Section 13 of the IGST Act, 2017

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GST›IGST Act, 2017

At a glance

Procedure, powers and definitions

IGST section 13 determines service place of supply where either supplier or recipient location is outside India. The default uses recipient location or supplier location if unavailable in ordinary business. Special rules govern physical performance, property, events, multiple locations, specified financial and hiring services, passenger and on-board services, and online information services, with power to notify effective-use treatment.[1]

The default yields to the listed special rules. Goods-performance exceptions cover remote services and qualifying temporary imports, while sub-sections (6) and (7) qualify the performance, property and event rules for multiple locations. A notification under sub-section (13) can substitute effective use and enjoyment. The online-service Explanation supplies a separate territorial deeming through two non-contradictory indicators.

IGST section 13 has been in force since 1 July 2017. The temporary-import proviso changed from 1 February 2019, and sub-section (9) was omitted from 1 October 2023. Footnote 3 identifies omission of clause (8)(b) by the Finance Act, 2026 dated 30 March 2026 without separately stating commencement. The former intermediary wording is not treated as current.

Text

The text below is the section as served by the CBIC tax information portal on 22 September 2026, with the portal's own amendment footnote markers (shown as small numerals before a bracket) and its footnotes.[1] The Act as published in the Gazette of India is the legal source.

Section 13, verbatim (show)

Section 13

Section 13. Place of supply of services where location of supplier or location of recipient is outside India.-

(1) The provisions of this section shall apply to determine the place of supply of services where the location of the supplier of services or the location of the recipient of services is outside India.

(2) The place of supply of services except the services specified in sub-sections (3) to (13) shall be the location of the recipient of services:

Provided that where the location of the recipient of services is not available in the ordinary course of business, the place of supply shall be the location of the supplier of services.

(3) The place of supply of the following services shall be the location where the services are actually performed, namely:-

(a) services supplied in respect of goods which are required to be made physically available by the recipient of services to the supplier of services, or to a person acting on behalf of the supplier of services in order to provide the services:

Provided that when such services are provided from a remote location by way of electronic means, the place of supply shall be the location where goods are situated at the time of supply of services:

1[Provided further that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in the case of services supplied in respect of goods which are temporarily imported into India for repairs or for any other treatment or process and are exported after such repairs or treatment or process without being put to any use in India, other than that which is required for such repairs or treatment or process;]

(b) services supplied to an individual, represented either as the recipient of services or a person acting on behalf of the recipient, which require the physical presence of the recipient or the person acting on his behalf, with the supplier for the supply of services.

(4) The place of supply of services supplied directly in relation to an immovable property, including services supplied in this regard by experts and estate agents, supply of accommodation by a hotel, inn, guest house, club or campsite, by whatever name called, grant of rights to use immovable property, services for carrying out or co-ordination of construction work, including that of architects or interior decorators, shall be the place where the immovable property is located or intended to be located.

(5) The place of supply of services supplied by way of admission to, or organisation of a cultural, artistic, sporting, scientific, educational or entertainment event, or a celebration, conference, fair, exhibition or similar events, and of services ancillary to such admission or organisation, shall be the place where the event is actually held.

(6) Where any services referred to in sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) is supplied at more than one location, including a location in the taxable territory, its place of supply shall be the location in the taxable territory.

(7) Where the services referred to in sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) are supplied in more than one State or Union territory, the place of supply of such services shall be taken as being in each of the respective States or Union territories and the value of such supplies specific to each State or Union territory shall be in proportion to the value for services separately collected or determined in terms of the contract or agreement entered into in this regard or, in the absence of such contract or agreement, on such other basis as may be prescribed.

(8) The place of supply of the following services shall be the location of the supplier of services, namely:-

(a) services supplied by a banking company, or a financial institution, or a non-banking financial company, to account holders;

3[(b) ****]

(c) services consisting of hiring of means of transport, including yachts but excluding aircrafts and vessels, up to a period of one month.

