October 30, 2026

Section 8A – GST Compensation Act: Power Not to Recover Cess Not Levied or Short Levied

Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 — back to Table of Contents

Section 8A. Power not to recover cess not levied or short levied as a result of general practice

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, if the Government is satisfied that—

  • (a) a practice was, or is, generally prevalent regarding levy of cess (including non-levy thereof) on any supply of goods or services or both; and
  • (b) such supplies were, or are, liable to,—
    • (i) cess, in cases where according to the said practice, cess was not, or is not being, levied; or
    • (ii) a higher amount of cess than what was, or is being, levied, in accordance with the said practice,

the Government may, on the recommendation of the Council, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that the whole of the cess payable on such supplies, or, as the case may be, the cess in excess of that payable on such supplies, but for the said practice, shall not be required to be paid in respect of the supplies on which the cess was not, or is not being, levied, or was, or is being, short-levied, in accordance with the said practice.

Note: This section was inserted by Act 15 of 2024, section 157, with effect from 1 November 2024. It mirrors the equivalent “general practice” relief provision found in the Central Goods and Services Tax Act.