        The person making an application for registration shall specify the capacity in which the application is made, signed and verified.

            Provided that for the purpose of making an application, a Warehouse where no accounts of sales are kept shall not be deemed to be a place of business.

 11.      In the application form referred to in Rule 10, a dealer shall state interalia -

(i)      the nature of the business in broad but sufficiently clear terms and mention whether he manufactures, processes, imports, wholesells, distributes or retails taxable goods or if he carries out more than one of these functions, he shall state precisely the combination of the functions carried out;

(ii)        the nature of the business namely whether it relates to importing from outside Tripura but within India or importing from outside of India, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail sale, supply of food or drink, transfer of property in taxable goods in execution of works contract, transfer of right to use any taxable goods.

(iii)       the class or classes of taxable goods that a dealer purchases or intends to purchase for resale by him in Tripura;

(iv)       the class or classes of goods, that a dealer purchases or intends to purchase for use by him directly in the manufacture of taxable goods, including containers or packing materials, in Tripura for sale by him in Tripura.

(v)        status of occupancy of the applicant in relation to the place of business namely, whether the place of business is owned, rented, leased or provided free of rent by the owner or lessee ;

(vi)       the application in Form I shall be accompanied by a declaration affixing one copy of passport size photograph of the proprietor or partner or the Karta of a Hindu Undivided family as the case may be duly attested by the witness attesting the signature of the proprietor or the partner or the Karta in the space provided in Form I, and the said declaration shall be duly signed by the person who has signed the application in Form I.

(vii)      the application in Form I shall be accompanied by a declaration affixing one copy of passport size photograph, of managing director, director or principal of a company, or in case of Govt. of Head of Department or, in the case of any other association of persons, of the President, Secretary, or the Principal Officer of such association, and the said declaration shall be duly signed by the person who has signed the application in Form I.

(viii)      whether he imports any taxable goods from outside the state but within the territory of India or from outside the territory or from both sources;

(ix)       whether he purchases any taxable goods from places within Tripura.

(x)        the language in which he keeps his accounts;

(xi)       where the applicant is not a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, or under any other law, the name and addresses of the proprietor of the business or the names and addresses of the partners of the firm or the names and addresses of the persons having any interest in the business (as in the case of a Hindu Undivided family business), together with age, father’s name and permanent home address of each such proprietor, partner or other persons;

(xii)      particulars of every business, if any, in Tripura or elsewhere in India outside Tripura in which the proprietor, the partners or other persons, as the case may be, as mentioned in clause(v), has or have any interest.

(xiii)      particulars of any registration certificate issued by the Registrar of Companies, Shillong or by any other registering authority in India in respect of such business;

(xiv)     taxable turnover of sales, taxable turnover of purchases of goods or contractual transfer price of goods involved in execution of works contract,  for the preceding year, if any and for the current year up to a date not earlier than thirty days from the date of such application ;

(xv)      particulars of the certificate issued by the municipality or other authority if any, in respect of business and the date of issue and last renewal thereof.

(xvi)     particulars of Income Tax Permanent Account Number (PAN) or the evidence that it has been applied for. 

12.       CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION:

(1)        The registration certificate shall be issued in Form II and shall specify the following, amongst other particulars, namely :-

(a)     the location of the business and / or any branch of the business; and

(b)     the nature of the business.

(c)     the class or classes of taxable goods that a dealer purchases or intends to purchase for resale by him in Tripura.

(d)     the class or classes of goods, that a dealer purchases or intends to purchase for use by him directly in the manufacture of taxable goods, including containers or other packing materials in Tripura for sale by him in Tripura.

(e)     the date w.e.f. which the certificate of registration is granted.

(2)          (i)    Each certificate shall bear a number and distinctive registration mark. The distinctive registration mark to be entered on a certificate shall be such as may be assigned by the Commissioner for each local area.

(ii)   a certificate shall be issued for each place of business and it shall be kept at the place of business to which it relates.

(3)        The Superintendent of Taxes shall keep Form –I affixing photograph referred to sub-rule (vi) & (vii) of Rule 11, with the copy of certificate of registration for official record.

(4)        The security or additional security to be furnished by the registered dealer under section 20 or by registered Transporter under section 22 shall be determined by the Commissioner on the basis of nature of business, capital investment & taxable turnover etc. and shall be furnished either -

(i)         by challan in Form XVIII in favour of the concerned Superintendent of Taxes or

(ii)         by depositing the amount fixed by the Commissioner as security in a Nationalised Bank or

(iii)        by furnishing with the said officer a guarantee from a Nationalised Bank agreeing to pay the State Government on demand the amount of security fixed by the Commissioner or

(iv)       by furnishing National savings Certificate or Kishan Vikash Patra.

The Security furnished may, in the event of default of payment of any tax, penalty or other dues, be adjusted towards such tax, penalty or other dues.

(5)        Any registered dealer may obtain on payment of the fee referred to in rule 59, a duplicate copy of any certificate which has been issued to him and which may have been lost, destroyed or defaced.

(6)        When a registered dealer applies for cancellation or amendment of his certificate of registration, he shall submit the original certificate along with his application to the Superintendent of Taxes.

(7)        When a registered dealer furnishes any information as required by section 19, he shall send, along with his application, the certificate of registration to the Superintendent for amendment, cancellation or replacement as the case may be.

(8)        Register of Certificate of Registration issued to the dealer shall be maintained by the Superintendent of Taxes in Form-III.

13.       (1)        Every registered dealer shall keep and display the registration certificate at the place of business and the place of branch business to which it is issued.

(2)        If any registered dealer fails to comply with the provision of sub-rule (1), he shall be punishable with a penalty not exceeding rupees one hundred for each day of defaults.

            14.       Treatment and replacement of registration certificate issued earlier under the Tripura Sales Tax Act, 1976 -

(1)        For the purpose of issue of a fresh certificate of registration, the concerned Superintendent of Taxes shall, on receipt of application for registration in Form –I from a person deemed to be registered under section 19 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, issue a fresh certificate, in replacement of such certificate of registration under the Tripura Sales Tax Act, 1976. Subject to issue of such certificate of registration, such person continues to be liable under the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005. Such certificate shall be issued ordinarily within thirty days from the date of receipt of such application except in a case covered by sub-rule (2).

(2)        If any registered dealer under the Tripura Sales Tax Act deemed to be registered under sub-rule (1) has undergone any change, such dealer shall furnish the particulars in the application in Form –I to the Superintendent of Taxes together with all the certificates of registration in replacement of which a fresh certificate of registration is required to be issued.

(3)        If the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that the contents of application made under sub-rule (2) are correct, he shall issue a certificate of registration to such dealer ordinarily within thirty days from the date of receipt of such application.

(4)     Cancellation of registration, suspension of registration:-

(a)         When the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that the taxable turnover of sales of any dealer registered under section 19, for three consecutive years, fails to exceed the taxable limit, he shall cancel the registration of the dealer under sub-section (11) of Section 19.

Provided that where the Superintendent of Taxes does not cancel the certificate of registration on the application of a dealer on or before the last date of the period two years immediately following the three consecutive years during which his taxable turnover of sales failed to exceed the taxable limit, such certificate shall stand cancelled with effect from the first day of the year immediately following the period of two years referred to above.

(b)     If the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that the dealer is not liable to pay tax under section 3 he shall, on application made by such dealer under sub-rule (1), cancel the registration with effect from the first day of the year following the year referred to in that sub-rule.

Provided that where the Superintendent of Taxes does not cancel the certificate of registration on or before the last day of the year during which the application for cancellation of the certificate is made, such certificate shall stand cancelled with effect from the first day of the following year.

(c)      (i)  Where a dealer has failed to pay tax, penalty or interest under the Act or has failed to furnish return referred to in sub-section (1) of section 24, the concerned Superintendent of Taxes shall be competent to suspend certificate of registration of such dealer under sub-section (8) of section 19. 