Explanation . - For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression,-

(a) "account" means an account bearing interest to the depositor, and includes a non-resident external account and a non-resident ordinary account;

(b) "banking company" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it under clause (a) of section 45A of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934;

(c) "financial institution" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (c) of section 45-I of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934;

(d) "non-banking financial company" means, -

( i ) a financial institution which is a company;

(ii) a non-banking institution which is a company and which has as its principal business the receiving of deposits, under any scheme or arrangement or in any other manner, or lending in any manner; or

( iii ) such other non-banking institution or class of such institutions, as the Reserve Bank of India may, with the previous approval of the Central Government and by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

(9) 2[* * * *]

(10) The place of supply in respect of passenger transportation services shall be the place where the passenger embarks on the conveyance for a continuous journey.

(11) The place of supply of services provided on board a conveyance during the course of a passenger transport operation, including services intended to be wholly or substantially consumed while on board, shall be the first scheduled point of departure of that conveyance for the journey.

(12) The place of supply of online information and database access or retrieval services shall be the location of the recipient of services.

Explanation .-For the purposes of this sub-section, person receiving such services shall be deemed to be located in the taxable territory, if any two of the following non-contradictory conditions are satisfied, namely:-

(a) the location of address presented by the recipient of services through internet is in the taxable territory;

(b) the credit card or debit card or store value card or charge card or smart card or any other card by which the recipient of services settles payment has been issued in the taxable territory;

(c) the billing address of the recipient of services is in the taxable territory;

(d) the internet protocol address of the device used by the recipient of services is in the taxable territory;

(e) the bank of the recipient of services in which the account used for payment is maintained is in the taxable territory;

(f) the country code of the subscriber identity module card used by the recipient of services is of taxable territory;

(g) the location of the fixed land line through which the service is received by the recipient is in the taxable territory.

(13) In order to prevent double taxation or non-taxation of the supply of a service, or for the uniform application of rules, the Government shall have the power to notify any description of services or circumstances in which the place of supply shall be the place of effective use and enjoyment of a service.

1. Substituted for " Provided further that nothing contained in this clause shall apply in the case of services supplied in respect of goods which are temporarily imported into India for repairs and are exported after repairs without being put to any other use in India, than that which is required for such repairs; " by s. 6 of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act, 2018 (No. 32 of 2018) - Brought into force w.e.f. 01st February, 2019.

2. Omitted by s. 162 of The Finance (No. 8) Act, 2023 (No. 08 of 2023) - Brought into force w.e.f. 01st October, 2023 vide Notification No. 28/2023-C.T., dated 31st July, 2023.

3. Omitted by section 157 of The Finance Act, 2026 (No. 4) of 2026 dated 30.03.2026.

13(1) and (2)Scope and default

shall be the location of the recipient of servicesSection 13(1) and (2)

Either supplier or recipient location must be outside India. Unavailable recipient location in ordinary business gives supplier location, and the listed special services displace this default. A sub-section (13) notification can override the ordinary location outcome.

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Sub-section (3)

13(3)(a) and provisosGoods-performance services

shall be the location where the services are actually performedSection 13(3)(a) and provisos

The goods must be physically made available for the service; remote electronic performance instead uses goods location. Qualifying temporary imports for repair, treatment or processing and re-export without other use are excepted. Sub-sections (6) and (7) qualify multi-location performance.

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13(3)(b)Individual presence

which require the physical presence of the recipient or the person acting on his behalfSection 13(3)(b)

Actual performance governs services requiring the individual or representative to be present with the supplier. The multi-location rules in sub-sections (6) and (7) remain applicable.

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13(4)Immovable property

shall be the place where the immovable property is located or intended to be located.Section 13(4)

The listed direct property services include experts, estate agents, accommodation, use rights and construction coordination. Sub-sections (6) and (7) qualify multiple locations. The law does not settle the required direct connection.

