Bimal Jain BGM Service Tax 051014

Background Study

Material on Service

Tax

CA Bimal Jain FCA, FCS, LLB, B.Com (Hons.)

F-30/31/32, Pankaj Grand Plaza,

MayurVihar Phase-1,Delhi-110091

E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile: +91 9810604563

Website: www.a2ztaxcorp.com

1

INDEX

Sl. No. Chapters

Page

No.

1 Introduction to Service Tax 2

2 Applicability of Service Tax 3-5

3 Charge of Service Tax 6

4 Negative List 7-12

5 Declared Services 13-17

6 Bundling of Services 18-19

7 Determination of Place of Provision of Services 20-22

8 Reverse Charge Mechanism 23-26

9 Exemptions and abatements 27-47

10 Valuation of Taxable Services 48-53

11 Export of service 54

12 Point of Taxation Rules 55-59

13 Works Contract Services

2

Chapter 1 Introduction to service tax

Services are one of the major contributors to the development of economy. As per the latest

Economic Survey, the services sector has made a major contribution to the Indian Economy,

growing by 8% annually and contributing to about quarter of employment.

Tax on services was first introduced in the year 1994, through the insertion of Chapter V in the

Finance Act, 1994 (the Finance Act) and levy was confined to three services. Since then, the

Finance Act has been amended every year to bring in more services into the tax net and had

119 services in the tax net till June 30, 2012. The Finance Act, 2012, w.e.f. 1st July, 2012 has

introduced comprehensive approach for levy of service tax to tax services based on what is

popularly known as Negative List of Services. It means, if any activity meets the

characteristics of a service, it is taxable unless specified in the negative list or otherwise

exempted by the mega exemption notification. The negative list comprises of 17 services which

are listed in the Section 66D of the Finance Act.

3

Chapter 2 - Applicability of Service Tax

Section 64 of the Finance Act deals with the applicability of levy and provides that service tax

will extend to whole of India, except the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Some important definitions under section 65B of Finance Act are as follows-

(i) "India" means,-

(a) the territory of the Union as referred to in clauses (2) and (3) of article 1 of the

Constitution;

(b) its territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone or any other maritime

zone as defined in the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and

other Maritime Zones Act, 1976; (80 of 1976.)

(c) the seabed and the subsoil underlying the territorial waters;

(d) the air space above its territory and territorial waters; and

(e) the installations, structures and vessels located in the continental shelf of India and the

exclusive economic zone of India, for the purposes of prospecting or extraction or

production of mineral oil and natural gas and supply thereof. [65B (27)]

(ii) "Taxable territory" means the territory to which the provisions of this Chapter apply.

[65B(52)]

Hence, the taxable territory covers whole of India except the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

(iii) Non-taxable territory means the territory other than the taxable territory. [65B(35)]

In view of the above, the services provided within the territorial limits of the state of

Jammu & Kashmir will not be liable to service tax irrespective of whether the service

provider is residing in that state or not. However, any person residing in the state of J & K

providing services in other parts of country would be liable to service tax, whereas, the

person having office in other part of country other than J & K and providing service in J &

K, would not be liable to pay service tax.

(iv) "Service" means any activity carried out by a person for another for consideration, and

includes a declared service, but shall not include-

(a) an activity which constitutes merely,-

(i) a transfer of title in goods or immovable property, by way of sale, gift or in any other

manner; or

4

(ii) such transfer, delivery or supply of any goods which is deemed to be sale within the

meaning of clause (29A) of article 366 of the Constitution; or

(iii) a transaction in money or actionable claim;

(b) a provision of service by an employee to the employer in the course of or in relation

to his employment;

(c) fees taken in any Court or tribunal established under any law for the time being in

force.

Explanation 1.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that nothing contained

in this clause shall apply to,-

(A) the functions performed by the Members of Parliament, Members of State

Legislative, Members of Panchayats, Members of Municipalities and Members of other

local authorities who receive any consideration in performing the functions of that

office as such member; or

(B) the duties performed by any person who holds any post in pursuance of the

provisions of the Constitution in that capacity; or

(C) the duties performed by any person as a Chairperson or a Member or a Director in a

body established by the Central Government or State Governments or local authority

and who is not deemed as an employee before the commencement of this section.

Explanation 2. - For the purposes of this clause, transaction in money shall not include

any activity relating to the use of money or its conversion by cash or by any other

mode, from one form, currency or denomination, to another form, currency or

denomination for which a separate consideration is charged.

Explanation 3.- For the purposes of this Chapter,-

(a) an unincorporated association or a body of persons, as the case may be, and a

member thereof shall be treated as distinct persons;

(b) an establishment of a person in the taxable territory and any of his other

establishment in a non-taxable territory shall be treated as establishments of distinct

persons.

Explanation 4.- A person carrying on a business through a branch or agency or

representational office in any territory shall be treated as having an establishment in

that territory;

5

Chapter 3 Charge of Service Tax

During the period prior to 1.7.2012, the charging of service tax was provided in Section 66

which provided that 12% service tax leviable on the taxable services referred in various sub-

clauses of Section 65(105) which contained all the definitions of taxable services of about 121

services.

Consequent to the amendments made by Finance Act, 2012 which ushered in Negative List of

Taxation of services w.e.f., 1.7.2012, a new charging provision is contained in Section 66B of

the Finance Act which provides that a tax referred to as Service Tax shall be levied at the rate of

12% of the value of all services, other than those services specified in the negative list, provided

or agreed to be provided in the taxable territory by one person to another and collected in such

manner as may be prescribed.