(ii)   The Superintendent of Taxes before suspending a dealer’s certificate of registration shall issue a notice on any date after the expiry of due date of payment of tax, penalty or interest or furnishing of return, referred to in sub-clause (1) giving such dealer an opportunity of being heard.

(iii)     If the concerned Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that the default in making payment or furnishing return was made by the dealer without any reasonable cause, such authority shall suspend the certificate of registration of such dealer with immediate effect. 

(d)        Where the certificate of registration of a dealer is suspended under sub-section (8) of section 19 for failure to pay tax, penalty or interest under the Act, the concerned Superintendent of Taxes shall, on an application made by the dealer along with the evidence of payment of such tax, penalty or interest, or furnishing of such return or returns as the case may be, restore such certificate of registration in accordance with the provision of sub-section (9) of that section.

(e)        (i)  Where a dealer has failed to pay tax, penalty or interest under the Act, or has failed to furnish return, the concerned Superintendent of Taxes shall be competent to cancel registration of such dealer under sub-section (6) of section 19.

(ii)      Where the certificate of registration of a dealer is suspended under sub-section (8) of section 19 for failure to pay tax, penalty or interest under the Act, and continues to be so suspended even after ninety days from the date of such suspension, the concerned Superintendent of Taxes may cancel such certificate of registration after giving the dealer an opportunity of being heard.`

15.       Display of sign board :-

(i)         Every dealer registered under this Act shall display a sign board at a conspicuous place at his place of business showing his trade name and address of place of business including premises number, floor, room No., etc., if any ;

(ii)       The sign board shall also show the number of certificate of registration granted under the Act ;

            16.    Information in respect of changes requiring amendment of certificates of registration :-

(1)        When any registered dealer furnishes any information in accordance with sub-section (5) of section 19 of the Act to the Superintendent of Taxes within fourteen days of the occurrence of the event along with the certificate of registration for amendment or cancellation thereof as the case may be and the concerned Superintendent of Taxes shall amend the certificate accordingly after making such inquiry as he deems fit.

(2)        Every registered dealer, shall inform the following information to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes in respect of any change of his business:-

(a)     Information regarding appointment of a new manager or opening a new warehouse of the business. 

(b)     Intention of purchasing any class or classes of goods which are not covered by the existing certificate of registration.

(c)     Information in respect of intention to sale or dispose any business by the selling dealer shall be intimated to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes with following particulars :-

(i)      Name and address of purchaser;

(ii)      Date of sale or disposal;

(iii)     No. of certificate of registration of the purchaser;

(iv)     Whether purchaser has made application to the Superintendent of Taxes for amendment of the certificate of registration;

(v)        An amount of tax, penalty and interest remaining unpaid by the dealer selling the business as on the date of sale or disposal of such business;

(d)     Information to be furnished with respect to discontinuation of his business :-

(i)         where a dealer registered under the Act discontinue his business, he shall make an application within fourteen days of such discontinuation together with certificate of registration for the cancellation thereof to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes.

(ii)      If the concerned Superintendent of Taxes, after making such enquiry, as he deems fit, is satisfied that the business has been discontinued, he shall, by an order in writing cancel the certificate of registration.

(e)        Information in respect to change of name and nature of business and constitution of board of directors of company. If a registered dealer intends to change the name and nature of the business, he shall apply to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes with certificate of registration and adduce such evidence as may be necessary. The Superintendent of Taxes after making enquiry as he deems fit, is satisfied that the contents of the application are in order, he shall, by an order in writing, amend the certificate of registration of the dealer.

            Where a dealer being a Company, effects any change in the Constitution of the Board of Directors, such dealer shall, within fourteen days from the date of the resolution adopted in the meeting of the company, inform the concerned Superintendent of Taxes of the names of the directors in the reconstituted board of directors and furnish declaration affixing one copy of pass port size photograph of such Director or Principal Officer.

(f)        Information in respect to death of any dealer by his legal representative -

            In the event of death of a dealer, being a proprietor or partner of a firm, his legal representative shall, within fourteen days from the date of such death, inform in writing the concerned Superintendent of Taxes of the date of such death and produce before such authority, evidence as may be considered necessary.

(g)        Declaration in respect of manager or other officers of a registered dealer -

            Every dealer registered under the Act shall within fourteen days from the date of registration, furnish to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes a declaration in respect of the manager, officers or authorised person in Form XL and shall send a revised declaration within 14 days from the date of change of such manager or officers.(3)     Submission of statements, accounts and declaration under sub-section (1) of section 59 :-

(1)        Every registered dealer shall, within sixty days from the closing of the accounting year, submit before the concerned Superintendent of Taxes a yearly statement showing the details of closing stock at the end of such accounting year in the manner given below :-

(a)     A registered dealer who is a manufacturer shall furnish closing stock, statement showing the following information :-

(i)      quantity and value of finished goods,

(ii)      quantity and value of semi-finished goods,

(iii)     quantity and value of raw materials,

(iv)     quantity and value of packing materials.   

(b)     A registered dealer other than a manufacturer shall submit the closing stock showing the following particulars :-

(v)     quantity and value of goods,

(vi)     quantity and value of packing materials.

(4)        Every registered dealer shall, within sixty days from the closing of the accounting year, submit before the Superintendent of Taxes an annual statement showing the name and registration certificate No., if any, of sellers from whom goods were purchased during such year and total amount of purchases made and tax paid or payable against such purchases during such year.

(5)        Every registered dealer who is entitled to claim refund under section 43 shall, within twenty one days from the end of each return period, submit a statement showing details of refund claimed in respect of each export sale effected during such period.

(6)        Every registered dealer, who transfers goods to a branch office, head office, agent or any other person, outside Tripura otherwise than by way of sale shall, within thirty days from the end of each returned period submit a statement showing the quantity and value of goods so transferred during such period and if such goods are transferred at the cost price then corresponding sale price in local market of such dealer shall also be declared.

(7)        Every registered dealer shall, along with periodical return submit a detailed statement of purchase in Form XXXVII & sales in Form No. XXXVIII. 

17.       REGISTRATION OF TRANSPORTERS 

CARRIERS OR TRANSPORTING AGENT :-

(1)       Every transporter, carrier or transporting agent operating transport business in Tripura relating to taxable goods shall, apply to the Superintendent of Taxes for registration under section 22 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005. The application for registration shall be in form IV.

(2)        An application for registration shall be signed and verified in the case of :-

(a)             individual, by the Proprietor of the business;

(b)             a firm, by the Managing Partner or an adult member of the firm;

(c)             an association of persons, an adult member of the association;

(d)             a Hindu undivided or joint family, by the Manager, Karta or any adult member of the family;

(e)             a company, by the managing Director or Director of the Company in India;

(f)               any Government Department, by the Head of the office.

(g)             any Government undertaking, Head of Office of such undertaking;

(3)        Application for registration of transporter, carrier, transporting agent under sub-rule (1) of this Rule shall state interalia :-

(i)      Name of the applicant :

(ii)      Status of the applicant (Proprietor, Partner, Director etc ) :

(iii)      Name of the transporter, carrier or transporting agent :

(iv)      Address of head office with telephone/E-Mail/Fax No., if any :

(v)       Name and address of proprietor, partner, Director etc.

(vi)      Address of all branch offices:

(vii)     Address of all godowns :

(viii)    Particulars of trucks /lorries in the name of the transport company itself and in the name of its             partners.

(ix)       Particulars of immovable properties including landed property of proprietor/ partners :

(x)        Bank accounts of transporter, proprietor & partners and nature of account.

(4)        Registration Certificate shall be in Form V.

(5)        Register of certificates of registration issued to transporters shall be maintained by the Superintendent of Taxes in Form-VI.

