HUL receives GST demand, penalties of Rs 447.5 cr from authorities of five states

According to Hindustan Unilever, these GST demands and penalties would have 'no material impact on financial, no impact on operation' or other activities of the company due to the intimation of tax payable.

New Delhi: Leading FMCG maker Hindustan Unilever Ltd has received GST demand and penalties totalling Rs 447.5 crore from authorities of five states.

These 'orders are currently appealable' and the company will make an assessment for that, according to a Monday late night regulatory filing from HUL, which owns brands such as— Lux, Lifebuoy, Surf Excel, Rin, Pond's and Dove.

The company received a total of five orders passed from different zones of GST officials over issues such as disallowance of GST credit, salaries including allowances paid to expats etc on Friday and Saturday last week.

"The orders were received by the company on 30th December, 2023 and 31st December, 2023, respectively and the intimation is being submitted today i.e. January 1, 2024, being the first working day after receipt of the orders," said HUL.

This includes the demand for tax "on salaries including allowances paid to expats amounting to Rs 372.82 crore and penalty amounting to Rs 39.90 crore" from the Joint Commissioner, CGST and Central Excise, Mumbai East.

Besides, Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Tax Officer, Bengaluru has issued a demand of tax "on the grounds of excess GST credit availed amounting to Rs 8.90 crore and penalty amounting to 89.08 lakh".

Excise and Taxation Officer, Sonipat, Rohtak, Haryana, has issued a demand order "wherein GST credit amounting to Rs 12.94 crore has been disallowed and a penalty amounting to Rs 1.29 crore has been imposed".

While Additional Commissioner, Central Tax and Central Excise, Kochi Commissionerate has also disallowed GST credit and turnover adjustment amounting to Rs 8.65 crore and imposed a penalty amounting to Rs 87.50 lakh.

According to HUL, these GST demands and penalties would have "no material impact on financial, no impact on operation" or other activities of the company due to the intimation of tax payable.

"These orders are currently appealable & we will make an assessment to exercise our right to appeal," said HUL.

For the financial year which ended on March 31, 2023, HUL's revenue was at Rs 59,144 crore.