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13(5)Events

shall be the place where the event is actually held.Section 13(5)

The rule covers admission, organisation and ancillary services for the listed events. Sub-sections (6) and (7) govern the stated multi-location cases.

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13(6)Taxable-territory location

its place of supply shall be the location in the taxable territory.Section 13(6)

The services must fall under sub-section (3), (4) or (5) and span multiple locations including taxable territory. That location rule qualifies their ordinary performance, property or event treatment.

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13(7)Multiple States

shall be taken as being in each of the respective States or Union territoriesSection 13(7)

The rule applies to services under sub-section (3), (4) or (5) in more than one State or Union territory. Values follow separate collection or agreement, otherwise the prescribed basis.

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13(8) and ExplanationFinancial services and short hiring

shall be the location of the supplier of servicesSection 13(8) and Explanation

The remaining limbs cover specified financial bodies serving account holders and transport hire up to one month, including yachts but excluding aircraft and vessels. An account bears depositor interest and includes the stated non-resident accounts; banking company and financial institution adopt the named Reserve Bank Act meanings. Non-banking financial company covers the specified financial companies, deposit or lending businesses and notified classes with prior Government approval.

13(10)Passengers

shall be the place where the passenger embarks on the conveyance for a continuous journey.Section 13(10)

The embarkation event fixes passenger-transport place. A sub-section (13) notification may substitute effective-use treatment.

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13(11)On-board services

shall be the first scheduled point of departure of that conveyance for the journey.Section 13(11)

The service is provided during passenger transport, including wholly or substantially on-board consumption. The first scheduled departure governs the journey.

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13(12) and Explanation (a) to (g)Online services

shall be deemed to be located in the taxable territory, if any two of the following non-contradictory conditions are satisfiedSection 13(12) and Explanation (a) to (g)

Indicators cover presented address, card issue, billing address, device internet address, payment bank, subscriber-identity country code and fixed landline location. Two must be non-contradictory. The law does not settle how conflicting evidence or readings satisfy that requirement.

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13(13)Effective use and enjoyment

the Government shall have the power to notify any description of services or circumstancesSection 13(13)

The power serves prevention of double taxation or non-taxation, or uniform application. A qualifying notification substitutes effective use and enjoyment for the ordinary rules.

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Other questions to answer on the file

Questions a reviewer answers from the engagement file, grouped by the part of the section they come from. They describe what the section asks; they do not decide it.

Default location and ordinary-business fallback 13(2) and proviso

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Account-holder services and the institutional definitions 13(8)(a)

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Short hiring of means of transport 13(8)(c)

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Frequently asked questions

What if recipient location is unavailable in ordinary business?

Supplier location applies under the default proviso. The specified special-service rules still qualify the default.

Section 13(2)

Which goods services have the temporary-import exception?

Qualifying repairs, treatment or processing followed by export without other Indian use fall within it. Permitted use must relate to that work.

Section 13(3)(a), second proviso

How is conflicting online territorial evidence resolved?

The law does not settle which affirmative pair is non-contradictory where indicators or reliable contrary evidence conflict. The Explanation requires two non-contradictory conditions.

Section 13(12)

Amendment history

The CBIC text carries 3 footnotes. The table gives each in the source's own terms. Effective dates are as the footnotes state them.[1]

Amendments to section 13 as footnoted in the CBIC text
NoteEffective from
101st February, 2019
201st October, 2023
3Amendment dated 30.03.2026; source does not separately label commencement
Provisions connected to Section 13
ProvisionConnectionWords that tie them
Section 2 of the CGST Act, 201713(1), 13(6), 13(12) defined by IGST section 2(22), (24), and CGST section 2(56) at Section 2 of the CGST Act, 201713(1) "outside India"; 13(6) "taxable territory"
Section 16 of the CGST Act, 2017, Section 17 of the CGST Act, 2017, Section 49 of the CGST Act, 2017, Section 77 of the CGST Act, 2017CGST input-tax-credit and wrong-tax-head records including Section 16 of the CGST Act, 2017, Section 17 of the CGST Act, 2017, Section 49 of the CGST Act, 2017, Section 77 of the CGST Act, 2017 requires Independently established service place from the applicable IGST rule13(1) "determine the place of supply of services"; contextual downstream relationship, not automatic credit eligibility

Circulars and notifications

Circulars and notifications in the CBIC repository that cite this section, newest first, by number, date and subject. A listing here does not say what an instrument decides; read the instrument.

