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Published on:

September 20, 2024

Alankar Mishra

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Basics of GST

RCM on Security Services under GST

The introduction of a provision like the Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India has improved the taxation system. There are several areas where the RCM provisions are wooden, and one such area is security services. In India, all security services offered by private security firms are levied with GST under reverse charge where the recipient of the service is the one who has to pay the tax rather than the service provider.

In this blog, we seek to unpack the working concepts of RCM in security service taxes in a GST regime by looking at the applicability, rates, exemptions, and compliance of businesses that seek security services.

What is Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM)?

Under RCM, the liability to pay GST is on the service recipient instead of the service provider. The seller’s liability for recognizing sales and thereby collecting and paying GST is on the taxable supplies made in a normal supply transaction. But where RCM is applicable, such a recipient is supposed to pay the tax to the government.

RCM is intended to capture taxation of activities by unregistered suppliers that otherwise would be taxable under the GST regime and mitigate tax fraud. It applies to both goods and services in specified cases, and security services are one of the key services covered under RCM.

Applicability of RCM on Security Services

The provision for RCM on security services was introduced under Notification No. 29/2018-Central Tax (Rate), which became active on January 1, 2019. Any plaintiff excluding a body corporate, providing security services to a registered person attracts RCM for security services provided by Commissioned Officers such as Private Order Protection Professionals.

Here’s the dissection of the limitation in the applicability of RCM on security services:

‍Security Services Provider: Security services supplied to a registered recipient by a security agency (not a body corporate) are liable for reverse charge.

‍Recipient of Services: The person claiming such security services must be a registered recipient of the services under the GST Act subject to a few exceptions such as departments within the government and local authorities not registered under the GST Act.

‍Body Corporate Exemption: Security services provided by a body corporate (for example, a limited company) attract no RCM, in this case, the supplier collects and remits payable GST.

‍Exemptions: The following cases are not subject to the provisions of RCM:

Departmental heads of security units and local authorities, or those registered only for TDS without providing any tangible services.

Providing services to the unregistered person.

Understanding Security Services under GST

Security services are those, which are meant to protect property, people or premises. Provision is normally made by private security organizations employing sufficiently skilled individuals (security guards).

Security services under GST include:

‍Manned Guarding: The activity of providing already mentioned security personnel to protect premises, property or individuals against intruders.

‍Cash-in-Transit: The providing of outriders for the carriage of valuables from one point to the other.

‍Event Security Services: Such arrangements include the provision of security to events, exhibitions, and public gatherings.

Because the nature of security services is geared towards the provision of manpower, then the manpower service provider will engage security guards on contract employment and deploy them to businesses, organizations or individuals within their premises who seek to be protected.

GST Rate for Security Services

An 18% GST rate is levied on security services. Under the RCM regime, the recipient of the security service is required to pay tax at 18% on the service charges i.e. an organization or business that hires security services.

‍Allocation of GST on Security Bills

‍CGST: 9%

‍SGST/UTGST: 9%

‍IGST: 18%

If a security service provider is situated in one state and the consumer of the service is practicably situated in another state then the IGST will be charged at the rate of 18%. In respect of intra-state transactions, CGST and SGST will be charged each at the rate of 9%.

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Service Provider	Service Recipient	Person Liable to Pay GST	Reason
Company	Registered Person	Service Provider	The company is a body corporate, so RCM is not applicable. A forward charge is applicable.
Individual	Registered Person	Service Receiver	All conditions for RCM are satisfied, so GST is payable by the service recipient under RCM.
Partnership Firm	Registered Person	Service Receiver	All conditions for RCM are satisfied, so GST is payable by the service recipient under RCM.
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)	Registered Person	Service Provider	LLP is a body corporate, so RCM is not applicable. A forward charge is applicable.
Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)	Registered Person	Service Receiver	All conditions for RCM are satisfied, so GST is payable by the service recipient under RCM.
Any Assessee	Unregistered Person	Service Provider	Since the service recipient is unregistered, RCM is not applicable. A forward charge is applicable.

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Situations Where RCM in Security Services is Exercised

The reverse charge on security services applies in situations when the supplier is not a body corporate and a recipient is a registered person under GST. Outlined here are the few RCM instances relating to security services:

Security Services Provided by a Non-Corporate Agency to a Registered Business

If a private security agency (other than a company) provides security guards to a company that is registered under GST, that company must charge GST under RCM. The security agency will issue a tax invoice but will not charge quotations in any of the invoices. Hence the recipient will have to ascertain and pay the tax as stated.

Security Services in Phased Construction of Buildings

Private agencies often provide security services to commercial establishments like malls, hotels, clinics, office premises, and others. If these premises are GST registered, then they will be liable to GST on security services on an RCM basis.

Security Services for Manufacturing Units

Factory and warehouse security is also a need in manufacturing units. If any such manufacturer is also registered under GST and takes the services of a non-corporate security agency, RCM will be applicable, and the manufacturer will have to bear the tax.

