The constitutional validity of levy of Entry Tax has been a matter of constant hue and cry amongst the trade. A nine-member bench of the Hon'ble
Pursuant to such decision, the West Bengal Finance Act, 2017 (Amending Act) was notified which retrospectively amended the West Bengal Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2012 (WB Entry Tax Act) to eliminate the clauses leading to discrimination. Recently, a three-Member bench of the Hon'ble
Presently, the writ appeal on constitutional validity of WB Entry Tax Act is pending before the Hon'ble Division Bench of
Given that the aforementioned decision of the WBTT is also amenable to challenge, it would be naive to say that issue is anywhere close to attaining finality. Be that as it may, the WBTT Order is premised on sound reasoning and waiting for the matter to attain finality may be too late in the day for the entry taxpayers (including those who availed the benefit of settlement under the West Bengal Sales Tax (Settlement of Dispute) Act, 1999 (SOD Scheme)) to evaluate and strategize the way forward for securing their claim for refund in this volatile situation. Therefore, there is a need for businesses to assess their position by taking into consideration the following relevant questions:
- If entry tax law is held to be unconstitutional, can refund be claimed under Article 265 of the
Constitution ofIndia ? - Will refund of entry tax paid flow automatically once such law is struck down? How can refund of entry tax be claimed once the law is held to be ultra-vires?
- Was the burden of such entry tax paid passed on the buyers? Is there any unjust enrichment?
- How can one establish that the burden of entry tax payment was not passed on?
- Even if burden was passed on, can refund still be claimed?
- Whether levy under entry tax was challenged on its constitutionality earlier and ruling was passed against the taxpayer?
- Can such challenge be revisited and reopened if the entry tax law was later held to be unconstitutional in another taxpayer's petition?
- If the challenge was later withdrawn, can it be argued that such challenge did not attain finality, and hence can refund be claimed?
- Will such refund claim be barred by limitation? What is the starting point of limitation?
- Has any payment been made under the SOD Scheme? What are the various hurdles to claim refund of entry tax paid under the SOD Scheme?
The recent decision of WBTT has put music to the ears of the trade and hopefully, the Hon'ble Division Bench of the
Footnotes
1. Civil Appeal No. 3453/2002
2. Case No. RN-08 of 2018
3. M.A.T. 1107 of 2013
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