Indirect Tax Services

At MSA, we combine technical tax knowledge with sector-specific insights to help businesses comply with local regulations, mitigate risks and unlock the value hidden within their indirect tax strategy.

Supporting businesses through the entire tax life cycle

Indirect taxes in India forms a crucial part of it's taxation system, contributing nearly 50% of the total tax revenue. Indirect tax compliance has become a priority for the majority of companies across industries as over 1.4 crore businesses are now registered under GST. Now businesses must follow multiple tax regulations, starting from GST and customs duties to excise and cess to avoid any sort of penalties and optimise costs. However, with the changing policies and compliance requirements, it is more complex and time-consuming to manage your indirect taxes.

This is where MSA comes in. Whether you're a local SME, a pan-India enterprise, or a foreign company looking to enter or scale in India, we help you manage indirect taxes sustainably - from identification of risk areas to practical day-to-day compliance.

Types of Indirect Tax in India

India's indirect tax framework includes various levies that apply at different stages of the supply chain.

Let's take a look:

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

GST is a unified tax that replaced VAT, service tax and excise duty. It covers the supply of goods and services - and includes CGST, SGST, IGST and UTGST. Most of the businesses need to manage registration, e-invoicing under Rule 48(4), input tax credit claims and file returns periodically, such as GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9 and GSTR-9C.

Customs Duty

This applies to import and export transactions. It includes Basic Customs Duty (BCD), Countervailing Duty (CVD) and Anti-Dumping Duty. Compliance involves HSN classification, valuation, trade documentation and the  potential use of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) or SEZ/EOU schemes.

Excise Duty

This is levied on the manufacture of specific goods, such as petroleum and alcoholic products. Although largely replaced by GST, some industries still follow central excise regulations, requiring production tracking and filing of excise returns.

Stamp Duty

Stamp duty is imposed by state governments on property transactions, share transfers and legal agreements. It varies by state and is essential for making documents legally valid.

Cesses and Surcharges

These are additional levies charged for specific purposes. Examples include the Health and Education Cess, GST Compensation Cess and Infrastructure Cess - all of which must be factored into pricing and tax calculations.

Our Indirect Tax Services

We offer end-to-end indirect tax support - right from registrations and filings to strategic planning and litigation.

GST Registration & Compliance

We offer assistance with GST registration, amendments and cancellations based on turnover and your business structure. This includes timely filing of GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9, GSTR-9C and ITC reconciliation with GSTR-2B.

GST Advisory & Litigation Support

We provide expert guidance on GST rate classification, place of supply, time of supply, reverse charge mechanism (RCM) and anti-profiteering. We represent you in audits, handle show cause notices (SCNs) and support appeals before Tribunals and Courts.

E-Invoicing & E-Way Bill Compliance

We offer assistance with e-invoicing under Rule 48(4) and E-Way Bill generation using Form EWB-01 and EWB-02 to ensure uninterrupted movement of goods.

Customs Duty & Import/Export Compliance

Our experts provide advisory on customs classification, valuation and benefits under trade agreements. Our tax consultants support with Bill of Entry, Shipping Bills, AD Code registration and coordination with customs and DGFT.

Restructuring & Tax Planning

We evaluate the indirect tax implications of mergers, demergers or internal restructures. We help you design your supply chain and transactions with tax-efficiency in mind.

Dispute Resolution & Representation

We take care of responding to departmental notices, audits or investigations. Including drafting replies, gathering documentation and representing you before tax authorities.

Why Choose Us for Indirect Tax?

• Our team at MSA understands how indirect tax affects every operational detail - from procurement and pricing to shipping and invoicing.
• We do not stop at compliance - we help you build systems that reduce errors, avoid litigation and improve working capital flow.
• We are familiar with all sector-specific challenges, whether it is startup, IT, retail, real estate, e-commerce, logistics, manufacturing or cross-border services.
• We stay on top of rule changes across GST, customs, SEZ/EOU and trade policy so that you do  not have to.
• We work closely with your legal, supply chain or finance teams to make tax planning a part of their strategy, not a last-minute fix.