Important Keyword: Circular 221/15/2024 GST, HAM project GST, Hybrid Annuity Model GST, NHAI annuity GST, Time of supply HAM contract, GST on annuity payments, Continuous supply of services GST, Section 13 GST HAM, Section 31 GST HAM, Infrastructure GST, NHAI concessionaire GST, Interest component GST,
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Table of Contents
F. No. CBIC-20001/4/2024-GST
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
(Department of Revenue)
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
GST Policy Wing
*****
North Block, New Delhi Dated the 26th June, 2024
Circular No. 221/15/2024 - GST: Time of supply on Annuity Payments under HAM Projects
To,
The Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners/ Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Central Tax (All)
The Principal Directors General/ Directors General (All)
Madam/Sir,
Subject: Clarification on time of supply in respect of supply of services of construction of road and maintenance thereof of National Highway Projects of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) model -reg.
Representations have been received from the trade and the field formations seeking clarification regarding the time of supply in respect of supply of services of construction of road and maintenance thereof of National Highway Projects in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) model, where certain portion of Bid Project Cost is received during construction period and remaining payment is received through deferred payment (annuity) spread over years.
- In order to clarify the issue and to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of law across the field formations, the Board, in exercise of its powers conferred by section 168 (1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as “CGST Act”), hereby clarifies the issues as under:
| S.No. | Issue | Clarification |
| 1. | Under HAM model of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the concessionaire has to construct the new road and provide Operation & Maintenance of the same which is generally over a period of 15- 17 years and the payment of the same is spread over the years. What is the time of supply for the purpose of payment of tax on the said service under the HAM model? | Under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) of concession agreements, the highway development projects are under Design, Build, Operate and Transfer model (DBOT), wherein the concessionaire is required to undertake new construction of Highway, as well as the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of Highways. The payment terms for the construction portion as well as the O&M portion of the contract are provided in the agreement between National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the concessionaire. A HAM contract is a single contract for construction as well as operation and maintenance of the highway. The payment terms are so staggered that the concessionaire is held accountable for the repair and maintenance of the highway as well. The contract needs to be looked at holistically based on the services to be performed by the concessionaire and cannot be artificially split into two separate contracts for construction and operation and maintenance, based on the payment terms. The concessionaire is bound contractually to complete not only the construction of the highway but also to operate and maintain the same. In HAM contract, the payment is made spread over the contract period in installments and payment for each installment is to be made after |
| specified periods, or on completion of an event, as specified in the contract. The same appears to be covered under the ‘Continuous supply of services’ as defined under section 2(33) of the CGST Act. As per clause (a) of Section 13(2) of CGST Act, the time of supply in respect of a supply of services shall be the date of issue of Invoice, or date of receipt of payment, whichever is earlier, in cases where invoice is issued within the period prescribed under section 31 of CGST Act. Further, as per clause (b) of Section 13(2) of CGST Act, in cases where invoice is not issued within the period prescribed under section 31, the time of supply of service shall be date of provision of the service or date of receipt of payment, whichever is earlier. However, as per section 31(5) of CGST Act, in cases of continuous supply of services, where the payment is made periodically, either due on a specified date or is linked to the completion of an event, the invoice is required to be issued on or before the specified date or the date of completion of that event. Accordingly, as per section 13(2) of CGST Act, read with section 31(5) of CGST Act, time of supply of services under HAM contract, including construction and O&M portion, should be the date of issuance of such invoice, or date of receipt of payment, whichever is earlier, if the invoice is issued on or before the specified date or the date of completion of the event specified in the contract, as |
| applicable. However, in cases, where the invoice is not issued on or before the specified date or the date of completion of the event specified in the contract, as per clause (b) of section 13(2), time of supply should be the date of provision of the service, or date of receipt of payment, whichever is earlier. In case of continuous supply of services, the date of provision of service may be deemed as the due date of payment as per the contract, as the invoice is required to be issued on or before the due date of payment as per the provisions of Section 31(5) of CGST Act. In the light of above, it is clarified that the tax liability on the concessionaire under the HAM contract, including on the construction portion, would arise at the time of issuance of invoice, or receipt of payments, whichever is earlier, if the invoice is issued on or before the specified date or the date of completion of the event specified in the contract, as applicable. If invoices are not issued on or before the specified date or the date of completion of the event specified in the contract, tax liability would arise on the date of provision of the said service (i.e., the due date of payment as per the contract), or the date of receipt of the payment, whichever is earlier. It is also clarified that as the installments/annuity payable by NHAI to the concessionaire also includes some interest component, the amount of such interest shall also be includible in the taxable value for the purpose of payment of tax on the said annuity/installment in view of the provisions of section 15(2)(d) of the CGST Act. |
- It is requested that suitable trade notices may be issued to publicize the contents of this Circular.
- Difficulty, if any, in implementation of this Circular may please be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version would follow.
(Sanjay Mangal)
Principal Commissioner (GST)
📚 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Circular No. 221/15/2024 - GST
Q1. What is Circular 221/15/2024 - GST?
Answer: It clarifies GST time of supply and valuation rules for NHAI projects executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model.
Q2. What is the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM)?
Answer: HAM is a highway development model where the concessionaire constructs, operates, and maintains infrastructure while receiving annuity-based payments.
Q3. Are HAM contracts treated as continuous supply of services?
Answer: Yes.
CBIC has specifically clarified that HAM arrangements qualify as continuous supply of services.
Q4. Can construction and maintenance activities be treated separately?
Answer: No.
The circular states that HAM contracts must be viewed as one integrated contract.
Q5. Which GST section governs continuous supply?
Answer: Section 2(33) of the CGST Act.
Q6. When does GST liability arise under HAM projects?
Answer: Generally on invoice issuance or receipt of payment, whichever is earlier.
Q7. What happens if the invoice is not issued on time?
Answer: GST liability may arise on the deemed date of service provision or receipt of payment, whichever is earlier.
Q8. Is invoice timing important?
Answer: Yes.
Invoice timing directly impacts the determination of GST liability.
Q9. Is the interest component in annuity payments taxable?
Answer: Yes.
CBIC has specifically clarified that it forms part of taxable value.
Q10. Which provision requires inclusion of interest?
Answer: Section 15(2)(d) of the CGST Act.
Q11. Does the circular apply only to NHAI projects?
Answer: Primarily yes, although the principles may provide guidance for similar long-term concession arrangements.
Q12. Does GST apply to the full annuity amount?
Answer: Yes, including the embedded interest component where applicable.
Q13. Why was the circular issued?
Answer: To remove uncertainty regarding GST timing and valuation in HAM projects.
Download PDF: Circular No. 221/15/2024 - GST
More Information: https://taxinformation.cbic.gov.in/
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