Security Services for Registered Societies

Apart from this, when residential or commercial societies are registered under GST and provide security agencies to protect their buildings, such societies have to pay GST under RCM subject to the condition that the security agency is not a body corporate.

Exemptions from RCM on Security Services

RU also applies in several situations but RCM is not applicable in paying GST under RCM for the security services by the businesses or organizations in the following circumstances –

Services to Government Departments or Local Authorities

In the absence of any negotiating arms by the service provider, if the recipient of security services is any governmental department or any local government body alone or anybody that is registered only for a TDS credit under section 51 of the CGST Act, 2017 RCM will not be relevant. The service provider will pay GST on the invoice and the recipient of a taxable service will not be responsible for paying the service under such a charge.

Services Provided by a Body Corporate

If a security service provider is registered as a body corporate (for example, private limited corporation, public limited corporation), then RCM will not apply. In this instance, the service provider shall be responsible for collecting and remitting GST and the recipient of the services shall have no obligation to pay under a reverse charge.

Services to Non-Registered Persons

In cases when services of security are rendered to persons who are neither registered nor their business is registered under GST, RCM doesn’t apply on such supply. The service provider must charge and pay GST.

Compliance Requirements for RCM on Security Services

An organization which provides security services on RCM also has to comply with some GST requisites. These include:

Self-Invoicing

In this regard, the recipient of the security services is required to raise a self-invoice for the services rendered under RCM. Details about the service provider, service received and GST to be paid should be well-detailed in this self-invoice.

Payment of GST

The recipient must take into account and compute if there is applicable GST (18%) regarding the service charges and pay the tax to the government. Such payment has to be made in the GST return for the period during which the services were availed to the Recipient.

Input Tax Credit (ITC)

The recipient of the goods or services received under RCM may claim the GST paid out as ITC for the recipient provided that the services are meant for business. ITC will be utilized in settling the output tax obligations of the recipient.

GST Return Filing

The recipient of such security services must also report such reverse charge payment in the GSTR-3B return. In respect of GSTR-3B, the RCM should be noted in the reverse charge column.

Book of Accounts

The recipient must hold proper records of the security services received under RCM, such as self-invoices, receipts of payment, tax returns, etc. These records should be produced for audit purposes by GST authorities where circumstances warrant it.

Impact of RCM on Security Services for Businesses

RCM in security services has some implications for companies that hire such services. Some key impacts include:

Cash Flow Impact

Recovering the payment made by a recipient to supply GST is a definite reason why there can be instant cash flow for the business in question since that’s the effect of RCM. The claimant’s business is therefore required to pay GST in advance and later on recover it by filing for ITC. It is important to efficiently manage the cash flow cycle to pay the GST within the timeline candles.

Compliance Burden

RCM perpetuates pain to businesses in terms of compliance as they are self-invoicing, computing and remitting GST and reporting such revenues in the returns filed with GST authorities. Businesses need to ensure that there is full compliance with all requirements to be able to avoid any fines.

ITC Benefits

RCM in Canada also allows businesses to claim the Input Tax Credit (ITC) for the GST paid. This among other things reduces the total GST payable by the firm since the firm will be able to offset the output tax liability by the RCM-paid output tax.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Non-compliance to the provisions of RCM, especially late payment of tax like GST or omission of filing of returns can attract some penalties and interest. Businesses need to ensure that their payments and filings are made on time so that they do not incur fines.

Conclusion

The Reverse Charge Mechanism or RCM on security services under GST transfers the responsibility of paying the tax on the service from the service provider to the service receiver which in this case is the registered businesses that are supposed to pay the GST to the government. Therefore, it is important for the firms that require the services of security agencies, to get acquainted with the nature, scope, and implications of RCM on security services.

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Fulfilling an obligation for documentary proof, making payments for GST within the statutory period and correctly filing returns for GST, helps the business observe the provisions and requirements of the GST laws and further averts the risk of being penalized. Further, businesses may benefit from taxing less by making claims for Input Tax Credit on the GST paid under RCM.

FAQs

What is the GST rate on security services under RCM?

The GST on RCM's investigated services is limited at the rate of 18 Degrees per cent (9 CVST, 9 SBST/UTGST on the intrastate transaction and 18 IGST on the state-to-state by its engagement on the service provider.

Is RCM applicable to all security service providers?

RCM applies in the case of the provision of security to a registered recipient by a contravention of a non-corporate entity like a partnership firm and sole proprietorship. If the service provider is a body corporate, RCM does not apply.

Can businesses claim ITC on GST paid under RCM for security services?

Yes, businesses can claim GST RCM input tax credit if the security services availed are used in the course of business operations.

What are the compliance requirements for RCM on security services?

Businesses have to create a self-bill invoice, pay GST on a reverse charge basis, report the transaction in their GSTR-3B return and keep the documents in case of an audit.

Are there any exemptions from RCM on security services?

Government department-bound security services, those rendered to local bodies, or agencies which are only registered under TDS provisions of GST are exempt from RCM.