**Executive Summary**
Circular No. 254/11/2025-GST, issued on October 27th, 2025, by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, addresses the assignment of proper officers under specific sections of the CGST and IGST Acts. It clarifies the roles and monetary limits for various officers in the issuance of show cause notices and passing orders related to tax and penalty demands. The circular aims for optimal work distribution and asks for any difficulties in implementation to be brought to the notice of the Board.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Assignment of Proper Officers:**
* Assigns proper officers for Section 74A (determination of tax not paid/short paid), Section 75(2) (determination of tax payable when fraud charges aren't sustained), and Section 122 (penalties) of the CGST Act, 2017, as well as Rule 142(1A) of the CGST Rules, 2017 (issuance of communication in FORM GST DRC-01A).
* **Officer Designations and Functions (Table-I):**
* Additional/Joint Commissioner of Central Tax: Sub-sections (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) of Section 74 A.
* Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Central Tax: Section 122.
* Superintendent of Central Tax: Rule 142(1A) of the CGST Rules, 2017.
* **Monetary Limits for Show Cause Notices/Orders under Section 74A (Table-II):**
* Establishes monetary limits for issuing show cause notices and orders related to unpaid, short-paid, or erroneously refunded Central Tax and Integrated Tax under Section 74A of the CGST Act.
* Limits vary by officer designation (Superintendent, Deputy/Assistant Commissioner, Additional/Joint Commissioner).
* **Monetary Limits for Show Cause Notices/Orders under Section 122 (Table-III):**
* Establishes monetary limits for issuing show cause notices and orders related to penalties under Section 122 of the CGST Act, applicable to Central Tax and Integrated Tax.
* Limits vary by officer designation (Superintendent, Deputy/Assistant Commissioner, Additional/Joint Commissioner).
* **Clarifications:**
* Where a show cause notice involves both Central Tax and Integrated Tax, the proper officer is determined based on the *combined* amount.
* If a subsequent statement increases the tax demand beyond the initial officer's limit, the show cause notice and statement are made answerable to the officer competent for the higher amount, who will issue a corrigendum.
* For notices by Audit Commissionerate officers, the jurisdictional Central Tax Commissionerate officer makes the statement.
* When Appellate bodies invalidate notices under Section 74(1) due to lack of fraud evidence, the proper officer determines tax payable as if the notice were under Section 73(1).
**Impact Analysis**
**The Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners (All)
Impact**
* Need to understand the revised assignment of proper officers and the corresponding monetary limits.
* Need to ensure proper distribution of work related to the issuance of show cause notices and orders.
**Action Required**
* Familiarize themselves with the new guidelines for assigning proper officers.
* Ensure that officers under their jurisdiction are aware of their responsibilities and monetary limits.
**The Principal Directors General / Directors General (All)
Impact**
* Required to understand the implications of the updated procedures for issuing show cause notices and orders.
**Action Required**
* Disseminate the information to relevant personnel.
* Monitor the implementation of the guidelines.
**Officers of Central Tax
Impact**
* Their roles and responsibilities regarding the issuance of show cause notices and orders under specific sections of the CGST Act are now defined.
**Action Required**
* Understand their assigned functions.
* Adhere to the prescribed monetary limits.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017: Primary legislation governing the Goods and Services Tax in India, the policy clarifies the assignment of officers under specific sections.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs: The government body that issued the circular to clarify assignment of proper officers under CGST Act
Section 74A of the CGST Act: Specific section of the CGST Act related to determination of tax not paid or short paid; the policy focuses on proper officer assignment for this section.
Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017: Related legislation mentioned in the circular for matters regarding integrated tax in relation to CGST Act.
Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017: Rules made under the CGST Act, the policy assigns proper officers under specific rules
Circular No. 254/11/2025-GST
F. No. CBIC-20010/80/2025-GST
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
GST Policy Wing
***
Room No. 16038
Kartavya Bhawan-I, New Delhi,
Dated 27th October, 2025
To,
The Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners (All)
The Principal Directors General / Directors General (All)
Madam/Sir,
Subject: Assigning proper officer under section 74A, section 75(2) and section 122
of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the rules made thereunder–
reg.
Attention is invited to the Board’s circular No. 1/1/2017-GST dated 26th June, 2017,
through which the Board had assigned proper officers for provisions relating to registration and
composition levy under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017) (hereinafter
referred to as the “CGST Act”) and the rules made thereunder. Further, attention is also invited
to the Board's circular No. 3/3/2017-GST dated 5th July, 2017 and circular No. 31/05/2018-
GST dated 9th February, 2018 (as amended) regarding appointment of proper officers under
various provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and Integrated Goods and
Services Tax Act, 2017 (13 of 2017) (hereinafter referred to as the “IGST Act”).
