GST on Transfer of Development Rights or Long term Lease

GST on Transfer of Development Rights or Long term Lease

GST on Transfer of development rights or long term lease by the landowner to promoter Dear colleagues, before going to the subject we have to refer an important definition of the following words as per GST Law,2017 for more clarity.

1. Meaning of Development Right:

The term development right has not been defined in the GST Law or the notification issued in this regard. It’s a general practice for the landowner to transfer development rights in the land to the promoter. In lieu of such rights, along with the proportionate share in the land. The developer provides money or a fixed quantity of flats to the landowner or shares in the revenue from the sale of the flats or combination of three. For the construction services provided by the developer to the landowner. The landowner would not make any monetary payment to the developer, but only grant development rights concomitant to the land coupled with the agreement to transfer the proportionate land. The promoter would then be entitled to develop a complex or an agreed number of flats on such land and be entitled to sell his proportionate undivided share of land, remaining the proceeds from such sale.

Development Right (DR) refers to the rights that permit promoters to modify or improve their property within the limitations of the law. These rights add value to a property s they represent the development potential of the property. Such rights are conferred on the landowners by the local authority that is responsible for regulating and use in the jurisdiction.

The definition of “Development Right” defined in section 2(9A) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act,1966,” Development right” means right to carry out development or to develop the land or building or both and shall include the transferable development right in the form of right to utilize the “Floor Space Index” of land utilizable either on the remainder of the land partially reserved for a public purpose or elsewhere, as the final Development Control Regulations in this behalf provide.

In certain circumstances, the development potential of a plot of land may be separated from the land itself and may be made available to/by the owner of land in the form of development rights. Nevertheless, in spite of notification regarding the taxability of Transferable development rights (TDR) in GST, ambiguity remains regarding the taxability of inseparable TDR as to whether the same is liable to GST in the hands of the landowner.

To define the development rights with respect to the joint development agreement, it is necessary to discuss the concept of floor area ration (FAR) of floor space index (FSI). FAR may be used by the authorities to limit the urban density. While it directly limits building density, indirectly it also limits the number of people that abuilding can hold, without controlling a building’s external shape.

Ex: if a plot of 1000 sq.mt.is required to adhere to a 2.5 FAR, then the total area of all floors in all buildings on the lot should not be more than 2500 sq.mt. A promoter may plan either a double story building consuming the entire allowable are on two floors or a multi-story building that arises higher above the plan of the land.

In the case of a joint development agreement, the landowner transfers proportionate land coupled with Development Right (DR) for construction. Generally, these two rights cannot be separated and the intention of the landowner is to transfer proportionate FAR for consideration in the form of constructed flats/units.

Related Topic:
TAXABILITY OF TDR ON OR AFTER 01.04.2019

2. There are 3 types of Joint Development agreements:

Type-1: Share of profits from the project: Under this type, the promoter and landowner share the profit from the development of the project. Such cases might be treated as an unincorporated Joint Venture (JV) which is subject to independent taxation.

Type-2: Fixed sum percentage on the consideration charged to the buyers of Unit: Under this type, the promoter collects and remits a fixed percentage of consideration charged from the buyers of the units to the landowner towards the land. The consideration received from the sale proceeds before completion certificate shall be subject to GST in the hands of a promoter, however, units sold after completion certificate shall be out of the purview of GST.

Type-3: Allotting free units out of constructed space to the landowner: Under this system, free units are allowed to the landowner in lieu of land consideration. This is a barter transaction between the landowner and the promoter where the landowner transfers the land and the promoter transfers the part of the constructed property to the landowner. However, the definition of supply under section 7 (1) includes all forms of supply such as sale, transfer, barter, exchange, etc. Thus, such supplies shall be taxed under GST Scenario.

3. These following steps to be undertaken with respect to the transfer of Development Right(DR):

(1) The promoter is given permission to enter the land for the purpose of carrying out the development activity. However, ownership in land continues with the landowner.

(2) The promoter enters into an agreement with a landowner, wherein the righto develop the land is permanently and irrevocable transferred by the landowner to the promoter. As consideration for the sale of a share in undivided land coupled with development right, a fixed consideration and/or a share in sale proceeds and /or ownership of certain developed areas is given to the owner by the promoter.

(3) Accordingly, the promoter acquires rights for development and subsequently transfers (by way of sale, lease, license, etc., to end customers)the entire or certain percentage of the developed area (i.e. apartment, units, plots, etc.,) partially to the landowner and partially to the third parties.