Therefore, it is clear that w.e.f. 1.7.2012, all those activities which get covered under the

definition of service as per Section 65B(44) would be liable to service tax at 12% ad valorem

with exception of those services which are contained in Negative List.

6

Chapter 4 - Negative List

The term Negative List is defined in Section 65B (34) to mean the services which are listed in

section 66D.

Therefore, we have to refer to the list of services stipulated in Section 66D as being Negative

List of services which are excluded from service tax levy under Section 66B.

The following are the negative list of services stipulated under Section 66D:

(a) Services provided by Government or local authority:

Under this entry all services provided by the Government or local authority would get

covered except the following services:

(i) services by the Department of Posts by way of speed post, express parcel post, life

insurance and agency services provided to a person other than Government;

(ii) services in relation to an aircraft or a vessel, inside or outside the precincts of a

port or an airport;

(iii) transport of goods or passengers; or

(iv) support services, other than services covered under clauses (i) to (iii) above,

provided to business entities;

(b) Services by the Reserve Bank of India:

(c) Services by a foreign diplomatic mission located in India: (d) Services relating to agriculture:

Services relating to agriculture by way of-

(i) agricultural operations directly related to production of any agricultural produce

including cultivation, harvesting, threshing, plant protection or testing;

(ii) supply of farm labour;

(iii) processes carried out at an agricultural farm including tending, pruning, cutting,

harvesting, drying, cleaning, trimming, sun drying, fumigating, curing, sorting,

grading, cooling or bulk packaging and such like operations which do not alter the

essential characteristics of agricultural produce but make it only marketable for the

primary market;

(iv) renting or leasing of agro machinery or vacant land with or without a structure

incidental to its use;

(v) loading, unloading, packing, storage or warehousing of agricultural produce;

(vi) agricultural extension services;

(vii) services by any Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee or Board or services

provided by a commission agent for sale or purchase of agricultural produce;

7

(e) Trading of goods: (f) Any process amounting to manufacture or production of goods:

The phrase process amounting to manufacture or production of goods is defined in

Section 65B(40) as follows:

(40) "process amounting to manufacture or production of goods" means a process on

which duties of excise are leviable under section 3 of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or any

process amounting to manufacture of alcoholic liquors for human consumption, opium,

Indian hemp and other narcotic drugs and narcotics on which duties of excise are leviable

under any State Act for the time being in force;

Therefore, any activity would amount to manufacture or production of goods which is

leviable for duty of excise or state excise as the case may be would get covered under this

entry of negative list and would get excluded from service tax levy.

(g) Selling of space for advertisement in print media

For the purpose of understanding the term advertisement is defined in Section 65B (2)

as follows:

"advertisement" means any form of presentation for promotion of, or bringing awareness

about, any event, idea, immovable property, person, service, goods or actionable claim

through newspaper, television, radio or any other means but does not include any

presentation made in person.

Further the term print media is defined in Section 65B (39a) as follows:

(39a) print media means,

(i) book as defined in sub-section (1) of section 1 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, but does not include business directories, yellow pages and trade catalogues

which are primarily meant for commercial purposes;

(ii) newspaper as defined in sub-section (1) of section 1 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867;

Provision prior to 1st

October, 2014

[(g) selling of space or time slots for advertisements other than advertisements broadcast

by radio or television;]

(h) Service by way of access to a road or a bridge on payment of toll charges:

All payments of toll charges for access of a road or a bridge get covered under this entry

8

and therefore would get excluded from service tax. It should be noted that all toll charges

collected for access to National Highways or State Highways would also get covered under

this entry and therefore not liable to service tax.

But the services provided by a toll collecting agency to authorities such as National

Highway Authority is not covered under this entry.

(i) Betting, gambling or lottery:

All activities relating to betting, gambling or lottery would not be liable to services as

they are specifically covered under this entry.

As regards the phrase betting or gambling, the same has been defined in Section 65B

(15) as follows:

"betting or gambling" means putting on stake something of value, particularly money,

with consciousness of risk and hope of gain on the outcome of a game or a contest, whose

result may be determined by chance or accident, or on the likelihood of anything occurring

or not occurring.

(j) Admission to entertainment events or access to amusement facilities:

Under this entry, any amount collected towards admission to entertainment events or

access to amusement facilities would be excluded from service tax levy.

(k) Transmission or distribution of electricity by an electricity transmission or distribution utility:

transmission or distribution of electricity provided by electricity transmission or

distribution utility would get covered under the negative list of services and therefore

not liable to service tax.

(l) Educational services:

Under this entry, the services by way of-

(i) Pre-school education and education up to higher secondary school or equivalent;

Under this education starting from pre-school up to higher secondary school is

excluded from levy of service tax.

(ii) Education as a part of a curriculum for obtaining a qualification recognized by any

law for the time being in force:

9

All Educational services which is a part of curriculum and which results in

qualification recognized by any law for the time being in force would get covered

under this entry.

Hence, conduct of degree courses by colleges, universities or institutions which lead grant

of qualifications recognized by law would be excluded from service tax levy. However, the

training given by private coaching institutes would not be covered as such training does

not lead to grant of a recognized qualification.

