Section 89 of GST – Liability of directors of private company

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), where any tax, interest or penalty due from a private company in respect of any supply of goods or services or both for any period cannot be recovered, then, every person who was a director of the private company during such period shall, jointly and severally, be liable for the payment of such tax, interest or penalty unless he proves that the non-recovery cannot be attributed to any gross neglect, misfeasance or breach of duty on his part in relation to the affairs of the company. (2) Where a private company is converted into a public company and the tax, interest or penalty in respect of any supply of goods or services or both for any period during which such company was a private company cannot be recovered before such conversion, then, nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to any person who was a director of such private company in relation to any tax, interest or penalty in respect of such supply of goods or services or both of such private company. Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to any personal penalty imposed on such director. Related provisions of the Statute

Analysis of this section

Introduction This section deals with recovery of tax dues, interest or penalty from the directors of a private company, where the private company has not discharged its tax, penalty or interest liability towards the supply of goods or services. Analysis

If the tax, interest or penalty were not paid by a private company in relation to any supply of goods and / or services for any period, then every Director of such private company during such period will be liable to pay such dues. The liability of the Director will be relaxed only when, he proves that such non-recovery of dues is not because of his gross negligence, misfeasance or breach of duty in relation to the affairs of the company.However, when a private company is converted to public company, then no such recovery of old dues can be made from the person(s) who were directors of the private limited company before such conversion.However, an exception has been carved out for the above provision i.e., (ii) above – viz., this is not applicable to personal penalty which can be imposed on such director.

MCQs Q1. When a private company is converted into public company, the liability of director of private company         before conversion is……(a) Tax only(b) Tax and Interest(c) Tax, Interest or Penalties(d) None of the above Ans. (d) None of the above Recommended Articles 

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