(6)        If a Transporter ,carrier or a transporting agent carries or    transports any taxable goods in contravention  of the provisions of the Act or the Rules, his registration shall be liable to be cancelled or suspended for such period as may be determined by the Commissioner of Taxes after giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(7)        Every transporter ,carrier or transporting agent operating its  transport business in Tripura shall maintain in a Register in Form-VII a true and correct account of every consignment of goods transported  into Tripura and in Form-VIII of goods transported outside Tripura through it. Every transporter shall furnish quarterly statement in Form-IX showing a true and correct account of undelivered taxable goods lying in its custody as on the last day of the related quarter (financial year to be followed ) which were transported into Tripura through it, till that day so as to reach the Superintendent of Taxes within thirty days from the expiry of each quarter.

            Provided that the Superintendent of Taxes may by order in writing direct any transporter to furnish the statement in Form-IX before expiry of any quarter within such date as may be specified in the order and may like wise at any time modify or annul such order.

(8)        No taxable goods shall be delivered by the transporter, carrier or transporting agent unless the requirements  laid down in Rule 48  and 51 have been complied with.

(9)        No delivery of taxable goods shall be given by the  transporter without obtaining a copy of permit in Form-XXIV signed by the Superintendent of Taxes/Inspector of Taxes.

(10)      All accounts, registers and other documents related to the transport business in transportation of taxable goods into Tripura and outside Tripura and delivery thereof in possession of a  transporter and its office or go-downs and vehicles shall, at all times, be open for inspection by the Commissioner or any other officer. If the inspection remains incomplete, the Commissioner or any other officer may lock and seal that premises including office, go-down etc. where accounts, records, documents and taxable  goods are kept.

(11)      If the Commissioner has reason to suspect that any transporter is carrying on transport business in contravention of the provisions of the Act and Rules he may conduct physical verification of stock of taxable goods available in its recorded office, go-downs, vehicles etc.

18.          RETURNS :

(I)        Every registered dealer shall furnish returns of turnover of taxable goods under section 24 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005 to the Superintendent of Taxes in Form –X.

(II)      the notice referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the Act shall be in Form -XII.

(III)      the return shall be furnished quarterly so as to reach the Superintendent of Taxes within one month from the expiry of each quarter.

Provided that the Commissioner or any other officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Taxes may by an order in writing, direct any dealer to submit returns for period less than a quarter or a month within such date as may be specified in the order and may likewise at any time modified or annul such order and the reason of directing any dealer to submit such returns should be recorded.

 (IV)     Every dealer who is registered under the Act or to whom :-

(a)        a notice has been served to furnish return under sub-section (2) of section 24 shall, maintain in a register a true and upto date account of sales and purchases of taxable goods made by him.

(b)        for the purpose of furnishing return and making payment of tax as required by section 24 and rules made thereunder, the accounts of sales & purchases maintained in the register, referred to in clause (a) shall be totalled by the dealer at the end of each month and shall be in agreement with the total amount of sales of goods and purchases of goods according to his accounts and the books of accounts that he maintains in terms of section 48 and rules made there under.

(c)        every dealer shall maintain  the copies of permits  documents, vouchers, bills, or cash memos, counter foils of all related CST Forms as may be required in support of any entry in his accounts, books of accounts or sales register and purchase register that he is required  to maintain  by or under section 48.

(d)        every dealer who is registered under the Act or to whom a notice has been served to furnish return under sub-section (2) of section 24 shall also maintain a VAT account register for the purpose of sub-section (7) of section 10 of this Act.

(V)       All returns required to be furnished shall be signed and verified as in the case of an application for registration under Rule 10.

(VI)      Every registered dealer, who transfers goods to a branch office, head office, agent or any other person, outside Tripura otherwise than by way of sale shall, within thirty days from the end of each return period submit a statement showing the quantity and value of goods so transferred during such period and if such goods are transferred at the cost price then corresponding sale price in local market of such dealer shall also be declared.

(VII)    Every registered dealer shall, along with periodical return submit a commodity wise statement of purchase & sale in Form No. XXXVII & XXXVIII.

19.    Deduction of sale price of goods returned or rejected for computing gross turnover of sales for subsequent return period :-

Wherein, any goods are returned by a customer to a registered dealer within three months from the date of purchase, during or following the period in which such goods were sold, such registered dealer may, while furnishing return  under Rule 18 deduct the sale price of goods in respect of which due tax was paid by the dealer during the earlier period from his gross turnover of sales of goods.

20.    Manner and time of payment of tax before furnishing returns :

Every dealer who is required to furnish return quarterly or monthly according to Rule 18, shall pay into the appropriate Government Treasury or authorized bank of the area where the dealer has a place of business, under the appropriate challan the amount of tax payable according to his accounts for each quarter or month within thirty days from the expiry of the each quarter or month.

21.       (1)     Where it appears necessary to the Superintendent of Taxes to make an assessment under section 31 in respect of a dealer for a year or part of a year, comprising period or periods, such Superintendent of Taxes shall serve a notice under sub-section (1) of section 31 upon a dealer directing him to appear before him in person or through his authorized agent on the date and at the time specified in such notice in compliance of the requirement of sub-rule (5) and sub-rule (6) for the purpose of assessment of tax in respect of the aforesaid period or periods and imposition of penalty under sub-section (3) of section 25.

(2)     The notice referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be in Form XXXV.

(3)     Assessment orders passed under the provisions of the Act shall be made in Form-XIII and Form-XIV.

(4)     In the notice referred to in sub-rule (3), the date of hearing shall be fixed ordinarily not before fifteen days from the issue of such notice.

(5)    The notice referred to in section 32(1) of the Act shall be in Form XXXVI.

(6)     Demand notice for the amount of tax and penalty due from dealers :

(a)        After an order of assessment is passed by the concerned Superintendent of Taxes under section 30 or 31 or 32 in respect of a dealer, such authority shall serve a notice in Form-XV on such dealer directing him to make payment of the amount of tax, penalty and interest, if any, due from such dealer by such date as may be specified in such notice.

(b)        The date to be specified for payment by a dealer in the notice referred to in clause (a) shall not ordinarily be less then thirty days after service of the notice :

Provided that where on account of delay in service of the notice in Form-XV the dealer is denied of the minimum time of thirty days for compliance with such notice, he may, on application be allowed such further time as falls short of thirty days from the service of such notice.

(c)        The notice referred to in clause (b) shall also specify the date by which a dealer shall produce a receipted copy of challan of Government Treasury or of authorized bank as a proof of payment of tax, penalty and interest, if any, made according to such notice.

(7)        Preservation of assessment records :-

(a)        All the papers relevant to the making of any assessment including determination of interest, imposition of penalty and refund of tax, interest or penalty in respect of any particular dealer, owner or lessee of warehouse or owner of goods, as the case may be, shall be kept together and shall form assessment case records.

(b)        Assessment case records referred to in clause (a) shall be preserved by the concerned Superintendent of Taxes till such periods as such case records may be required for final disposal of any appeal, review, revision or reference under the Act or for final disposal of any case pending before Tribunal, High Court or Supreme Court.

(8)     Period of preservation of accounts, books of accounts, registers by dealers :-

(a)        The accounts, books of accounts, registers, documents of the dealer including computerized or electronic accounts maintained on any computer or electronic media, counter foils of all statutory forms obtained and used by the dealer, documents, invoices, cash memos in respect of purchases, sales, delivery of goods by a dealer, or vouchers in respect of any year or part thereof shall be preserved by him :

(i)         for a period of not less then five years after the expiry of the year to which they relate, or

(ii)        till such period as these may be required for final disposal of any appeal, review, revision or reference under the Act or for final disposal of any case pending before any Court or Tribunal in respect of such year or part thereof, which ever is later.

22.    APPEAL

An appeal under section 69 shall lie to the Assistant Commissioner of Taxes (or any other Officer specially empowered in this behalf by the State Government) and an appeal against an order passed by the Assistant Commissioner (or any other Officer specially empowered in this behalf by the State Government) under section 69 or an order passed by the Commissioner under Sub-section (1) of Section 70 shall lie to the Tribunal and a dealer or other person may file appeal under sub-section (1) of Section 72  before the High Court against the order  passed by the Commissioner of Taxes under sub-section (2) of section 70 or against the order passed by the Tribunal under section 71. 