(iii) Education as a part of an approved vocational education course

The term approved vocational education course has been defined in Section 65B

as follows:

(11) "approved vocational education course" means,-

(i) a course run by an industrial training institute or an industrial training centre

affiliated to the National Council for Vocational Training or State Council for

Vocational Trainingoffering courses in designated trades notified under the

Apprentices Act, 1961; or

(ii) a Modular Employable Skill Course, approved by the National Council of

Vocational Training, run by a person registered with the Directorate General of

Employment and Training, Union Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Therefore, the education provided as part of approved vocational education

course only get excluded under this entry and any other vocational course would

not be entitled for exemption.

(m) Services by way of renting of residential dwelling for use as residence:

Under this entry, renting of residential dwelling which is used as residence is excluded

from service tax levy.

(n) Financial Services by way of-

(i) extending deposits, loans or advances in so far as the consideration is represented

by way of interest or discount. However, if any administrative charges are also

collected along with interest or discount, then such charges would not get covered

under this entry and therefore would be liable to service tax.

(ii) inter se sale or purchase of foreign currency amongst banks or authorized dealers of

foreign exchange or amongst banks and such dealers

10

The exclusion under this entry only covers sale and purchase of foreign exchange

between banks or authorized dealers of foreign exchange or between banks and

such dealers.

(o) Services relating to transportation of passengers:

Service of transportation of passengers, with or without accompanied belongings, by-

(i) A stage carriage;

(46) "stage carriage" shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (40) of section 2

of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; (59 of 1988.)

Stage Carriage is defined under Section 2 (40) which reads as follows:

stage carriage means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more

than six passengers excluding the driver for hire or reward at separate fares paid

by or for individual passengers, either for the whole journey or for stages of the

journey;

(ii) Railways in a class other than (A) first class; or (B) an air-conditioned coach;

Under this entry, all transportation of passenger by Railways except that of first

class or an air conditioned coach would be excluded from service tax levy.

(iii) Metro, monorail or tramway;

All transportation of passenger service provided by Metro, monorail or

tramway would be excluded from service tax levy.

(iv) Inland waterways, (v) Public transport, other than predominantly for tourism purpose, in a vessel

between places located in India; and

(vi) Metered cabs, or auto rickshaws;

The services of transportation of passengers provided by metered cabs, or auto

rickshaws is excluded from service tax levy i.e. Radio Taxi chargeable to Service

tax w.e.f 1-10-2014.

Provision prior to 1st

October, 2014

[(vi) metered cabs, radio taxis or auto rickshaws;]

(p) Service relating to transportation of goods:

11

Services by way of transportation of goods-

(i) by road except the services of-

(A) a goods transportation agency; or

(B) a courier agency:

All services by way of transportation of goods is excluded from service tax levy with the

exception of goods transportation agency and courier agency.

(ii) by an aircraft or a vessel from a place outside India to the first customs station of

landing in India; or

(iii) by inland waterways

Similar to transportation of passengers by inland waters, the transportation of goods by

inland waters is also excluded from service tax levy.

(q) Funeral, burial, crematorium or mortuary services including transportation of the deceased.

Under this entry all services relating to funeral, burial, crematorium or mortuary would

get excluded from service tax. Further, the transportation of the deceased is also covered

under this negative list.

12

Chapter 5 Declared Services

Section 65B(22) "declared service" means any activity carried out by a person for another

person for consideration and declared as such under section 66E;

Section 66E of the Finance Act, 2012 contains the list of nine activities that have been declared

to be services. The said section reads as under:

Declared Services

Section 66E lists the following as being declared services:

(a) Renting of immovable property;

Under the Negative List Taxation of Services w.e.f., 1.7.2012, all types of renting of

immovable property would be liable to service tax as being a Declared Service.

It is relevant to note that prior to 1.7.2012, the renting of immovable property was

leviable to service tax only if the renting was for use in the course of or for furtherance

of, business or commerce.

(b) Construction of a complex, building, civil structure or a part thereof, including a complex or building intended for sale to a buyer, wholly or partly, except where the entire

consideration is received after issuance of completion certificate by the competent

authority.

Construction services under the new regime is a combination of two heading of old

regime

(a) Construction service was already taxable as part of construction of residential complex

service under Section 65(105) (zzzh); and

(b) Service in relation to commercial or industrial construction under Section 65(105) (zzq)

of the Act.

However, under the new entry under declared services, both the above referred headings

have been combined with the following changes:

- Requirement of more than 12 residential units in a residential complex has been

removed. Now any building with more than one residential unit could be termed

as residential complex.

- Reference to commercial or industrial construction has been omitted

13

Hence, all types of construction of buildings would get covered under this heading with

exception of where the entire consideration is received after issuance of completion

certificate by the competent authority.

Explanation (I) defines competent authority as follows:

Explanation II to the above heading provides that the expression "construction" includes

additions, alterations, replacements or remodeling of any existing civil structure;

The above explanation expands the scope of the definition of construction to include

addition, alteration, replacements or re-modeling of any existing civil structure.

(c) Temporary transfer or permitting the use or enjoyment of any intellectual property right;

Intellectual property right has not been defined in the Act. The phrase has to be

understood as in normal trade parlance as per which intellectual property right includes

the following:

Copyright

Patents

Trademarks

Designs

Any other similar right to an intangible property

Only temporary transfer of IPR is liable service tax under this heading and therefore all

permanent transfers would get excluded from service tax levy.

