E-commerce cos must register in states to get TCS

New Delhi: E-commerce operators will have to register themselves in every state where their suppliers are located for collection of TCS and foreign companies can appoint an 'agent' on their behalf for securing such registration, the CBIC has said. E-commerce companies will from October 1 have to deduct 1 per cent tax collected at source (TCS) before making payments to their suppliers.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has come out with a list of 29 FAQs answering industry queries on the modalities to be followed by the e-commerce operators for deducting TCS. It said that e-commerce operators have to obtain separate registration for TCS irrespective of whether they are already registered under GST as a supplier or otherwise and have GSTIN.

The amount collected by the operator is to be paid to the government within 10 days after the end of the month in which the said amount was collected.

The CBIC said e-commerce companies, whether domestic or foreign, would have to register themselves in each state/UT as the obligation for collecting TCS would be there for every intra-state or inter-state supply.

"In order to facilitate the obtaining of registration in each State / UT, the e-commerce operator may declare the Head Office as its place of business for obtaining registration in that State / UT where it does not have physical presence," the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs said.

In case of foreign e-commerce operators which do not have a place of business in India since they operate from outside but have suppliers and customers in the country, the CBIC said they would be liable to collect TCS on such supply and would be required to obtain registration in each state/union territory (UT).