GST Treatment of Gift Vouchers: CBIC issues Clarification following 55th GST Council Meeting [Read Circular]

In a significant move aimed at reducing ambiguities and ensuring uniformity in the treatment of gift vouchers under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued a detailed circular dated December 31, 2024.

The CBIC clarified that vouchers, as defined under Section 2(118) of the CGST Act, 2017, create an obligation on suppliers to accept them as consideration for goods or services. Depending on their nature, vouchers are categorized either as:

"Money", when recognized as prepaid instruments by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is exempt from GST.

Actionable claims, if not covered under prepaid instrument definition of RBI, which are also exempt from GST under Schedule III of the CGST Act.

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Transactions by Distributors:

The circular distinguishes between two distribution models:

Principal-to-Principal (P2P): When distributors trade vouchers independently, the transaction is not subject to GST.

Commission-Based Agency: Distributors acting as agents for voucher issuers are liable to GST on the commission or service fees they receive.

Services like advertisement, co-branding, and customization provided to voucher issuers are taxable at applicable rates. This clarification emphasizes the distinct treatment of service charges linked to vouchers.

The CBIC clarified that amounts attributed to unredeemed vouchers do not constitute a supply of goods or services. Consequently, such amounts are not taxable under GST.

This clarification addresses long-standing disputes regarding the taxability of gift vouchers, aiming to reduce litigation. It ensures that businesses trading in vouchers or issuing them as part of promotional schemes understand the precise tax implications, depending on the nature of the transaction.

The operative part of the clarificatory circular reads as follows: —

“. Issue 1 -Whether “transactions in vouchers” falls under the category of supply of goods and/or services?

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3.1 The relevant legal provisions of CGST Act, 2017 are as under:

(i)  Section 2(52) - "goods" means every kind of movable property other than money and    securities but includes actionable claim, growing crops, grass and things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before supply or under a contract of supply.

(ii) Section 2(102) - "services" means anything other than goods, money and securities but includes activities relating to the use of money or its conversion by cash or by any other mode, from one form, currency or denomination to another form, currency or denomination for which a separate consideration is charged. 

Explanation. - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that the expression “services" includes facilitating or arranging transactions in securities.

(iii) Section 2(118) ― “voucher” means an instrument where there is an obligation to accept it as consideration or part consideration for a supply of goods or services or both and where the goods or services or both to be supplied or the identities of their potential suppliers are either indicated on the instrument itself or in related documentation, including the terms and conditions of use of such instrument.

(iv) Section 2(75) ― "money" means the Indian legal tender or any foreign currency, cheque, promissory note, bill of exchange, letter of credit, draft, pay order, traveller cheque, money order, postal or electronic remittance or any other instrument recognized by the Reserve Bank of India when used as a consideration to settle an obligation or exchange with Indian legal tender of another denomination but shall not include any currency that is held for its numismatic value;

(v) Section 2(1) – “actionable claim” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in Section 3 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882).

Section 3 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 provides the definition of “actionable claim” as below: -  

“"actionable claim" means a claim to any debt, other than a debt secured by mortgage of immovable property or by hypothecation or pledge of movable property, or to any beneficial interest in movable property not in the possession, either actual or constructive, of the claimant, which the Civil Courts recognize as affording grounds for relief, whether such debt or beneficial interest be existent, accruing, conditional or contingent;”

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(vi) Section 2(102A) ― “specified actionable claim” means the actionable claim involved in or by way of-(i) betting;(ii) casinos;(iii) gambling; (iv)horse racing; (v)lottery; or (vi)online money gaming”.

(vii) Section 7-

“….

(2)- Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), -   (a)activities or transactions specified in Schedule III; or

…

shall be treated neither as a supply of goods nor a supply of services.”

(viii) Schedule III to the CGST Act deals with “Activities or Transactions which shall be treated neither as a supply of Goods nor a supply of services: ….

6. Actionable claims, other than specified actionable claims. …”

3.2 From the definition of voucher under section 2(118) of CGST Act, it emerges that “voucher” may be in nature of payment instrument which creates an obligation on the supplier to accept it as a consideration or part consideration for the supply of goods and/or services. The issuance of payment instruments, including pre-paid instruments, in India is regulated by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in terms of the Payment and Settlement Act, 2007,

RBI’s Master Directions and the relevant Notifications/Circulars/Communications issued by

the RBI from time to time.