2. It is observed that no proper officer has been assigned in respect of the following
provisions of the CGST Act and the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 (hereinafter
referred to as “CGST Rules”):
a) Section 74A of the CGST Act which shall be applicable for determination of tax not
paid or short paid or erroneously refunded or input tax credit availed or utilised for any
reason for the Financial Year 2024-25 onwards.
b) Section 75(2) of the CGST Act which provides where any Appellate Authority/
Appellate Tribunal/ Court concludes that the notice issued under section 74(1) is not
sustainable for the reason that the charges of fraud or any wilful-misstatement or
suppression of facts to evade tax has not been established against the person to whom
Page 1 of 6the notice was issued, the proper officer shall determine the tax payable, deeming as if
the notice were issued under section 73(1) of CGST Act.
c) Section 122 of the CGST Act, 2017 which provides for the penalties in respect of certain
offences.
d) Rule 142(1A) of the CGST Rules 2017 which provides for issuance of a communication
in FORM GST DRC-01A before issuance of any show cause notice under section 73 or
section 74 or section 74 A of the CGST Act, 2017.
3. In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (91) of section 2 of the CGST Act read
with Section 20 of the IGST Act and subject to sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5 of the
CGST Act, the Board hereby assigns the officers mentioned in Column (2) of the Table-I below,
to functions as the proper officers in relation to the two sections of the Central Goods and
Services Tax Act, 2017 or the rule, as given in the corresponding entry in Column (3) of the
said Table:-
Table-I
S. Designation of the officer Functions under Section of the Central Goods
No. and Services Tax Act, 2017 or the rules made
thereunder
(1) (2) (3)
1. a. Additional or Joint
Commissioner of Central Tax,
i. Sub-sections (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), (8), (9)
b. Deputy or Assistant and (10) of Section 74 A.
Commissioner of Central Tax,
ii. Section 122.
c. Superintendent of Central
iii. Rule 142(1A) of the CGST Rules, 2017.
Tax
4. Whereas, for optimal distribution of work relating to the issuance of show cause notices
and orders under section 74A and section 122 of the CGST Act and also under the IGST Act,
monetary limits for different levels of officers of Central Tax need to be prescribed.
5.1 Therefore, in pursuance of clause (91) of section 2 of the CGST Act read with section
20 of the IGST Act and subject to sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5 of the CGST Act, the
Board hereby assigns the officers mentioned in column (2) of the Table-II below, the functions
as the proper officers in relation to issuance of show cause notices and passing orders under
Page 2 of 6section 74A of the CGST Act and section 20 of the IGST Act (read with section 74A of the
CGST Act), up to the monetary limits as mentioned in columns (3), (4) and (5) respectively of
the Table below:-
Table-II
Monetary limit for issuance of show cause notices and passing of orders under section
74A of CGST Act
Monetary limit of the
Monetary limit of the amount of Central Tax
Monetary limit of amount of Integrated and Integrated tax
the amount of tax (including cess) not (including cess) not
Central Tax paid or short paid or paid or short paid or
(including cess) not erroneously refunded erroneously refunded
paid or short paid or or input tax credit of or input tax credit of
erroneously Integrated tax wrongly Central Tax and
refunded or input availed or utilized for Integrated Tax
Sl.
Officer of
tax credit of Central issuance of show cause wrongly availed or
No. Central Tax
Tax wrongly availed notices and passing of utilized for issuance of
or utilized for orders under section show cause notices and
issuance of show 74A of CGST Act passing of orders
cause notices and made applicable to under section 74A of
passing of orders matters in relation to CGST Act made
under section 74A of integrated tax vide applicable to
CGST Act section 20 of the IGST Integrated tax vide
Act section 20 of the IGST
Act
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1. Superintendent Not exceeding Rupees Not exceeding Rupees Not exceeding Rupees
of Central Tax 10 lakh 20 lakh 20 lakh
2. Deputy or Above Rupees 10 lakh Above Rupees 20 lakh Above Rupees 20 lakh
Assistant and not exceeding and not exceeding and not exceeding
Commissioner Rupees 1 crore Rupees 2 crore Rupees 2 crore
of Central Tax
3. Additional or Above Rupees 1 crore Above Rupees 2 crore Above Rupees 2 crore
Joint without any limit without any limit without any limit
Commissioner
of Central Tax
Page 3 of 65.2. It is clarified that where a show cause notice issued under section (1) of the section 73
or section 74 or section 74A of CGST Act, 2017 involves demand of both Central Tax and
Integrated Tax (including cess), the proper officer shall be determined on the basis of the
combined amount of Central Tax and Integrated Tax (including cess), mentioned in column (5)
of the Table-II above, irrespective of the individual amounts of Central Tax or Integrated Tax
(including cess) which may exceed the monetary limit prescribed in column (3) or column (4)
of the Table-II above.
