Monthly maintenance charges, which you pay to your cooperative housing society (CHS), will not attract Goods and Services Tax (GST), provided it is Rs 5,000 or less per month. This directive is part of a detailed explanatory note, issued recently in the form of FAQs by the Tax Research Unit, Ministry of Finance (MoF). 

It is argued that even if one is paying more than Rs 5,000 per month as maintenance charges, if total collections of the CHS are less than Rs 20 lakh a year, the society will not have to register under GST. Consequently, it will not be liable to impose GST on taxable services — such as maintenance charges, parking charges, et al. Smaller societies with lower annual collection (revenue) are likely to be out of the GST ambit. (As re-iterated by Yusuf Hakim, indirect tax partner at CNK & Associates. )

The FAQs say: “Reimbursement of charges or share of contribution up to an amount of Rs 5,000 per month per member, for sourcing of goods or services from a third person for common use is not liable to GST.” 

Maintenance charges are collected by a CHS for purposes like providing security, lift upkeep, maintenance of common areas and are typically a reimbursement for expenses incurred. In tony areas or luxury societies which have facilities like a club house, gym or swimming pool, monthly maintenance charges are steep, running up to over a lakh. The annual collection of such societies are typically far higher than the Rs 20 lakh threshold. So, GST will have to be levied by such societies. 

The FAQs also address specific queries on other charges collected by a CHS, such as property tax or water tax as levied by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). 

In this context, the FAQs say: “Services provided by government or local authorities to persons other than business entities are exempt from GST.” Thus, if property tax or water tax is collected by the CHS on behalf of the MCGM from individual flat owners then GST is not chargeable. Similarly, GST is not chargeable on non-agricultural tax or electricity charges collected under other statutes from individual owners. The FAQs add: “Sinking fund, repairs & maintenance fund, car parking charges, non-occupancy charges, or simple interest for late payment of dues owed to a CHS will attract GST as these are collected for supply of services meant for members.” 

While many of the illustrations contained in the FAQs relate to a CHS which is in Mumbai, the explanations given will apply to any CHS across India. 

Source: Economic Times

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