(d) Development, design, programming, customisation, adaptation, upgradation, enhancement, implementation of information technology software;

The phrase information technology software is defined in Section 65B as follows:

(28) "information technology software" means any representation of instructions, data,

sound or image, including source code and object code, recorded in a machine readable

form, and capable of being manipulated or providing interactivity to a user, by means of a

computer or an automatic data processing machine or any other device or equipment.

(e) Agreeing to the obligation to refrain from an act, or to tolerate an act or a situation, or to do an act;

This entry is unique one in the Declared Services wherein the following activities done by

one person to another person for consideration would be termed as declared service:

14

Agreeing to the obligation to refrain from an act.

Agreeing to the obligation to tolerate an act or a situation.

Agreeing to the obligation to do an act.

It is interesting to note this entry also covers those transactions where one party agrees to

tolerate an act or situation for a consideration.

(f) Transfer of goods by way of hiring, leasing, licensing or in any such manner without transfer of right to use such goods;

It is relevant to note that transfer of right to use the goods is one of the transaction of

deemed sale as per clause (d) of article 366(29A) of the Constitution.

What is sought to be termed as declared services is that aspect of transaction where the

goods are transferred by way of hiring, leasing, licensing etc.without involving transfer of

right to use such goods.

(g) Activities in relation to delivery of goods on hire purchase or any system of payment by installments;

It is clear from the definition of service in Section 65B(44) that all deemed sale as per

article 366(29A) of the Constitution of India is excluded from the purview of service.

As per clause (c) of Article 366(29A) of the Constitution of India, the delivery of goods on

hire purchase or any system of payment on instalment is a deemed sale, hence such

transactions are not covered under the definition of service.

However, under this entry, the activities or services provided in relation to such delivery

of goods on hire purchase or on instalment payment are sought to be covered.

(h) Service portion in the execution of a works contract;

Works Contract is one of the transaction which is covered under deemed sale under

Article 366(29A) of the Constitution of India.

However, only service portion in execution of a works contract is specified as declared

service.

In this context, the term works contract is defined in clause (54) of Section 65B:

Section 65B (54) "works contract" means a contract wherein transfer of property in goods

involved in the execution of such contract is leviable to tax as sale of goods and such

contract is for the purpose of carrying out construction, erection, commissioning,

installation, completion, fitting out, repair, maintenance, renovation, alteration of any

15

movable or immovable property or for carrying out any other similar activity or a part

thereof in relation to such property;

It is clear from the above that the new definition of works contract is similar to the

definition contained in VAT laws of various states wherein contract includes transfer of

property in goods along with provision of services for certain specified activities in relation

to both movable and immovable properties.

It is relevant to note that only if the said transaction is a composite contract on the basis

that service aspect is inextricably linked to the sale of goods and the actual amount

towards the element of services cannot be segregated on the basis of documents

available, then the nature of such transaction would be determined by the application of

the dominant nature test laid down by the Supreme Court in BSNL vs. UOI 2006 (2) STR

161 (SC).

(i) Service portion in an activity wherein goods, being food or any other article of human consumption or any drink (whether or not intoxicating) is supplied in any manner as a

part of the activity.

It is relevant to note that the transaction of supply of food or beverages is covered under

Article 366(29A) of the Constitution of India wherein supply of any goods, being food or

any other article of human consumption or any drink (whether or not intoxicating) in any

manner as part of a service for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration is

deemed to be a sale of such goods.

In view of the above, what is being declared as service under this entry is the service

portion of this transaction wherein food or any other article of human consumption or

any drink is subjected to service tax.

In view of the provisions of Article 366(29A) of the Constitution of India, in the above

referred transaction, it cannot be termed as service to the extent of the value of goods

so supplied. The remaining portion however constitutes a service.

As held by the Supreme Court in BSNLs case [2006(2)STR161(SC)], a catering contract

involves provision service along with supply of such goods can be dissected into a contract

of sale of goods and contract of provision of service.

16

Chapter 6 - Bundling of services

The term bundled service is defined in the Explanation to Section 66F to mean a bundle of

provision of various services wherein an element of provision of one service is combined with

an element or elements of provision of any other service or services.

Section 66F and relevant provisions is set out below:

66F. (1) Unless otherwise specified, reference to a service (herein referred to as main service)

shall not include reference to a service which is used for providing main service.

(2) Where a service is capable of differential treatment for any purpose based on its description,

the most specific description shall be preferred over a more general description.

(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the taxability of a bundled service shall be

determined in the following manner, namely:-

(a) if various elements of such service are naturally bundled in the ordinary course of business,

it shall be treated as provision of the single service which gives such bundle its essential

character,

Example:-A Tour Operator provides a package tour to his clients which includes transportation,

accommodation at a hotel and local sight-seeing. This is a natural bundling of services in the

ordinary course of business. The service of the tour operator gives the bundle the essential

character and would, therefore, be treated as service of providing tour operator and therefore

the exemption relating to hotel accommodation up to Rs.1,000/- cannot be claimed.

(b) if various elements of such service are not naturally bundled in the ordinary course of

business, it shall be treated as provision of the single service which results in highest liability of

service tax.

Explanation.- For the purposes of sub-section (3), the expression "bundled service" means a

bundle of provision of various services wherein an element of provision of one service is

combined with an element or elements of provision of any other service or services.

If various elements of a bundled service are not naturally bundled in the ordinary course of

business, it shall be treated as provision of a service which attracts the highest amount of

service tax.