23.    (1)     A memorandum of appeal (in duplicate) may be presented to the Assistant Commissioner (or any other             Officer specially empowered in this behalf by the State Government) or to the  Tribunal by the appellant or by             an agent duly authorised by him or may be sent to the said authority by post.

The memorandum of appeal

(i       shall contain the following particulars :-

(a)             the date of the order appealed against ;

(b)             the name and designation of the officer who passed the order ;

(c)             the ground of appeal briefly but clearly set out ;

(d)             the amount of tax demanded to be due from the appellant ;

(e)             the date of the service of the order appealed against ;

(ii)        shall be accompanied by a copy attested to be a true copy by a Gazetted Officer or a certified copy or a Photo copy of the order appealed against ;

(iii)     shall be endorsed by appellant or by an agent authorised in writing in this behalf by the appellant as follows :-

(a)        that the tax as assessed and / or penalty levied has been paid or such portion of the tax, assessed and / or penalty levied as may be required in exercise of his power under provision of sub-section (1) of Section 69 of the Act by the Appellate Authority will be paid before the appeal is entertained.

(b)     that to the best of his knowledge and belief the facts set out in the memorandum are true.

(iv)       shall be signed, verified and endorsed by the appellant or by an agent authorised in writing in this behalf by the appellant and shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in rule 59.

(v)     shall be in Form -XVI.

(2)      If the appellant fails to comply with the requirements either of clauses (iii) or (iv) of sub-rule (1), the appeal shall be summarily rejected and it may be so rejected if he fails to comply with the requirements of clauses (i), (ii) or (v) of that sub-rule after giving the appellant such opportunity as the appellate authority thinks fit to amend the memorandum of appeal so as to bring it into conformity with such requirements.

(3)      If the appellate authority does not reject the appeal summarily, he shall fix the date of hearing for the appellant or his agent.

24.       REVISION:

(1)     A petition for revision under section 70(2) of the Act shall contain the following particulars :-

(a)        a statement of the facts of the case ;

(b)        a reference to the particular order in respect of which the revision is applied for ; 

(c)        the grounds on which the petition is filed ;

(d)        the date of the service of the order objected to ;

(e)        that the tax assessed and / or penalty levied has been paid or such portion of the tax assessed and / or penalty levied as the case may be required in exercise of his power under provision of sub-section (2) of Section 70 of the Act by the Revisional Authority will be paid before the appeal is entertained.

(2)        A petition for revision shall be presented, signed, verified and endorsed as in the case of an appeal and it shall be accompanied by a copy attested to be a true copy by a Gazetted Officer or a certified copy or a photo copy of the order appealed against and the fee prescribed in Rule 59.

25.    A petition for revision may be summarily rejected where any of the requirements of rule 24 is not complied with on presentation of the petition.

26.       (1)        When a petition for revision is not disposed of under Rule 25, a date and place shall be fixed for hearing.

(2)        The revisional authority may from time to time adjourn the hearing and make, or cause to be made such further enquiry as may be deemed necessary.

27.    NOTICE OF DEMAND : The notice of demand shall be in Form-XV.

            28.    MODE OF PAYMENT :

Dues referred to in the Act shall be paid directly into the Government Treasury by Challan. No payment of such dues shall be accepted at the Office of the Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner or Superintendent of Taxes.

            29.       The notice referred to in Sub-section (1) of Section 38 of the Act shall be in Form -XVII.

30.       (1)        If a dealer does not submit the return and pay the amount of tax due from him within the date specified in Rule 18 and the provision thereto, he   shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate specified in sub-section (1) of section 25.

(2)        If a dealer does not pay the amount of tax assessed to be due from him within the period specified in the notice of demand, he shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate specified in sub-section (4) of section 45.

(3)        If the last due date of payment happens to be a holiday in the Bank and the entire amount of due tax is deposited in the day next following the due date in the Bank, no interest shall be charged.

(4)        Where a dealer has paid a part of the tax due on any date after the expiry of the specified date, he shall be liable to pay interest at the specified rate on the whole of the amount of tax due according to his returns or assessed up to the date of part payment and thereafter on the balance tax payable.

31.       Challans for making payment shall be in Form -XVIII and shall be obtainable at the Office of the Superintendent of Taxes.

32.       Challans shall be filled in quadruplicate. Two copies duly signed as a proof of payment shall be returned to the dealer and the other two retained by the Treasury or sub-Treasury or authorized bank

33.       (1)        One of the copies retained by the Treasury or sub-treasury or bank shall be transmitted to the Superintendent on the following day of the payment.

(2)        Every Treasury and sub-treasury or Bank Officer shall send an advice list to the Superintendent of the area within the 7th day of every month showing the amounts received in the previous month. The advice list shall contain the challan number and date, the name of the dealer and the amount paid.

34.       (1)        Every Superintendent of Taxes shall record the receipt of challans in the Daily collection register indicating the number, date and amount of each challan. The Daily Collection Register shall be maintained in Form XIX.

(2)     Every Superintendent of Taxes shall maintain an Assessment, Demand and Collection register in Form -XX.

35.       REFUNDS :

(1)        An application for refund shall be made to the Superintendent of Taxes and shall include, amongst other, the following particulars:-

(a)             the name, address and registration No. of the dealer ;

(b)             the period of assessment for which refund is claimed;

(c)             the amount of dues already paid together with challan number and the date of payment and ;

(d)             the amount of refund claimed and the grounds thereof;

(2)        An application for refund shall be signed and verified by the person seeking refund and shall be in Form XXXIII.

(3)        Every registered dealer who is entitled to claim refund under Section 43 shall, within twenty one days from the end of each return period, submit a statement showing details of refund claimed in respect of each export sale effected during such period

(4)        No claim of any refund shall be allowed unless it is made within one year from the date of the original order of assessment or within one year of the final order passed on appeal or revision as the case may be, in respect of such assessment.

36.       (1)        For claiming refund under sub-section (1) section 43 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005, the registered dealer being an exporter of goods shall apply before the Superintendent of Taxes for refund within three months from the date of filing of return of the period related to the claim of refund and include, among other, the following particulars-

(a)             return  period ;

(b)             date of filing of return ;

(c)             tax paid for the return  period ;

(d)             output tax payable for the return  period ;

(e)             excess amount refundable for the return  period ;

            Provided that goods were sold by such registered dealer in course of export within the meaning of sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956.

(2)        Refund of tax charged on purchases made by manufacturing unit :-

(i)         a registered dealer having manufacturing unit effecting purchases of plant and machinery, containers, packing materials & raw materials required for direct use in the manufacture of taxable goods in Tripura, may claim refund of input tax paid or payable by such dealer on the purchases of aforesaid goods for such manufacturing unit in Tripura under section 13 of the Act within three months from the date of filing of return for the period related to the claim of refund, after adjusting the amount of output tax, if any, payable on the local sale.

Provided that the goods so manufactured by such registered dealer in his manufacturing unit are for sale by him in the course of export within the meaning of sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956.

(ii)        For the purpose of claiming refund, the provisions of this Rule 36, shall apply mutatis mutandis. On receipt of such application, the Superintendent of Taxes shall verify the particulars given in the application and will verify the purchases and sales made by the applicant dealer for correctness and admissibility of the claim of refund. The Commissioner or any officer authorized on this behalf shall make the refund of the amount of tax ordinarily within three months  from the date of filing of such application after making such enquiry about the correctness and admissibility of the claim, as he may deem fit.  The original copy of tax invoices shall be endorsed by the Commissioner or any officer authorised on this behalf in red ink to show that the tax has been refunded against such tax invoice or tax invoices and returned to the applicant and the photo copies shall be duly authenticated by the Commissioner or any officer authorised on this behalf and kept for record.