5.3. The proper officer may serve a statement under sub-sections (3) and (4) of section 73
or section 74 or section 74A of the CGST Act, 2017 containing details of tax not paid or short
paid for a subsequent period after the show cause notice has been issued under sub-section (1)
of section 73 or section 74 or section 74A of the CGST Act, 2017 of the said section. In such
cases it is clarified that:
a) The proper officer shall be determined based on the highest amount of tax specified in
the show cause notice and statement across all tax periods.
b) Where the notice under sub-section (1) of section 73 or section 74 or section 74A of the
CGST Act, 2017 has been issued by a proper officer within his monetary limit but the
amount of tax demanded in the subsequent statement goes beyond his monetary limits
and which pertains to monetary limit corresponding to the competency of a higher-
ranked officer as per the prescribed monetary limits, the proper officer for issuing the
statement shall also be decided on the basis of the prescribed monetary limits in Table-
II above. The proper officer who has issued the earlier show cause notice and statement
(if any issued), shall issue a corrigendum and make the earlier show cause notice and
statement (if any issued) answerable to the proper officer competent to adjudicate the
statement with the higher amount of tax demanded.
c) In case there is no change in the monetary limit when the statement is issued, the
statement shall be issued by the same proper officer who has issued the show cause
notice in sub-section (1) of section 73 or section 74 or section 74A of CGST Act, and
he shall make the statement answerable to the same adjudication authority mentioned
in the show cause notice issued earlier.
d) The proper officer shall be determined based solely on the amount of tax demanded,
excluding penalties from the calculations.
e) For notices issued by officers of Audit Commissionerate of Central Tax, the proper
officer of the jurisdictional Central Tax Commissionerate of the noticee shall make the
statement to be issued under sub-sections (3) and (4) of section 73 or section 74 or
Page 4 of 6section 74A of the CGST Act answerable to the adjudicating authority mentioned in
the earlier show cause notice issued under sub-section (1) of section 73 or section 74
or section 74A of the CGST Act, 2017.
6. Section 75(2) of CGST Act provides that where any Appellate Authority or Appellate
Tribunal or Court concludes that the notice issued under section 74(1) of CGST Act, is not
sustainable for the reason that the charges of fraud or any wilful-misstatement or suppression
of facts to evade tax has not been established against the person to whom the notice was issued,
the proper officer shall determine the tax payable by such person, deeming as if the notice were
issued under section 73(1) of CGST Act. It is clarified that the proper officer for this purpose
shall be the same officer who is the adjudicating authority for such show cause notice in respect
of which the Appellate Authority or Appellate Tribunal or Court has concluded that the notice
issued under section 74(1) of CGST Act is not sustainable.
7.1. Further, in pursuance of clause (91) of section 2 of the CGST Act read with section 20
of the IGST Act and subject to sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5 of CGST Act, 2017, the
Board hereby assigns the officers mentioned in Column (2) of the Table-III below, the functions
as the proper officers in relation to issue of show cause notices and passing orders under section
122 of the CGST Act and section 20 of the IGST Act (read with section 122 of the CGST Act),
up to the monetary limits as mentioned in columns (3), (4) and (5) respectively of the Table
below:-
Table-III
Monetary limit for issuance of show cause notices and passing of orders under section
122 of CGST Act
Sl. Officer of Monetary limit of Monetary limit of the Monetary limit of the
No. Central Tax the amount of amount of penalty in amount of penalty in
penalty in relation relation to the relation to the Central
to the Central Tax Integrated Tax for Tax and Integrated
for issuance of show issuance of show Tax for issuance of
cause notices cause notices show cause notices
involving only involving only involving only penalty
penalty and passing penalty and passing and passing of orders
of orders under of orders under under section 122 of
section 122 of CGST section 122 of CGST CGST Act made
Act Act made applicable applicable to matters
to matters in relation in relation to
to Integrated Tax Integrated Tax vide
Page 5 of 6vide section 20 of the section 20 of the IGST
IGST Act Act
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1. Superintendent of Not exceeding Not exceeding Rupees Not exceeding Rupees
Central Tax Rupees 10 lakh 20 lakh 20 lakh
2. Deputy or Above Rupees 10 Above Rupees 20 lakh Above Rupees 20 lakh
Assistant lakh and not and not exceeding and not exceeding
Commissioner of exceeding Rupees 1 Rupees 2 crore Rupees 2 crore
Central Tax crore
3. Additional or Joint Above Rupees 1 Above Rupees 2 crore Above Rupees 2 crore
Commissioner of crore without any without any limit without any limit
Central Tax limit
7.2 It is also clarified that where a show cause notice is issued under section 122 of the
CGST Act, 2017 and involves demand of penalty in relation to both Central Tax and Integrated
Tax, the proper officer shall be determined on the basis of the combined amount of penalty in
relation to both Central Tax and Integrated Tax, mentioned in column (5) of the Table-III above,
irrespective of the individual amounts of penalty in relation to the Central Tax and Integrated
Tax¸ which may exceed the monetary limit prescribed in column (3) or column (4) of the Table-
III above.
8. It is requested that suitable trade notices may be issued to publicise the contents of this
circular.
9. Difficulty, if any, in implementation of the above instructions may please be brought to
the notice of the Board.
Yours faithfully,
(Gaurav Singh)
Commissioner (GST)
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