Example:

17

A house is given on rent wherein first floor of is used as residence and the ground floor of the

house is as office by a Chartered Accountant. In such a situation, the renting to Chartered

Accountant one for residence and another for Office is not naturally bundled in the ordinary

course of business. Therefore, if a single rent deed is executed it will be treated as a service

comprising entirely of such service which attracts highest liability of service tax. As the renting

for use as residence is excluded from service tax under negative list, while the renting for office

(non-residence) use is chargeable to tax. As the renting for office attracts service tax being the

highest liability amongst the two services bundled together, the entire bundle would be treated

as renting of commercial property and liable to service tax.

18

Chapter 7 Determination of Place of provision of service

The Place of Provision of Service Rules, 2012issurmised as under: -

Nature of services / activities Rule No. Place of provision /or Summary of the Rules

Order of Application of the rules 14 Where prima facie, service falls under more than

one rule, then rule that occurs later among the

rules that merit equal consideration

Place of provision in general. This

would be applicable where

service does not fit into any other

rule

3 Location of the recipient of service.

Where location of service receiver is not

determinable in ordinary course of business,

then location of service provider would be taken.

Services in respect of goods that

are required to be made

physically available by the service

receiver to the service provider,

in order to provide the service

4(a) Place of performance of service.

Ex: Loading, unloading, Cargo handling , CHA

services, technical inspection, certification,

maintenance services etc.

Where services in relation to

goods are provided through

internet other electronic mode

Proviso

to 4(a)

Then location of goods at the time of provision of

service

Where goods are temporarily

imported into India for repairs

and are exported after the

repairs without being put to any

use in the taxable territory, other

than that which is required for

such repair;

Prior to the October 1, 2014:

Where goods are temporarily

imported into India for the

purpose of repairs,

reconditioning or re-engineering

for re-export.

Proviso

to 4(a)

Place of provision is not where goods are located

or service or performed.

Rule 3, i.e. general rule has to be applied.

Services provided entirely or

predominantly in the physical

presence of an individual

(recipient of service or his agent/

representative)

4(b) Location where actual services are actually

performed

Services directly in relation to

immovable property

5 Location of immovable property present or

proposed.

19


Other service provided in relation

to immovable property

5 Location of immovable property present or

proposed.

This rule specifically covers, Experts Estate

agents, Hotel accommodation services, Right to

use immovable property for carrying out

construction, Architect, Interior decorator etc.

Admission to or organization of

event

6 Place where the event is held.

Nature of events covered: Cultural, artistic,

sporting, scientific, educational, or

entertainment event, or a celebration,

conference, fair, exhibition, or similar events,

Ancillary services relating to

events

Provision of services at more

than one location

7 When this rule would apply: Performance of

services covered under Rule 4, 5 and 6 at more

than one location and out of such locations at

least one shall be in non-taxable territory.

What is the place of provision of service:

Location in the taxable territory where the

greatest proportion of the service is provided.

Where both recipient of service

and provider is located within

taxable territory.

8 When this rule would apply: where service fall

under Rule 4 to 6, but both provider and

recipient are located in India only.

What is the place of provision of service:

Location of the recipient of service

This ensures that mere performance of service

outside India or location of property (goods or

immovable property) outside India does not

make the services non-taxable.

Services by a banking company,

or a financial company, or a non-

banking financial company to

account holders

9 Location of service provider

Account: Means an account bearing interest to

the depositor, and includes a non-resident

external account and a non-resident ordinary

account.

Online information and database

access or retrieval services


Online database : Providing data or information,

retrievable or otherwise, to any person, in

electronic form through a computer network

Intermediary services 9 Location of service provider

20


Definition of the Intermediary services amended

by the Notification No 14/2014 dated July 21,

2014 with effect from October 1, 2014

Intermediary means a broker, an agent or any

other person, by whatever name called, who

arranges or facilitates a provision of a service

(main service) or a supply of goods, between

two or more persons, but does not include a

person who provides the main service or supplies

the goods on his account

Provision prior to October 1, 2014

Intermediary means a broker, an agent or any

other person, by whatever name called, who

arranges or facilitates a provision of service

between two or more persons.

Service consisting of hiring of all

means of transport other than

(a) Aircraft

(b) Vessels except yachts,

up to a period of one month

Provision prior to October 1,

2014

(d) Service consisting of hiring of

means of transport, upto a

period of one month


Transport of Goods by GTA 10 Location of person liable to pay service tax as

defined in Rule 2(1) (d) of Service Tax Rules, 1994

Transport of Goods by person

other than GTA

10 Destination of goods-

This rule covers Air transport, sea mode of

transport

Passenger transport 11 Place where the passenger embarks on the

conveyance for a continuous journey

continuous journey a journey for which a

21


single or more than one ticket or invoice is issued

at the same time, either by one service provider

or through one agent acting on behalf of more

than one service provider, and which involves no

stopover between any of the legs of the journey

for which one or more separate tickets or

invoices are issued.

Leg of Journey: Part of the journey that begins

where passengers embark or disembark the

conveyance, or where it is stopped to allow for

its servicing or refueling, and ends where it is

next stopped for any of those purposes

On board of conveyance during

transportation of passengers

Includes services wholly or partly

consumed on board

12 First scheduled point of departure of such

conveyance for the journey

22

Chapter 8 Reverse Charge Mechanism

It shall be noted here that Section 68(1) of Finance Act provides that the service provider shall

be the person liable to pay service tax. However, Section 68(2) empowers the Government to

notify services wherein instead of the service provider, the prescribed person (generally the

recipient of service) would be termed as the person liable to pay service tax. This could be

termed as reverse charge mechanism which was in vogue for the past few years, however, its

applicability was restricted to few services like Goods Transport Agency, Sponsorship Services

and import of services as well as other specified services.