3.3 Pre-paid instruments (PPIs) as defined by RBI are payment instruments that facilitate purchase of goods and/or services against the value stored on such instruments. The value stored on such instruments represents the value paid for by the holder, by cash, by debit to a bank account, or by credit card. The pre-paid instruments can be issued as cards, wallets and in any such form/ instrument which can be used to access the PPI and to use the amount therein. Further, as per section 2(75) of CGST Act, “money” includes an instrument recognized by the Reserve Bank of India which is used as a consideration to settle an obligation.

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3.4    On combined reading of the definition of “voucher” as per section 2(118) of the CGST Act, along with definition of “money” as per section 2(75) of the CGST Act and the description of “pre-paid instruments” given by RBI, it emerges that where the voucher is covered as a pre-paid instrument recognized by the RBI and is used as a consideration to settle an obligation, then in such cases, the voucher will fall under the definition of “money”.

In such a case, as “money” is excluded from the definition of goods and services as provided in section 2(52) and section 2(102) of the CGST Act respectively, the transactions in voucher would be considered neither as a supply of goods nor as a supply of services.

3.5. In cases, where voucher is not covered as a pre-paid instrument recognized by RBI and

hence, cannot be treated as money, the voucher will be in nature of an obligation on the supplier to receive it as consideration or part consideration and assure the beneficiary/voucher holder to claim certain goods and/or services as specified on the voucher or in the related documents. In such cases, the voucher can be considered as an "actionable claim" within the meaning of section 2(1) of the CGST Act, read with section 3 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.

3.6 Further, as per entry 6 of Schedule III of CGST Act, an activity or transactions of actionable claims, other than specified actionable claims, is to be treated neither as a "supply of goods" nor as a "supply of services”. Further as per section 2(102A) of CGST Act, specified actionable claim means the actionable claim involved in or by way of betting, casinos, gambling, horse racing, lottery or online money gaming. As vouchers are not covered under definition of specified actionable claim, it appears that they are covered in entry 6 of Schedule III of CGST Act as actionable claims, other than specified actionable claims. Therefore, it appears that even in such a case, transaction in vouchers would be treated neither as a "supply of goods" nor as a "supply of services". 

3.7 Therefore, it is clarified that irrespective of whether voucher is covered as a pre-paid instrument recognized by RBI or not, the voucher is just an instrument which creates an obligation on the supplier to accept it as consideration or part consideration and the transactions in voucher themselves cannot be considered either as a supply of goods or as a

supply of services. However, supply of underlying goods and/or services, for which vouchers

are used as consideration or part consideration, may be taxable under GST. 

Issue 2 -What would be the GST treatment of transactions in vouchers by distributors/sub-distributors/ agents etc.?

4.1 There are primarily two models for distribution of vouchers through distributors/sub distributors/ agents, etc. 

(i)  Where vouchers are distributed through the distributors/ sub-distributors/ dealers on Principal-to-Principal (P2P) basis.

(ii) Where vouchers are distributed using agents/ distributors/ sub-distributors on commission/ fee basis.

4.2 Where vouchers are distributed through the distributors/ sub-distributors/ dealers on Principal-to-Principal(P2P) basis: In such cases, the distributor/ dealer purchases voucher from the voucher issuer typically at a discounted rate and subsequently sells the same to the sub-distributors, corporates or end customers and generate revenue through a trading margin, which is a difference between the acquisition cost and the selling price of the vouchers by the said distributor/ dealer. In such cases, distributors/ dealers (including sub distributors) own the vouchers and operate autonomously with full control over the process from purchase to the final sale of the vouchers to the end user.

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4.2.1 As per section 9 (1) of CGST Act, GST is chargeable on the supply of goods and/or services. As the transaction in vouchers is neither supply of goods nor supply of services, therefore, pure trading of vouchers in this case would not constitute either supply of goods or supply of services. Accordingly, such trading of vouchers would not be leviable to GST as per section 9 (1) of CGST Act. 