4. Is development rights are taxable under the GST Scenario?

Yes, Under GST Scenario, as per Entry No.5 of Schedule III of the Act, sale of land shall neither be considered as supply of services nor supply of goods. There is no mention in the said Schedule about the rights arising out of the land. And now with a very wide definition of service which includes anything other than goods, the Government has taken a stand that even rights arising out of the land, like “Transferable Development Right (TDR) /Floor Space Index ( FSI) would be taxable under GST Scenario.

5. Exemption in the GST on the transfer of TDR, FSI or Long Term Lease:

As per Notification No.04/2019-CT(Rate) 29.3.2019 w.e.f.01.04.2019 vide Entry No.41A and 41B, services by way of transfer of development rights or Floor Space Index (including additional FSI) and Upfront amount (called a premium, salami, cost, price, development charges or by any other name) payable in respect of service by way of granting of long term lease of 30 years or ore on after 01st April 2019 for construction of residential apartments by a promoter in a project, intended for sale to a buyer, wholly or partly is exempt, except where entire consideration has been received after issuance of CC or OC. It may be noted that exemption is not available for the construction of commercial apartments.

Note on the purpose of exemption: If we carefully note, we would find that exemption is available only if the development rights (DR) or the long term lease(LTL) are used by the promoter for making taxable supply. There is no exemption where consideration is received after completion of construction by the promoter, which is not supplied.

Had there been no exemption and thus, the Promoter would be liable to pay tax, then he would have claimed input tax credit against the output liability of construction service.

6. Procedure to be followed to the calculation of exemption on TDR towards residential units in a mixed project:

GST is payable on the transfer of DR or FSI or LTL for construction of the project X Carpet area of the residential apartment in the project /Total carpet area of the residential and commercial apartments in the project.

7. Transfer of “ Development Rights” to a builder for construction is “ not for sale”:

Definition of the term ‘ Promoter” includes a person who constructs or causes to be constructed an independent building or a building consisting of apartments or converts an existing building or a part thereof into apartments for the purpose of selling all or some of the apartments to others.

As per Notification No. 04/2019-CTR, Entry No.41A and 41B includes phrase——— for construction of residential apartments by a promoter in a project, intended for sale to a buyer wholly or partly——– Thus, the exemption under Entry No41A and 41B is available when the residential units are constructed with the intention for sale—-,

Similarly, Notification No.06/2019-CTR postpones the liability to pay GST on the transfer of Development Rights (DR) to the date of the Completion Certificate/ Occupancy Certificate only in case of the promoter, who constructs the residential /commercial units for sale, wholly or partly. Similarly, reverse charges provisions vide Notification No.05/2019- CTR is applicable only where the recipient of service is Promoter.

Further, if the construction is “NOT FOR SALE”, then it is out of the scope of RERA Act and out of the scope of this new rate regime too, However, if some /many units could not be sold due to any reason that does not mean the project was not intendant for sale.

Where person constructs the units without any intention of sale (for the purpose of renting, office building, etc.,) then neither Notification No.04/2019- CTR nor Notification No. 06/2019 –CTR is applicable nor such person would be termed as “promoter”. The question arises, “whether the and owner is liable to pay GST or the builder, and at which time and at what time?

Where the project is not for sale, wholly, taxability of transfer of “Development Rights” (DR) will be as under-

(i) Notification No.4/2018-CTR dated, 25th Jan 2018 will be applicable, which postpones the time of supply to date of CC/OC,

(ii) Development Rights supplied is taxable on forward charge basis in the hands of the landowner,

(iii) To avail the benefit under 4/2018-CTR, the landowner must be a registered person,

(iv) On the date of Occupancy Certificate/ Completion Certificate, the landowner shall pay tax in cash on supply of Development Rights,

(v) Valuation of Development Rights will be the “cost of Construction”. It may be noted that deemed value(in Para 2 of Notification No.11/2017-CTR and Para-2A as amended by Notification No.03/2019-(CTR) is not applicable if the project is NOT FOR SALE, and

(vi) Since the project is not for sale, Input Tax Credit will not be available to the builder. Like RCM liability on shortfall-tax liability on inward supplies from unregistered persons will not be applicable. 

• Whether the units allotted to the landowner in terms of joint development agreement shall be treated as units booked before the Completion Certificate/ Occupancy Certificate. The units allotted to or retained by the landowner are the consideration of the transfer of Development Rights. Here the promoter is providing the construction service to the landowner against the value of development rights transferred by the landowner. 
• The value of construction service in respect of such apartments shall be deemed to be equal to the total amount charged for similar apartments in the project from the independent buyer nearest to the date on which such Development Rights or Floor Space Index is transferred to the promoter, less the value of transfer of land at the specified percentage.
• GST on the transfer of Development Rights/ Long Term Lease is payable in respect of unbooked units, which belongs to the Promoter. For Example: out of 1000 units 40 are given to landowner as consideration for the Transfer of Development Rights and the landowner could sell 5 units of his share during construction, through builder has sold 60 units before Completion Certificate/Occupancy Certificate, in that case, builder promoter is not required to pay any GST on the transfer of Development Rights.