Further, a new proviso was inserted to Section 68(2), wherein a new concept of joint charge

mechanism or Partial reverse charge has been introduced and the same was operationalized

by the Central Government by way of notification consequent to enactment of Finance Act,

2012.

Consequent to the above change, a suitable amendment has also been made in the concept of

person liable to pay provided in Rule 2(1)(d) of Service Tax Rules, 1994.

This amendment puts the onus of payment of service tax on reverse charge basis partly on the

service provider and partly on the service receiver.

The manner and extent of service tax payable by the service provider and service receiver in the

case of various services have been specified vide Notification No. 30/2012 dt. 20.06.2012 and is

as follows:

Nature of service Provider Recipient Person liable Percentage

payable by

Recipient

Insurance agency Insurance

agent

Any person

carrying an

insurance

business

Recipient 100%

Recovery agents services

Inserted vide Notification

No 10/2014-ST-dated July

11, 2014

Recovery

agent

Banking company

or non banking

financial company

or financial

institution

Recipient 100%

Transportation of goods

by road

GTA Specified person-

located in taxable

territory

Such specified

person being

recipient

100%

23

Others GTA NIL

Other than

GTA

Not liable (See Negative list) NIL

Sponsorship services Any person Body corporate

or partnership

firm in taxable

territory

Recipient 100%

Any Person Other than above Provider NIL

Arbitral tribunal

Arbitral

tribunal

Business entity Recipient 100%

Others Exempt NIL

Legal services

Individual

advocate or

Firm of

advocates

Business entity Recipient 100%

Others including

other advocate or

firm of advocates

Exempt NIL

in

respect of services provided

or agreed to be provided by

Government or local

authority by way of support

services excluding,- (1)

renting of immovable

property, and (2) services

specified in sub-clauses (i),

(ii) and (iii) of clause (a) of

section 66D of the Finance

Act.

Government

or local

authority

Business Entity Recipient 100%

Directors Services to the

company or body corporate

Director of

company or

Company or body

corporate

Recipient

Company or

100%

24

The word Body Corporate

incorporated by the

Notification No 10/2014-ST-

dated July, 11 2014

body

corporate

body corporate

Any taxable service

Located in

non-taxable

territory

Located in

taxable territory

Recipient 100%

Service Tax liabilities of Service Provider and Service Recipient under Joint Charge

Mechanism or Partial Reverse Charge Mechanism:

Nature of service Provider Recipient

Renting of motor vehicles designed to carry

passengers

- if abatement claimed

- Where abatement is not claimed

Nil

100%

50%

(Prior to 1-10-

2014: 60%)

50%

(Prior to 1-10-2014:

40%)

Supply of Manpower or Security Services 25% 75%

Works contract 50% 50%

25

Chapter 9 Exemptions and abatements

The various exemptions from service tax available under the current scheme of taxation are as

explained hereunder.

Exemptions under negative Service tax could be broadly categorized into following:

a) Threshold exemption (also known as SSI benefit)

b) Mega exemption covering various activities or services

c) Services provided to SEZ units or developers

d) Exemptions in relation to export of goods

e) Other miscellaneous exemptions

a) Threshold exemption (also known as SSI benefit)

Notification No. 33/2012 ST dated 20.06.2012 states that taxable services of aggregate value

not exceeding ten lakh rupees in any financial year would be exempt from service tax.

The definition of aggregate value in the Notification aligns with Point of Taxation Rules, 2011

as follows:

Explanation (B) aggregate value means the sum total of value of taxable services charged in

the first consecutive invoices issued during a financial year but does not include value charged in

invoices issued towards such services which are exempt from whole of service tax leviable

thereon under section 66B of the said Finance Act under any other notification.

Summary of the exemption Notification No. 33/2012-ST dt. 20.06.2012 is as below:

Value of services eligible

for exemption

Aggregate value not exceeding Rs. 10 Lakhs (Ten lakh) in any financial

year

What is aggregate value Value of taxable services charged in first consecutive invoices.

Value of services which are not taxable as covered under negative list

or exempted from whole of service tax under notification shall not be

included

When an assessee is

eligible

Where in the preceding financial year the aggregate value of taxable

services does not exceed Rs. 10 Lakhs, in the current year assessee

could avail exemption upto Rs. 10Lakhs

Where services are

provided from more

than one premises

Services provided from all such premises shall be clubbed together to

compute exemption limit.

When this exemption is

not available

a) Where services are provide under brand name or trade name

of others

b) Where service tax is payable under reverse charge or joint

26

charge in terms of section 68(2)

Restrictions on

availment of Cenvat

Credit

Cenvat credit shall not be availed on inputs, input services and capital

goods received during the period when this exemption is availed.

Cenvat credit relating to inputs lying in stock or in process on the date

of availment of credit shall be reversed (if availed)

In case of GTA provider Value of taxable service on which GTA is liable to pay tax shall be

considered. Value on which other person in terms of section68(2) is

liable shall be excluded.

b) Mega exemption covering various activities or services

Various exemption issued under different notifications have been unified (with certain

additions and deletions) and brought under one single notification No. 25/2012-ST dated

20.06.2012 known as Mega exemption. The summary of the mega exemption is tabled

below:

*Sl No. Applicability / Nature

of services

Conditions and other aspects

Services to UNO

1 Services provided to the United Nations or a specified international organization

Health care services

Health care services by clinical establishment or an authorized medical practitioner

or para-medics.

