CENVAT Credit Rules, 2001 Rule 2 of the Credit Rules, definition of ‘Capital Goods’ is comprehensive and would include components, Spares and Accessories.

Introduction
Salient features
Important clarifications

Chapter-5
CENVAT CREDIT

1. Introduction
   
   1.1 CENVAT Credit Rules, 2001 (hereinafter referred to the ‘ Credit Rules’) has been notified with effect from 1st July, 2001 as an independent rule under the Central Excise Act, 2001.
   
   1.2 These rules seek to introduce simplified CENVAT provisions and procedures for allowing credit of duty paid on specified inputs and capital goods used in or in relation to the manufacture of specified final products, whether directly or indirectly and whether contained in the final product or not (inputs) and used (capital goods) in the factory of the manufacture of the final product. The credit of duty so allowed can be utilized for payment of duty leviable on the final product subject to the conditions laid down in the rules.
   
2. Salient features
   
   2.1 Certain definitions have been incorporated in Rule 2 of the Credit Rules itself. It may be noted that the definition of ‘capital goods’ is comprehensive and would include components, spares and accessories as also other capital goods like moulds and dies, refractories and refractory materials, etc. It has been clarified that the components, spares and accessories may fall under any Chapter but they should be components, spares and accessories of the final products. Storage tanks have been added to the list of capital goods w.e.f 1.3.2001. An explanation has been added to clarify the scope of inputs i.e. Inputs include goods used in the manufacture of capital goods which are further used in the factory of the manufacturer. Among other expressions, ‘Exempted goods’ and ‘final products’ have also been defined.
   
   2.2 Rule 3 of the Credit Rules provides type of duties to be taken as credit with Explanation, which clarifies to allow CENVAT credit of additional duty leviable under Section 3 of Customs Tariff Act on goods falling under 98.01 of First Schedule to Customs Tariff Act. This Rule also provides manner of utilization of CENVAT credit in a different situation. It also provides the manner of utilisation of credit. It also provides the manner when inputs/capital goods are removed as such.
   
   2.3 Rule 4 of the Credit Rules provides for different conditions for allowing CENVAT credit in different situations for inputs and capital goods.
   
   2.4 Rule 5 of the Credit Rules of the Credit Rules is regarding refund of CENVAT Credit.
   
   2.5 Rule 6 of the Credit Rules explains obligation of manufacturers of dutiable and exempted goods, especially the details of taking credit of final dutiable products and exempted products.
   
   2.6 Rule 7 of the Credit Rules specifies documents on which CENVAT credit can be taken. An explanation to this Rule provides the meaning of "first stage dealer" and "second stage dealer". It also provides for maintenance of accounts by first and second stage dealer. Maintenance of records of manufacture of final products. The burden of proof regarding admissibility of CENVAT credit shall lie upon manufacturers taking such credit. The manufacturer of Final Product shall submit monthly return in specified proforma (Annexure 10) within 5 days from the close of each month. In respect of manufacturers availing exemption on value or quantity based in a Financial year, he shall submit by the 5th of the following quarter.
   
   2.7 Under rule 8 of the Credit Rules, it has been provided that the manufacturers shall be allowed to transfer CENVAT credit lying unutilized in his accounts to such transferred, sold, merged, leased or amalgamated factory on account of shifting his factory to another site or factory transferred due to change in ownership on sale, merger, amalgamation, lease or transfer of a factory to joint venture with specific provision for transfer of liabilities of such factory. This is being allowed only if stock of inputs as such or in process or capital goods is also transferred to new site and the same is duly accounted for to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.
   
   2.8 Transitional Provisions are specified in rule 9 of the Credit Rules. Any amount of credit earned by manufacturers under this Rule and remaining unutilized on that day shall be allowed as CENVAT credit under these Rules and allowed to be utilized. However, certain restrictions are imposed in this Rule.
   
   2.9 Provisions for special dispensation in respect of inputs manufactured in factories located in specified areas of North-East region are contained in rule 10 of the Credit Rules.
   
   2.10 Power of Central Government to notify goods for availment of deemed credit are contained in rule 11 of the Credit Rules. Accordingly, certain inputs have been so notified on which the duties of Excise or additional duties paid shall be deemed to have been paid at the prescribed rate and allow credit of such amount subject to certain conditions.
   
   2.11 Recoveries of credit wrongly taken are governed by rule12 of the Credit Rules. Where CENVAT credit has been taken or utilized wrongly or on account of fraud, willful mis-statement, collusion or suppression of facts etc., the same along with interest shall be recovered from manufacturers and the provision of Section 11-A, 11-AA and 11-AB of the Central Excise Act, 1944 shall apply for effecting recoveries. In case of fraud etc., the manufacturers shall also be liable to pay penalty under provision of Section 11-AC.
   