Circulars (9)

NumberDateSubject
Circular No. 230/24/2024-GST11 September 2024Clarification in respect of advertising services provided to foreign clients.
Circular No. 232/26/2024-GST11 September 2024Clarification on place of supply of data hosting services provided by service providers located in India to cloud computing service providers located outside India.
Circular No. 220/14/2024-GST26 June 2024Clarification on place of supply applicable for custodial services provided by banks to Foreign Portfolio Investors
Circular No. 203/15/2023-GST27 October 2023Clarification regarding determination of place of supply in various cases
Circular No. 159/15/2021-GST20 September 2021Clarification on doubts related to scope of "Intermediary"
Circular No. 118/37/2019-GST11 October 2019Clarification regarding determination of place of supply in case of software/design services related to Electronics Semi-conductor and Design Manufacturing (ESDM) industry.
Circular No. 103/22/2019-GST28 June 2019Clarification regarding determination of place of supply in certain cases-reg.
Circular No. 78/52/2018-GST31 December 2018Clarification on export of services under GST
Circular No. 2/01/2017-IGST27 September 2017Clarification on supply of satellite launch services by ANTRIX Corporation Ltd.

Notifications (6)

NumberDateSubject
Notification No. 03/2021-Integrated Tax2 June 2021Seeks to amend Notification No. 4/2019-Integrated Tax dt. 30.09.2019 to change the place of supply for B2B MRO services in case of Shipping industry, to the location of the recipient. made under this section
Notification No. 02/2020-Integrated Tax26 March 2020Seeks to amend Notification No. 4/2019-Integrated Tax dt. 30.09.2019 to change the place of supply for B2B MRO services to the location of the recipient. made under this section
Notification No. 21/2019-Integrated Tax (Rate)30 September 2019Seeks to amend notification No. 10/2017- Integrated Tax (Rate) so as notify certain services under reverse charge mechanism (RCM) as recommended by GST Council in its 37th meeting held on 20.09.2019.
Notification No. 04/2019-Integrated Tax30 September 2019Seeks to notify the place of supply of R&D services related to pharmaceutical sector as per Section 13(13) of IGST Act, as recommended by GST Council in its 37th meeting held on 20.09.2019. amended by a later instrument made under this section
Notification No. 04/2018-Integrated Tax31 December 2018Seeks to amend the IGST Rules, 2017 so as to notify the rules for determination of place of supply in case of inter-State supply under sections 10(2), 12(3), 12(7), 12(11) and 13(7) of the IGST Act, 2017. made under this section
Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated Tax (Rate)28 June 2017To notify the categories of services on which integrated tax will be payable under reverse charge mechanism under IGST Act amended by a later instrument

Unsettled questions

The words of section 13 do not answer these questions. Where one decides a matter on the file, the answer depends on the position taken on it.

  1. What connection makes a service directly in relation to immovable property under IGST section 12(3)(a) or section 13(4), applying the examples and context of the provision under examination?
  2. Where online-service territorial evidence conflicts, what makes a pair of affirmative conditions non-contradictory for section 13(12), including inconsistent readings of one indicator or reliable evidence pointing outside taxable territory?

See also

References

  1. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. "Section 13. Place of supply of services where location of supplier or location of recipient is outside India". Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, CBIC tax information portal, with amendment footnotes 1 to 3. Retrieved 22 September 2026.

External links