New GST rule from April 1, 2025: ISD mandatory for input tax credit; not following will lead to ITC denial, minimum penalty of Rs 10,000
GST registrations have faced confusion regarding the process for distributing common input tax credits (ITC) availed on services to lower net GST liability.
While some entities have opted for the input service distributor (ISD) mechanism to allocate common ITC to their other GST registrations (under the same PAN), others have chosen the cross-charge method. In July 2023, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) clarified that the ISD mechanism is not mandatory for distributing common ITC availed from third parties to other GST registrations. As a result, businesses had the flexibility to choose between the ISD mechanism and the cross-charge method. However, this arrangement will change starting April 1, 2025.
New GST rule from April 1, 2025: ISD mandatory to claim ITC
The government has made the ISD mechanism mandatory, effective April 1, 2025. This means that the distribution of common ITC must be carried out exclusively through the ISD mechanism.
The below illustration explains the new GST rule:
Booking of invoice
Consumption of services
ITC distribution
Input services
Head office
Head office
Not required*
Head office
Location other than Head office
Mandatory ITC distribution through the ISD mechanism
*If the services consumed by the head office are used for supplying services to its other locations, the ITC need not be distributed but an outward tax invoice (cross charge) shall be issued
Live Events
Examples of services that are consumed at multiple locations are