(3)        The security as mentioned in sub-section (1) of section 20 is payable by challan in Form – XVIII.

(4)        When the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that the refund claimed is due, wholly or in part, he shall, subject to the provision of sub-rule(2) of Rule 37 record an order sanctioning the refund.

37.       (1)        When an order for refund has been passed, a refund voucher in Form-XXI shall be issued in favour of the claimant, unless he desires payment by adjustment. An advice list shall, at the same time, be forwarded to the Treasury or Sub-treasury Officer concerned.

(2)        When the claimant desires to adjust the amount of refund due to him against any amount payable by him, the Superintendent of Taxes shall set off the amount to be refunded or any part of that amount against the tax, if any, remaining payable by the claimant.

38.       (1)        A register of refund shall be maintained in Form-XXII wherein particulars of all applications for refund and the orders passed thereon shall be    entered.

(2)        When the amount to be refunded exceeds one thousand rupees, the application together with records shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Taxes.

39.    PROSECUTION         A Register in Form-XXIII shall be maintained showing the prosecutions instituted and offences compounded under the Act.

40.       When an order is recorded under section 80 accepting any sum, by way of composition of the offence from any person / dealer / transporting agent/ transporter, the order shall specify the :-

(a)     time within which the money is to be paid into a Government Treasury;

(b)     date by which the proof of such payment is to be produced ; and

(c)     authority before whom such proof is to be produced.

 

41.       The sum referred to in Rule 40 shall be paid by the person / dealer/ transporter / transporting agent to a Government Treasury in the manner indicated in Rules 28  to 32 and a receipted copy of the challan shall be produced by him as a proof of payment.

42.       Every registered dealer shall :-

(1)        Keep and maintain a true and correct account in Bengali or English, or in such other language as the State Government may specify, as referred to in sub-section (1) of section 48 of the Act, showing :-

(i)         the quantity and value of goods produced, manufactured, or purchased and sold by him category wise, as given in the Schedule. In case of manufacture, such other related particulars relating to engagement of labour, procurement of raw materials as may be directed by the Commissioner;

(ii)        the name and address of the persons from whom goods were purchased, supported by a  tax invoice issued by the seller duly signed and dated;

(iii)       the name and address along with the Registration No. of the registered dealer from whom goods were purchased, supported by a tax invoice issued by registered dealer duly signed and dated for claiming tax credit;     

(2)        maintain ledger, cash book, bill book, tax invoice and other account books to be numbered serially for each year.

(3)        Issue bill or cash memo or tax invoice in respect of every sale as the case may be

(i)         every such bill, cash memo / tax invoice shall be duly signed and dated by the dealer or by his manager or agent. The counterfoil of such bill or cash memo or tax invoice shall also be signed and dated, as aforesaid. 

(ii)        the bill or the cash memo or tax invoice shall be serially numbered for each year. In each of the bill or cash memo issued, the dealer shall specify the full name and style of his business, the number of his registration certificate, the particulars of goods sold and the price thereof. In case of sale to a dealer the full name, address and the number of registration certificate of the purchaser should be mentioned.

(iii)       Tax invoice shall be in triplicate, page one shall be marked – ‘ORIGINAL – BUYER’ page two shall be marked – “1ST COPY – TAX CONTROL” and page three shall be marked – “2ND COPY – SELLER” in FORM – XXIX.

(iv)       the first copy of every such bill, cash memo or tax invoice is to be marked ‘ORIGINAL’ and other copies as ‘DUPLICATE’, ‘TRIPLICATE and ‘QUADRUPLICATE’ etc. as may be required by the selling dealer. The copy of bill or cash memo marked ‘ORIGINAL’, including computer generated bill or cash memo must be signed by dealer or his authorized person.

43.       REQUIREMENT OF KEEPING CASH MEMO OR BILL, TAX INVOICE DURING TRANSPORTATION :-

(1)        Every dealer or any person shall  on his behalf, carrying any taxable goods in excess of the quantity specified in Rule 47  from one place to another within the State after purchasing the same from any dealer keep with him the cash memo or the bill / tax invoice of such purchase.

(2)        Failure to keep the cash memo or the bill or tax invoices as a proof of purchase from a dealer within the State shall give rise to the presumption that such goods have been brought or carried for evasion of tax in contravention of the provisions of the Act and Rules.

44.       In requiring the production by any dealer of his accounts or documents etc. strict regard shall be paid to the necessity of not disturbing the normal business of the dealer or the works of the staff any more than is necessary for the purpose of ascertaining the required information.

 45.      Selection of dealers for audit :-

(1)        The Commissioner shall, under sub-section(1) of Section 28, of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005 select the dealers for audit. 

(2)        Upon selection of registered dealers under sub-rule(1), the Commissioner shall send the list of registered dealers so selected to the appropriate auditing authority for conducting audit under sub-section (1) of section 28. 

(3)        The audit shall be performed by auditing authority either individually or as a team. Such team of auditing authority may consist of one or more Superintendent of Taxes, Asstt. Commissioner, or Deputy Commissioner, as the Commissioner may deem fit. The Auditing authority may take assistance of Inspector of Taxes for making cross verification of documents like bills, tax invoices, permit in Form XXIV, or XXVI, if such auditing authority considers it necessary.

(4)        Audit of selected dealers :

(i)      For the purpose of audit, an  audit team may consist of the following persons :

(a)     Superintendent of Taxes and Inspector of Taxes with the Superintendent of Taxes as its head;

(b)     Asstt. Commissioner of Taxes, Superintendent of Taxes and Inspector of Taxes with Asstt. Commissioner of Taxes as its head ;

(c)     Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, Asstt. Commissioner of Taxes, Superintendent of Taxes and Inspector of Taxes with Deputy Commissioner of Taxes as its head; Provided that the members of the Audit team shall not be entrusted with the responsibility of collection of taxes. Provided further that the State Government may authorise any other Government Department, Organisation or undertaking to perform the functions of an Audit team. (ii) The Audit report drawn by an audit team :-(a)     headed by Superintendent of Taxes shall be scrutinized by the Asstt. Commissioner of Taxes ;

(b)        headed by an Asstt. Commissioner of Taxes shall be scrutinized by a Deputy                                Commissioner of Taxes ;

(c)        headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, shall be scrutinize by an Addl. Commissioner of Taxes ;

(5)        (i) Person or persons who are selected by the Commissioner of Taxes in the manner prescribed in clause (i) of sub-rule (4) shall audit the records and examine  the correctness of return or returns  generally and admissibility of various claims, including input tax credit.

(ii)      For the purpose of audit the auditing  authority may -

(a)        inspect the books of accounts and other documents related to business ;

(b)        search  dealers’ place of business, warehouse, residence and other places if there is reasonable suspicion that  evidences will be available in such place related to evasion of tax or any offence under the Act ;

(c)        seize  books of accounts or documents including those in  electronic form, if considered necessary, for the purpose of the Act ;

(d)        break open  any door, or window of house room or warehouse, or any almirah, safe box or receptacle where the Commissioner or auditing authority or any  person appointed under section 18 of this Act, has reason to believe that such dealer, person, transporter or owner or lessee of warehouse keeps or is, for the time being, keeping any accounts, registers, documents, or records of his business or any stock of goods for sale either before or after entering or searching or during search  of any place of business or any other place for the purpose of sub-section (1) of section 28 of the Act;

(e)        may seal any house, room, warehouse, almirah, safe, box or receptacle in which he has reason to believe a dealer, person, transporter or owner or lessee of warehouse keeps or is, for time being keeping any accounts, registers, documents or records of his business or any stock of books for sale ;(iii)     The result of audit shall be communicated by the auditing  authority to the assessing authority.

46.       Notices or requisitions under the Act or the Rules may be served by any of the following methods :-

(a)     by delivery to the addressee or his agent, by hand a copy of the notice or by registered post.