Definition of clinical establishment clinical establishment means a

hospital, nursing home, clinic,

sanatorium or any other institution by,

whatever name called, that offers

services or facilities requiring diagnosis

or treatment or care for illness, injury,

deformity, abnormality or pregnancy in

any recognised system of medicines in

India, or a place established as an

independent entity or a part of an

establishment to carry out diagnostic or

investigative services of diseases

27

Recognized system of

medicines in India

Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act,

2010:

"recognised system of medicine" means Allopathy, Yoga,

Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Siddha and Unani

System of medicines or any other system of medicine as

may be recognized by the Central Government

Authorised medical

practitioner

authorised medical practitioner means a medical

practitioner registered with any of the councils of the

recognised system of medicines established or recognized

by law in India and includes a medical professional having

the requisite qualification to practice in any recognised

system of medicines in India as per any law for the time

being in force.

Para-medics Not defined in exemption notification. In terms of the

guidance note , Para medics means

Paramedics are trained health care professionals, for

example nursing staff, physiotherapists, technicians, lab

assistants etc. Services by them in a clinical establishment

would be in the capacity of employee and not provided in

independent capacity and will thus be considered as

services by such clinical establishment. Similar services in

independent capacity are also exempted.

2A Services provided by

cord blood bank

(a) Services in respect of preservation of stem cell or

(b) any other services in relation to such preservation.

(inserted by Notification No 4/2014-ST dated February

17, 2014)

2B Services provided by

operators of the

Common Bio-medical

Waste Treatment

Facility to a clinical

establishment

Services in respect of treatment or disposal of bio-

medical waste or the processes incidental thereto

(Inserted vide Notification No.06/2014 - Service Tax

dated 11th July, 2014)

Veterinary services

3 Healthcare services for

animals or birds

Services provided by veterinary clinics are exempted.

Term Veterinary clinics are not specifically defined.

Charitable institutions

4 & 34

(b)

Entity registered under

section 12AA of the

Income tax Act, 1961

Services by way of charitable activities provided by such

entities are exempted.

28

Services received from person located in non-taxable

territory for the purpose of providing charitable activities

Definition of Charitable activities:

(i) public health by way of -

(a) care or counseling of (i) terminally ill persons or persons with severe

physical or mental disability, (ii) persons afflicted with HIV or AIDS, or (iii) persons

addicted to a dependence-forming substance such as narcotics drugs or alcohol; or

(b) public awareness of preventive health, family planning or prevention of HIV

infection;

(ii) advancement of religion or spirituality;

(iii) advancement of educational programmes or skill development relating to,-

(a) abandoned, orphaned or homeless children;

(b) physically or mentally abused and traumatized persons;

(c) prisoners; or

(d) persons over the age of 65 years residing in a rural area;

(iv) preservation of environment including watershed, forests and wildlife; or

(v) advancement of any other object of general public utility up to a value of,-

(a) eighteen lakh and seventy five thousand rupees for the year 2012-13

subject to the condition that total value of such activities had not exceeded twenty

five lakhs rupees during 2011-12;

(b) twenty five lakh rupees in any other financial year subject to the condition

that total value of such activities had not exceeded twenty five lakhs rupees during

the preceding financial year;

Religious activity

5

5A

Service exempt from tax are:

a) Services of renting of precincts of a religious place meant for general public

b) Conduct of religious ceremony

Services by a

Specified

Organization

Services by a specified organization in respect of a religious

pilgrimage facilitated by the Ministry of External Affairs of the

Government of India, under bilateral arrangement.(Inserted by

Notification No 17/2014-ST dated August 20, 2014)

Religious place means a place which is primarily meant for

conduct of prayers or worship pertaining to a religion,

meditation, or spirituality

Legal services and services by Arbitral Tribunal

6 Services of Arbitral

Tribunal

Exempt from tax if provided to following category of

persons:

a) person other than business entity. In other words

receipt of services from arbitral tribunal by any person

29

for activity other than business or profession

b) business entity with a turnover up to Rs. 10 Lac. in the

preceding financial year

Legal services Exempt from tax if provided to following category of

persons:

a) An advocate or partnership firm of advocates

providing legal services

b) Person other than business entity. In other words

receipt of services from arbitral tribunal by any person

for activity other than business or profession

b) Business entity with a turnover up to Rs. 10 Lac. in the

preceding financial year

Testing or analysis of newly developed drugs: Exemption in respect of testing or analysis of

newly developed drugs is withdrawn by the Finance Act 2014. (w.e.f. 11th

July 2014)

7 Services provider

Clinical research organisation approved to conduct

clinical trials by the Drug Controller General of India

Nature of services

exempt from tax

Technical testing or analysis of newly developed drugs,

including vaccines and herbal remedies, on human

participants

Education

9 Services provided:

(a) by an educational institution to its students, faculty and staff;

(b) to an educational institution, by way of,-

(i) transportation of students, faculty and staff;

(ii) catering, including any mid-day meals scheme sponsored by the

Government;

(iii) security or cleaning or house-keeping services performed in such

educational institution;

(iv) services relating to admission to, or conduct of examination by, such

institution.