8. Reverse Charge Mechanism:

As per Notification No.05/2019 – CT(Rate) dated.29.3.2019 w.e.f.01.04.2019, Reverse Charge Mechanism is liable to pay on Transfer of Development Rights/ Long Term Lease under GST Scenario as per below table:

When Reverse Charge is Payable on Development Rights/ Floor Space Index as per Notification No.04/2019-CTR(Rate) dated.29.03.2019 and Notification No.06/2019 CTR(Rate) dated.29.03.2019 (Special Provisions w.e.f.01.04.2019). Herewith I am providing When Reverse Charge is Payable in the below table form for better understanding:

9. Value of supply of Transfer of Development Rights:

(i) We have to refer the Notification No.04/2019-CT(Rate) dated. 29.03.2019 vide Para No.1A & 1B for calculation of the value of supply of Transfer of Development Right under GST Scenario. Value of supply of service by way of transfer of Development Rights (TDR)or Floor Space Index (FSI) by a person i.e. landowner to the promoter against consideration in the form of residential or commercial apartments shall be equal to the value of similar apartments charged by the promoter from the independent buyers nearest to the date on which such TDR or FST is transferred to the promoter.

(ii) Value of portion of residential or commercial apartments remaining un-booked on the date of issuance of Completion certificate /Occupancy Certificate.

10. Tax Rate applicable on transfer of Development Right or Long Tern Lease or Floor Space Index under GST Scenario:

(i) Residential Apartments: @18% Tax payable shall not exceed 1% of the value of TDR, FSI and LTL as the case may be, in case of an affordable residential apartment and 5% of the value in case of residential apartments other than affordable residential apartment remaining un-booked on the date of issuance of Completion Certificate/ Occupation Certificate vide notification no. 04/2019-CT (R) dated.29,03.2019 (II proviso to the Conditions specified in entries 41A and 41B.

(ii) Commercial Apartments: @18% on the value of the portion of residential apartments remaining un-booked on the date of issuance of the Completion Certificate/ Occupation Certificate shall be deemed to be equal to the value of similar apartments charged by the promoter nearest to the date of issuance of Certificate/ Occupation Certificate.

11. Tax liability of transfer of Development Right/ Floor Space Index before 01.04.2019:

Before 1st April 2019, the transfer of Development Rights was taxable on forwarded charge basis in the hands of landowners. However, as per Notification No.04/2018–CT(Rate) dated,25th Jan 2018 the Government has postponed the time of supply on the transfer of TDR to the date of Certificate/ Occupation Certificate. The said notification read as:-

“ The Central Government hereby notifies the following classes of registered persons, namely:

(a) A registered person who supplies development rights to a developer, builder, construction company or any other registered person against consideration, wholly or partly, in the form of construction service of complex, building or civil structure; and

(b) Registered persons who supply construction service of complex, building or civil structure to the supplier of development rights against consideration, wholly or partly in the form of transfer of development rights.

As the registered person in whose case the liability to pay central tax on supply of the said services, on the consideration received in the form of development rights referred to in clause(a) above and in the form of construction service referred to in clause (b) above,

Shall arise at the time when the said developer, builder, construction company or any other registered person, as the case may be, transfers possession or the right in the constructed complex, building or civil structure, to the person supplying the development rights by entering into a conveyance deed or similar instrument like allotment letter.

Thus, in short, taxability of (i) transfer of Development Rights by the landowner and (ii) construction service provided by the promoter to the landowner, shall arise at the time when the promoter transfers possession or the right in the constructed unit to the landowner. The said notification applies to the residential as well as commercial units. 

• It is important to note that the Notification No 4/2018=CT-(rate) is effective from 25th January 2018. For the period from 1st July 2017 to 24th January 2018, the taxability of transfer of TDR qua landowner and construction service qua promoter arose at the time of transfer of TDR. 
• It may also be noted that this notification requires that the landowner must also be registered under the GST Act(Builders/Developers would always be registered). Since the transfer of development right is taxable in the GST, if the value of TDR exceeds the threshold limit, then the landowner would require mandatory for taking GST registration, in that case, the benefit of said notification could be availed. So, colleagues registration is mandatory for landowner and Promoter for taking registration to get the benefit of notification.

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