   2.12 Provisions for confiscation and penalty, for contravention of the Credit Rules are contained in rule 13 of the Credit Rules.
   
3. Important clarifications
   
   3.1 Once the SSI exemption limit of Rs. 100 lakhs is crossed and assessee starts paying duty, he is eligible to take CENVAT credit in respect of inputs lying in stock, on the inputs contained in finished goods lying in stock and on the inputs in process. For this purpose, it is obligatory on the assessee to quantify the amount of admissible credit on the basis of documentary evidence and records maintained for this purpose.
   
   3.2 The CENVAT credit can be utilised for payment of duty on waste and scrap as waste and scrap are ‘final products’ within the definition given in the Credit Rules.
   
   3.3 Raw material used for making packing material CENVAT credit is permissible on the ‘ raw material’ so used. This is for the reason that the packing material being and input, the raw material used for making packing material is also to be construed as inputs used in or in relation to the manufacture of finished products.
   
   3.4 There is no bar for a manufacturer to remove the inputs or capital goods as such for export under bond.
   
   3.5 Manufacturer is entitled to take the CENVAT credit in a situation where capital goods were received before 1-4-2000 and also installed before that date but MODVAT/CENVAT was not taken due to some reason prior to 1-4-2000 because even though the modvat credit was not taken by the manufacturer, the modvat credit had been "earned" by him.
   
   3.6 CENVAT credit is required to be taken immediately on receipt of inputs in the factory. This, however, does not mean, nor is it even intended that if the manufacturer does not take credit as soon as the inputs are received in the factory, he would be denied the benefit of CENVAT credit such interpretation is not tenable.
   
   3.7 In respect of capital goods, which are included in the project import, the CENVAT credit shall be admissible only to the extent of an amount not exceeding 50% of the Additional Duty of Customs paid on such capital goods. However, on the other materials, which are not in the nature of capital goods, the CENVAT credit of the Additional Duty paid shall be allowed to the full extent.
   
   3.8 Air-conditioners and refrigerating equipment and computers would be eligible to CENVAT credit as capital goods. The only condition is that the manufacturers should use them in the manufacture of final product. For example, an air-conditioner used in the office premises or a computer used in the office premises of the factory shall not be eligible to CENVAT credit.
   
   3.9 CENVAT credit shall be admissible in respect of the amount of inputs contained in any of the aforesaid waste, refuse or bye product. Similarly, CENVAT should not be denied if the inputs are used in any intermediate of the final product even if such intermediate is exempt from payment of duty. The basic idea is that CENVAT credit is admissible so long as the inputs are used in or in relation to the manufacture of final products, and whether directly or indirectly.
   
   3.10 If the inputs or capital goods are cleared to a job worker, they should be received back within 180 days. If they are not received, the manufacturer shall debit the CENVAT credit attributable to such inputs or capital goods, otherwise it will be an offence. However, the manufacturer shall be entitled to take CENVAT credit as and when the goods sent to the job worker are received back. If part of the goods is received back within 180 days and the rest of the goods are received back after 180 days, the obligation for debiting the credit shall arise only in respect of CENVAT credit attributable to that part which is not received within 180 days.
   
   3.11 Provision has been made for permitting the CENVAT credit when the inputs or capital goods are purchased from the first stage dealer or from the second stage dealer. These dealers should be registered under rule 9 of the Central Excise (No.2) Rules, 2001. The other procedural requirements in respect of first stage dealer and second stage dealer will continue as in the case of modvat rules.
   
   3.12 In the case of capital goods, the CENVAT rules do not provide installation of capital goods as a pre-requisite for taking CENVAT credit. The credit can be taken as and when the capital goods are received in the factory. For example if such capital goods were received prior to 1.4.2001 but not installed up to 1.4.2001, the CENVAT credit would be admissible. However, in respect of all capital goods whether received on or after 1.4.2001 or those that were received prior to 1.4.2001 but not yet installed, the condition that CENVAT credit only up to 50% of the total admissible amount would be available in the financial year 2001-2002 would apply. The balance of the CENVAT credit in respect of such capital goods can be taken in a financial year subsequent to 2001-2002
   
   3.13 The documents on which CENVAT credit can be taken have been prescribed to enable verification, where needed, by the department. The admissibility of the amount of CENVAT credit should be discernible from the records of the manufacturer, including the payment made to the sellers of inputs and capital goods. The basic responsibility is upon manufacturer to prove that inputs or capital goods were purchased and were used by him for the intended purpose.