            Provided that if upon an attempt having been made to serve any such notice or requisition by any of the above mentioned methods, the Superintendent of Taxes concerned is satisfied that the dealer, evading the service of a notice or requisition or that for any other reasons, the notice or requisition can not be served by any of the above mentioned methods, the said authority shall cause such notice or requisition to be served by affixing a copy thereof on some conspicuous place in his office and also upon some conspicuous part of the last declared place or premises of the dealer and such service shall be as effectual as if it has been made on the dealer personally.

47.       No person, other than a registered dealer, shall take delivery or transport from any railway station, post-office, airport, business place of any transporter, carrier or transporting agent or any other place whether of similar nature or otherwise in Tripura any consignment of taxable goods despatched from outside Tripura : Provided that this restriction shall not apply to any consignment which does not exceed :

(a)     in case of goods sold by quintal and kilograme –5 kilograms in weight.

(b)     in case of goods sold by litre –1 litre in volume

(c)     in case of goods sold by meter –1 meters in length.

(d)     in case of goods sold by piece –1 in number.

(e)     in case of goods sold by pair –1 pair.

(f)        in case of precious stones, namely diamonds, emeralds, rubies, real pearl, and sapphires synthetic or artificial precious stones, pearls artificial or cultured –1 gram in weight.

48.       A registered dealer shall, before taking delivery of or transporting from any place specified in Rule 47, any consignment of taxable goods exceeding the quantities specified in the said rule and dispatched from any place outside Tripura, produced for countersignature before the Superintendent or Inspector the railway receipt, bill of lading or other document required for the purpose of obtaining delivery of such consignment from the carrier. He shall simultaneously make over to the Superintendent of Taxes a written declaration in Form-XXIV in triplicate duly signed.

49.       (1)        Every declaration to be given under clause(a) of sub-section (2) of section 67 of the Act shall contain a correct and complete accounts of the goods carried by the transporter and shall be in Form-XXV in triplicate and duly signed by him.

(2)          The Officer-in-charge, of the checkpost or the barrier on being satisfied about the correctness of the statements made and particulars contained in the declaration in form-XXV, shall seal it with his official seal and give a permit. The duplicate and triplicate copies of Form-XXV shall thereupon be returned to the Transporter and the original copy shall be retained by the officer-in-charge and the same shall be forwarded to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes after the end of every month. Provided that a transporter who has obtained a permit at the first check post or barrier under this sub-rule shall not be required to make any further declaration at any other check posts or barriers in respect of only so much of the consignments to which the permit relates.

(3)          Registered transporter, carriers or transporting agent under Sub-rule (1) of Rule 17, shall obtain the Form XXV, subject to the provisions of Rule 50, from the concerned Superintendent of Taxes on payment of such price as may be notified by the Commissioner. The form shall be in triplicate and serially numbered and account shall be maintained in the Office of the Superintendent of Taxes in a register. No form, other than Form XXV supplied from the Office of the Superintendent of Taxes, shall be entertained. Registered transporter shall submit triplicate copy of Form XXV to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes at the time of obtaining further supply of the said form. Provided that the transporter may be supplied with the Form XXV in case the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that due to reasons beyond control of the transporter it is not able to produce the triplicate copy of Form XXV taken earlier and the transporter has submitted an undertaking to produce such triplicate copy within two months.

(4)          If the Superintendent of Taxes considers it necessary so to do, he may specify the period on the Form XXV so issued by him, for which it will be valid.

(5)          If any Form XXV obtained by a registered transporter under sub-rule (3) is lost or destroyed or stolen, it should immediately report the fact of such loss, destruction or theft to the Superintendent of Taxes concerned.

(6)          When the registration certificate of a transporter is cancelled/ suspended, such transporter shall forthwith surrender to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes, all unused Form XXV remaining in stock with it and the concerned Superintendent of Taxes shall thereupon cancel and mutilate such form so surrendered.

50.     (1)        (a)        If the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that the applicant for Form XXV has not made bonafide use of such forms previously issued to him or that he does not require such form for bonafide reasons, he may reject the application.

(b)        If the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that the applicant does not require from XXV in such number as he has applied for, for bonafide reasons the Superintendent of Taxes may issue such forms in such lesser numbers, as in his opinion, would satisfy the reasonable requirement of the applicant.

(2)        For any breach of provisions contained in Rule 46 by a transporter, the Superintendent of Taxes may reject the application for Form XXV made by such transporter.

(3)     If the Superintendent of Taxes is satisfied that :-

(a)        the applicant for Form XXV has delivered taxable goods to anybody without obtaining valid permit, or

(b)        the applicant has concealed the actual particulars of the consignments transported by it, or

(c)        the applicant is a defaulter in payment of composition money due from it under sub-section (1) of section 80 or tax and penalty due from him under section 77 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005 within the prescribed date or within the extended period, the Superintendent of Taxes may reject the application for Form XXV made by such transporter.

51.       The Superintendent of Taxes or Inspector of Taxes shall on being satisfied about the correctness of the statement made and particulars contained in a declaration in Form XXIV, countersign the railway receipt, bill of lading or other documents and shall seal it with his official seal. All the three copies of the declaration made by the dealer shall be endorsed with the number of railway receipt, bill of lading or other documents as the case may be and the date of countersignature of the aforesaid documents and these shall be signed by the Superintendent or Inspector and sealed with his official seal. Two copies of the declaration shall thereupon be returned to the dealer and the other copy retained by the Superintendent or Inspector of Taxes for office records.

52.       (1)        Where the procedures laid down in rule 48 or rule 69 cause inconvenience to a dealer, such dealer may transport consignments or taxable goods despactched from any place outside Tripura, on the basis of intimation furnished by such dealer in Form XXVI in  accordance with the provisions contained in this rule, from such railway station, steamer station, post office, airport or any other place notified under section 66 or section 67 of the Act as may be specified in this behalf for the purposes of this rule by the authorized officer.

(2)        The dealer referred to in sub-rule (1), who shall be a registered dealer may obtain, subject to the provisions, of Rule 53, the Form XXVI on application, from the Superintendent of Taxes concerned. The Form XXVI shall be in triplicate and shall contain the following particulars, among others, namely -

(a)     the description, quantity and value of the taxable goods to be transported,

(b)     the place from which the taxable goods is being despatched.

(c)     the railway receipt or bill of lading or air note number or road consignment note number,

(e)     the name and address of the seller from whom purchased.

(3)     The registered dealer referred to in sub-rule (2) shall, before transporting any consignment of taxable goods from any railway station, steamer station, post office, airport or any other place notified under section 66 or section 67 as referred to in sub-rule (1), produce for countersignature before the authority mentioned in sub-rule (4), the railway receipt or bill of lading or other documents required for the purpose of obtaining delivery of such consignments from the transporter and he shall also furnish the Form XXVI duly filled in and signed by him in triplicate to the said authority.

(4)        (i)         The Superintendent of Taxes or Inspector posted on duty at the railway station, steamer station, post office, airport or any other place notified under section 66 or section 67 as referred to in sub-rule (1), shall be the authority for the purpose of sub-rule (3).

(ii)        The said authority shall, after being satisfied that the Form XXVI has been duly filled in, countersign the railway receipt, bill of lading, air note or other documents under his official seal.

(iii)       Three copies of Form XXVI furnished by the registered dealer shall be endorsed with the number and date of railway receipt or bill of lading or other documents along with countersignature of aforesaid documents and these shall be signed by the said authority under his official seal, two copies of which shall be returned to the registered dealer and the third copy shall be retained by the said authority,

(iv)       The consignments shall then be taken delivery of from the transporter on presentation of the railway receipt or other documents so endorsed. The original copy of the Form XXVI shall thereafter be submitted to the appropriate Superintendent of Taxes by the registered dealer at the time of obtaining further supply of Form XXVI or within one month from the date of the aforesaid countersignature, whichever is earlier, and the duplicate copy shall be retained by such dealer.