4.3 Where vouchers are distributed using distributors/ sub-distributors/ agents on commission/ fee basis: In such cases, the transactions between the voucher issuer and the distributors/ sub-distributors/ agents are on principal-agency basis. These arrangements, as per contract/agreement between distributor/sub-distributor/agents and the voucher issuer may specify a set of obligations on such agents such as marketing & promotion and other related support activities for distribution of vouchers against a commission/fee or any other amount by whatever name called, for such purpose. In such cases, distributors/sub-distributors/agents do not operate autonomously, do not own the vouchers and only act as agent of the voucher issuer.  In such cases, GST would be payable by such distributor/sub-distributor/agent, acting as an agent of the voucher issuer, on the commission/fee or any other amount by whatever name called, for such purpose, as a supply of services to the voucher issuer.

Issue 3 -What would be GST treatment of additional services such as advertisement, co branding, marketing & promotion, customization services, technology support services, customer support services etc.

5.1 There may be cases where additional services such as advertisement, co-branding, customization services, technology support services, customer support services, etc. are provided by either the distributor/ sub-distributor or by another person to the voucher issuer against a service fee/ service charge/ affiliate charge or any other amount, by whatever name called, as per contract/agreement between such service provider and the service recipient (voucher issuer).  In such a case, the said service fee/ service charge/ affiliate charge or other amount for supply of such additional services to the voucher issuer as per the terms of contract/agreement, would be liable to GST at the applicable rate in the hands of the said service provider. 

Issue 4 -What would be the GST treatment of unredeemed vouchers (breakage)?

6.1 Sometimes, vouchers remain unused/ unredeemed at the end of their expiry period. In such cases, the businesses generally make book adjustments and account the said amount on account of unredeemed vouchers in their statement of income. The value of such unredeemed vouchers accounted for in the statement of income is called breakage. There are ambiguities and doubts in respect of GST treatment of such breakage. Also, doubts are raised whether the amount attributed to the unredeemed voucher(breakage) can be considered as “monetary value of any act or forbearance, in respect of, in response to, or for the inducement of, the supply of goods or services or both, whether by the recipient or by any other person”.

6.2 As per section 9 (1) of the CGST Act, GST is leviable only on the supply of goods and/or

services. In the case of breakage, there is no redemption of voucher and there is no supply of underlying goods and/or services. Therefore, there is no supply of goods and/or services on account of such unredeemed vouchers (breakage). Also, “consideration” under GST is defined under section 2 (31) of CGST Act, in relation to the supply of goods or services or both. As there is no underlying supply of goods and/or services in case of non-redemption of

vouchers by the customer, the amount retained for unredeemed vouchers by the voucher issuer cannot be construed as consideration for any supply. Accordingly, such amount attributable to unredeemed vouchers (breakage) would not be taxable as per the provisions of section 9(1) of CGST Act. 

6.3 Further, Circular No. 178/10/2022-GST dated 03.08.2022 clarifies that agreement to do or refrain from an act should not be presumed to exist, and that there must be an express or implied agreement, oral or written, to do or abstain from doing something against payment of consideration, for a taxable supply to exist.  Considering the principle laid out in the said circular, it emerges that where the voucher is issued for the purpose of redemption in respect

of a supply of goods and/or services and there is no express or implied agreement, oral or written, between the issuer of voucher and redeemer for payment of any amount or charges by the redeemer to the voucher issuer in case of non-redemption of the voucher, it cannot be considered that non-redemption of voucher by the redeemer tantamounts to supply of services.  Therefore, it appears that the amount attributable to non-redemption of voucher (breakage) would not constitute as a “monetary value of any act or forbearance, in respect of, in response to, or for the inducement of, the supply of goods or services or both, whether by the recipient or by any other person”. Therefore, no GST appears to be payable on such amount attributable to non-redemption of voucher (breakage).”

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The CBIC has urged tax authorities to ensure widespread dissemination of the circular and has requested feedback on its implementation. Businesses dealing in vouchers are advised to align their operations with these guidelines to avoid non-compliance issues.

To Read the full text of the Order CLICK HERE

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