Delay in Filing Service Tax Refund Claim, Refund is Strictly Bound by Statutory Limit: CESTAT dismisses Royal Enfield’s Appeal

CESTAT dismissed Royal Enfield's delayed service tax refund claim, strictly applying the one-year limitation period. The tribunal rejected arguments about delayed discovery of overpayment, holding that statutory time limits are mandatory for tax refunds. The decision reinforces that taxpayers must diligently track potential refunds rather than rely on belated claims, even for genuine errors.