(5)        A registered dealer referred to in sub-rule(2) or his agent, transporting any consignment of taxable goods by any road vehicle or river craft or other vessel or by any other means across or beyond the notified area of a check-post, referred to in sub-section (1) of section 67, shall furnish Form XXVI in triplicate, duly filed in, and signed by him, to the Superintendent of Taxes or Inspector posted at such notified area. The said Superintendent of Taxes or Inspector, after being satisfied that the Form XXVI has been duly filled in, shall allow the movement of such taxable goods mentioned in the said Form XXVI, if such goods conform to the description given therein. He shall retain the third copy of the Form XXVI and return to the registered dealer other two copies on which he shall endorse the date of transportation of the consignment and shall sign, seal and date such endorsement. The registered dealer shall submit the original copy of the Form XXVI to the appropriate Superintendent of Taxes at the time of obtaining further supply of the said form or within one month from the date of the aforesaid endorsement whichever is earlier, and the duplicate copy shall be retained by such dealer :  Provided that the dealer may be supplied with Form XXVI in case the Superintendent is satisfied that due to reasons beyond control of the dealer he is not able to produce the original copy of Form XXVI taken earlier and the dealer has submitted an undertaking to produce such original copy within three months

.(6)     The Superintendent of Taxes or Inspector referred to in sub-rule (4) or sub-rule (5) shall forward the triplicate copy of the Form XXVI retained by him to the appropriate Superintendent of Taxes at the end of every month

.(7)     If the Superintendent of Taxes considers it necessary so to do, he may specify the period on the Form XXVI so issued by him, for which it will be valid and may also specify thereon the name of the railway station, steamer station, post-office, airport or any other notified place referred to in sub-rule (1) in respect of which only such form may be used by a dealer.

(8)        When the registration certificate of a dealer is cancelled or suspended, such dealer shall forthwith surrender to the appropriate Superintendent of Taxes all unused Forms XXVI remaining in stock to him and the appropriate Superintendent of Taxes shall thereupon cancel such forms so surrendered.

53.       If any Form XXV or Form XXVI, either blank or duly filled in is lost or stolen or destroyed, while it is in his custody before despatch or lost in transit, the dealer shall furnish to the concerned Superintendent of Taxes, a reasonable security by way of a Indemnity Bond in Form XXXIV separately for each form so lost, stolen or destroyed against any possible misuse of the said form.

54.    (1)     If for reasons, to be recorded in writing :-

(a)        the Superintendent of Taxes is not satisfied that the applicant for Form XXVI made bonafide use of such forms previously issued to him or that his requirement of such forms as applied for is bonafide, he may reject the application.

(b)        The Superintendent of Taxes is not satisfied that the applicant’s requirement of Form XXVI in such number as he has applied for is bonafide, the Superintendent of Taxes may issue such forms in such lesser numbers as in his opinion would satisfy the reasonable requirement of the applicant.

(2)        If the applicant has at the time of making the application for Form XXVI -

(a)        failed to comply with an order demanding security from him under section 20 of the Act, or

(b)        defaulted in furnishing any return or returns together with receipted challan or challans showing payment of tax due from him according to such return or returns for furnishing of which the prescribed date has already expired, the Superintendent of Taxes shall reject the application.

(3)        For any breach of the provisions contained in Rule 52 by a dealer, the Superintendent of Taxes may reject the application for Form XXVI made by such dealer. 

55.       (1)        Every person shall, before transporting any consignment of any taxable goods exceeding the quantity specified in the provisions of Rule 47 from any place inside the State to a place outside Tripura, produce for countersignature before the Superintendent of Taxes or the Inspector, a written declaration in Form XXVII, in triplicate and duly signed containing a correct and complete account of goods carried along with other documents regarding payment of tax under the Act ;                        

Provided that if any such person claims that he is not liable to pay any tax under the Act he shall be required to produce necessary documents in support of the claim to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Taxes or the Inspector of Taxes.

(2)        The Superintendent or the Inspector of Taxes shall, on being satisfied about the correctness of the statement made in the declaration in Form XXVII and payment of due tax, sign and seal the declaration with the office seal in the space provided and also countersign the challans or bills or tax invoice, thereby, permitting the person to transport the taxable goods outside the State. Two copies of the permit shall thereupon be given to the applicant and the third copy retained by the Superintendent or Inspector of Taxes. The Transporter shall produce one copy of the permit while crossing the last check-post in the State.

56.       Notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 47, the Superintendent of Taxes of any area may for good & sufficient reason to be recorded in writing authorize any person to take delivery of or transport any consignment of taxable goods exceeding the quantities specified in the said Rule 47 from the place in such area.

57.       DELEGATION AND EXERCISE OF POWER :

The powers to call for returns, to make assessment, to cancel or rectify them, to impose penalty and to order maintenance of accounts shall not be delegated to any officer below the rank of Superintendent of Taxes.

58.    The officers to whom powers may be delegated under section 85 shall exercise the powers subject to the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder and to such restrictions as may be imposed by the Commissioner in delegating the powers.

59.       FEES :      

The following fees shall be payable :-

(a)        upon a memorandum of appeal against an order of assessment, or upon a petition for revision of an appellate order against an order of assessment – 1 percent of the amount of tax in dispute subject to a minimum of fifty rupees which ever is higher. 

(b)        upon a memorandum of appeal against an order of penalty, or upon a petition for revision of an appellate order against an order of penalty – 1% or minimum of fifty rupees which ever is higher ;

(c)        upon a petition for revision of any other order or upon any other miscellaneous petition – rupees fifty ;

(d)        for a duplicate copy of certificate of registration – rupees hundred ;

(e)        upon an application for registration – rupees hundred.

Explanation :-   In this rule, “the amount of tax in dispute” means the difference between the amount of tax assessed and the amount admitted by the dealer to be payable.

60.       No fees shall be payable in respect of any objection written or verbal made in reply to a notice, nor in respect of any spontaneous application which asks only for information and does not seek any specific relief.

61.       COPIES OF ORDERS :-       

The first copy of any assessment and the first copy of the appellate or revisional order will be supplied to the dealer free of charge.

62.       An application for a certified copy of order or other documents shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner, Addl. Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Depuly Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner or Superintendent as the case may be, and shall contain the following particulars :-

(a)     name and address of the dealer ;

(b)     relevant return period ;

(c)     particulars of the document or order ;

(d)     office in which the document or order is available.

 63.      The following fees shall be payable for certified copies :

(a)        an application fee – rupees ten.

(b)        authentication fee for every 360 words or fraction of 360 words – rupees fifty.

(c)        one impressed folio for not more than 150 (English) words and extra folio for every additional 150 words or less.   

(d)        urgent fee for Rs.50/-  if an applicant requires his copy to be furnished on the day of submission of the application. In such cases, fees and folio must also accompany the application.

(e)        an additional fee of Rs.15/- to cover the cost of postage if the applicant wants his copy to be sent to him by post.

(f)        a searching fee of Rs.25/- if the applicant wants a copy of the order or document which is more than one year old.

(g)        all the fees payable under the Act or Rules shall be paid in Court Fee stamps.

64.       Place of assessment :-

A dealer shall ordinarily be assessed by the Superintendent within whose jurisdiction his business is situated. Where a dealer has more than one such place of business, he shall be assessed by the Superintendent within whose jurisdiction his chief place or head office in Tripura of such business is situated. 

65.       A dealer who wishes to claim deduction on the ground that the taxable goods were not sold in the State but despatched outside the State shall, on demand, furnish in respect of such despatch the following particulars namely :

(i)         the name of the railway, steamer or air-station (and of booking office if separate from station of despatch ) and station of delivery ;

(ii)        the number of the railway, steamer or air receipt or bill of lading and tax invoice number with date ;(iii)     the names of consignor, or the consignee, and ;

(iv)     the description and quantity or weight of the goods consigned with their value.

66.       Every registered dealer shall hang up his registration certificate in his business premises in a conspicuous place.

67.       In determining the amount of turnover, fraction of a rupee below fifty paise shall be ignored and a fraction of a rupee equal to or exceeding fifty paise shall be taken as a whole rupee.

68.       In determining the amount of tax payable or in allowing any refund under this Act, an amount equal to more than fifty paise shall be taken as one more rupee and an amount less than fifty paise shall be ignored.

69.       Check Post :-

(1)        Where the State government decides to set up a check post under section 67 at any place, the location of such check-post shall be notified in the Official Gazettee. Where a check-post is set up on a thoroughfare or road, barriers may be erected across the thoroughfare or road in the form of contrivance to enable traffic being detained and searched.

(2)        Any officer appointed under the provisions of the Act, and for the time being on duty at a check post shall be deemed for the purpose of the said section 67 to be the Officer-in-charge of such check post and all the provisions of the Act and the Rules shall apply accordingly.

Explanations :-  The following officers shall be deemed to be on duty at a check-post for the purpose of sub-rule (2).

(i)         The Commissioner of Taxes, Addl. Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Superintendent of Taxes and Inspector of Taxes.

(ii)        Any other officer appointed to assist the Commissioner of Taxes and exercising jurisdiction over the area where the check-post is located.

(iii)       Any officer appointed in any capacity to assist the Commissioner of Taxes and posted in such capacity to the check-post shall at any time when he is physically present at the check-post be deemed for purposes of these rules to be officer-in-charge of the check-post. Where at any time more than one such Officers are present the senior most among them shall be deemed to be the Officer-in-charge of the check-post.

(3)        No person shall transfer taxable goods across or beyond a check-post except after filing declaration in Form XXV (in triplicate) or as the case may be, in Form XXVI (in triplicate) or permit in Form XXIV or XXVII before the officer-in-charge of the check-post.

70.       Inspection and search of vehicle and boats :

(1)        When in the opinion of the Officer-in-charge of the checkpost a search of a vehicle or a boat is necessary, such search shall, as far as practicable, be conducted with due regards to the convenience of the person transporting the goods and without causing avoidable dislocation.

(2)        The officer-in-charge of the check-post or barrier may for satisfying himself that the provisions of sub-rule (3) of Rule 69 are not being contravened, require the person for the time being the in charge of such vehicle or boat to stop and such person shall forthwith comply with such requirement and keep the vehicle or boat stationery for as long as is required by such officer.

(3)        The said officer may thereupon enter and search such vehicle or boat and inspect all goods and documents concerning goods or vehicle or boat. In carrying out such search or inspection, the said officer may take the assistance of any other staff on duty at such check-post. The person for the time being in charge of the vehicle or boat shall forthwith furnish such particulars of the taxable goods and vehicle or boat as may be required and shall render all possible assistance to the said officer in making the search or inspection.

(4)        If any taxable goods, books of accounts, registers, vouchers or other documents are seized, the officer seizing such goods, books of accounts, register, vouchers or other documents shall prepare a seizure list in duplicate, sign the same, and obtain the signature of witness or witnesses, if available, on the spot. He shall handover a copy of the same to the dealer / transporter / person or his agent from whom the goods were seized after obtaining his signature thereon.

71.       Power to search at any place by Officer-in-charge of a check-post, Superintendent of Taxes or any officer specially empowered by the Commissioner :-

(1)        Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of these Rules, at every check-post or barrier or at any other place, when so required by the Officer-in-charge of such check-post or barrier, by any Superintendent of Taxes or any officer empowered by the Commissioner of Taxes in this behalf for the purpose of preventing the evasion of taxes payable under the Act, the driver or any other persons in charge of goods vehicles shall stop the vehicle and keep it stationery as long as may be required by such officer to search the goods vehicle or part thereof, examine the contents therein and inspect all records relating to the goods carried which are in the possession of such driver or other person in charge thereof, who shall, if so required, give his name and address and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle as well as those of the consignor and consignee of the goods.

(2)        On search, as aforesaid, if it is found that the goods are being carried in contravention of any provision of the Act, or the Rules, such Officer conducting search may seize the goods found in the vehicle alongwith any container or materials used for packing.

(3)        When any taxable goods are seized, the person from whom such goods are seized shall make a declaration in respect of the value of the seized taxable goods and this value shall be the retail prices or the aggregate of retail prices of such goods at which these are likely to be sold in Tripura at the relevant time. Such declaration shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Taxes with copies of the relevant bills, tax invoice and consignments note issued by the consignor and other documents in support of the basis of the value declared. The copies so furnished may be returned to the person after the Superintendent satisfies himself about the value of the goods declared.

(4)        When the person from whom the taxable goods are seized opts for composition of such offence under section 80 of the Act within a period of one month from the date of seizure, the amount of composition money or tax and penalty so determined shall be payable within seven days from the date of composition of the offence or penal action taken, by payment into Government Treasury. Upon production of the receipted copy of the challan in support of payment to the Superintendent, the seized goods be released.

(5)        If the person from whom the goods are seized does not opt for composition of the offence within a period of fifteen days from the date of seizure or having compounded the offence or penalty imposed does not pay the amount in due time as provided in sub-rule (4), the Superintendent with the previous sanction of the Commissioner, shall issue a proclamation in Form No. XXVIII for auction for sale of such seized goods on a fixed date, place and time. The description of the taxable goods shall be mentioned in the proclamation. The proclamation shall be published in at least one local newspaper. The auction shall be conducted by the Superintendent or any other officer authorized by the Commissioner.

(6)        The auction shall be governed by the conditions laid down in the proclamation (Form No.XXVIII).

 

72.       Cost of loading and un-loading for search and seizure to be borne by the dealer / person / transporter :-

For any search and seizure as aforesaid, the un-loading, re-loading, un-packing and re-packing of goods as may be required shall be done by the dealer / person/ transporter or his agent at his own expense within the time specified by the authorized officer. But in case, no irregularity is found and goods or documents are not seized, the dealer / person/ transporter or his agent shall not bear the cost of loading and un-loading for search.

73.       Verification of declaration :

(1)        The officer-in-charge of the checkpost on being satisfied about the correctness of the particulars furnished in a declaration under sub-rule (3) of Rule 69 and as the case may be of particulars furnished in compliance with any requirement made under sub-rule (3) of Rule 70 shall countersign all the copies of the declaration and seal them with his official seal. Two copies of the declaration shall be returned to the person filing it with direction to submit one copy of the same to the officer by whom the forms were issued.

(2)        The driver of the vehicle or boat carrying the taxable goods or the person in charge of the goods shall produce the countersigned declaration for inspection and checking at any other check-post which may fall on the route or any other place within the state where the production of the declaration is required under the provisions of the Act and shall submit one copy thereof to the officer to whom he has been directed under sub-rule (1).

74.       Survey  :- 

(1)        As per provisions of section 60 of the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005,  time to time field survey will be conducted to identify the unregistered dealer who are liable to pay tax under the Tripura Value Added Tax Act, 2005.

(2)        Field survey under the Tripura Value Added Tax Act may be conducted from such date when the Act shall come into force.

(3)        (a)        For the purpose of conducting survey, teams may be constituted by the Commissioner of Taxes.

(b)        Commissioner of Taxes may bring Government or semi Government employees on deputation and form teams for conducting field survey for the purposes of this Act. 

(c)        Commissioner of Taxes may cause field survey by an agency on contract basis.

(4)        The particulars so collected under sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 60 shall also be inserted in the survey sheet.

75.       Power of Commissioner :-

The Commissioner may by general or specific order in writing not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act and the Rules, direct the Officer-in-charge of a checkpost subject to such conditions as he may deem fit to impose, to do or refrain from doing something which the later has the authority to do, wherein such officer-in-charge shall carry out the order