Provisions prior to the amendment are as follows: -

Following services provided to an educational institution in respect of education

which is exempt from tax (other words educational activities covered under

negative list) are exempt:

(a) auxiliary educational services; or

(b) renting of immovable property;

auxiliary educational services means any services relating to imparting any skill,

knowledge, education or development of course content or any other knowledge

enhancement activity, whether for the students or the faculty, or any other services

which educational institutions ordinarily carry out themselves but may obtain as

outsourced services from any other person, including services relating to admission

to such institution, conduct of examination, catering for the students under any

30

mid-day meals scheme sponsored by Government, or transportation of students,

faculty or staff of such institution

9A Any services provided by-

a) the National Skill Development Corporation set up by the Government of

India;

b) a Sector Skill Council approved by the National Skill Development

Corporation

c) an assessment agency or a training partner approved by the Sector

Skill Council or the National Skill Development Corporation,

d) a training partner approved by the National Skill Development

Corporation or the Sector Skill Council in relation to

i) the National Skill Development Programme implemented by the

National Skill Development Corporation; or

ii) a vocational skill development course under the National Skill

Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme; or

iii) any other Scheme implemented by the National Skill Development

Corporation.

Art, Culture and Sports

8 Training or coaching in recreational activities relating to arts, culture or sports

10 (a) Recipient of service Recognized sports body

Provider Player, referee, umpire, coach or team manager

Nature of services participation in a sporting event organized by a

recognized sports body

10 (b) Provider Recognized sports body

Recipient of service Another Recognised sports body

Nature of services Any service

31

Recognized sports body means

(i) the Indian Olympic Association,

(ii) Sports Authority of India,

(iii) a national sports federation recognised by the Ministry of Sports and Youth

Affairs of the Central Government, and its affiliate federations,

(iv) national sports promotion organisationsrecognised by the Ministry of Sports

and Youth Affairs of the Central Government,

(v) the International Olympic Association or a federation recognised by the

International Olympic Association or

(vi) a federation or a body which regulates a sport at international level and its

affiliated federations or bodies regulating a sport in India

11

Sponsor ship of following sporting events:

(a) by a national sports federation, or its affiliated federations, where the

participating teams or individuals represent any district, state or zone;

(b) by Association of Indian Universities, Inter-University Sports Board, School

Games Federation of India, All India Sports Council for the Deaf, Paralympic

Committee of India or Special Olympics Bharat;

(c) by Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board;

(d) as part of national games, by Indian Olympic Association;

(e) under Panchayat YuvaKreedaAur Khel Abhiyaan (PYKKA) Scheme

16 Service provider Performing artist in folk or classical art forms of (i)

music, or (ii) dance, or (iii) theatre

Nature of services Any service other than services provided by such artist

as a brand ambassador

Construction activities

12 Service recipient Government/ Local authority/Governmental Authority

32

Nature of service

exempt

Construction, erection, commissioning, installation,

completion, fitting out, repair, maintenance, renovation,

or alteration of following:

a) a civil structure or any other original works meant

predominantly for use other than for commerce,

industry, or any other business or profession;

(b) a historical monument, archaeological site or

remains of national importance, archaeological

excavation, or antiquity specified under the Ancient

Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,

1958 (24 of 1958);

(c) a structure meant predominantly for use as (i) an

educational, (ii) a clinical, or (iii) an art or cultural

establishment;

(d) canal, dam or other irrigation works;

(e) pipeline, conduit or plant for (i) water supply (ii)

water treatment, or (iii) sewerage treatment or disposal;

or

(f) a residential complex predominantly meant for self-

use or the use of employees government / local

authority etc. or for use of MPs, MLAs, Member of

municipality/panchyatsetc covered under Explanation 1

to Section65B(44)

13 Provider Any person

Recipient Any person

Nature of services Construction, erection, commissioning, installation,

completion, fitting out, repair, maintenance, renovation,

or alteration

Nature of activities

exempt

a) a road, bridge, tunnel, or terminal for road

transportation for use by general public;

(b) a civil structure or any other original works

pertaining to a scheme under Jawaharlal Nehru National

Urban Renewal Mission or Rajiv AwaasYojana;

(c) a building owned by an entity registered under

section 12AA of the Income tax Act, 1961(43 of 1961)

and meant predominantly for religious use by general

public;

(d) a pollution control or effluent treatment plant,

except located as a part of a factory; or

33

(e) a structure meant for funeral, burial or cremation of

deceased;

14 Provider Any person

Recipient Any person

Nature of services Construction, erection, commissioning, or installation of

original works pertaining

Nature of activities

exempt

a) an airport, port or railways, including monorail or

metro;

(b) a single residential unit otherwise than as a part of a

residential complex;

(c) low-cost houses up to a carpet area of 60 square

metres per house in a housing project approved by

competent authority empowered under the Scheme of

Affordable Housing in Partnership framed by the

Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation,

Government of India;

(d) post-harvest storage infrastructure for agricultural

produce including a cold storages for such purposes; or

(e) mechanised food grain handling system, machinery

or equipment for units processing agricultural produce

as food stuff excluding alcoholic beverages

29 (h) Sub-contractor sub-contractor providing services by way of works

contract to another contractor providing works contract

services which are exempt

Transfer of copy right

15 Temporary transfer of copyright relating to Original literary, dramatic, musical,

artistic works or cinematograph films is exempt from tax

News agencies/ Journalist

17 Services of collecting or providing news by an independent journalist, Press Trust of

India or United News of India is exempt

Hotel / guest house & Restaurant services

18 Services by a hotel, inn, guest house, club or campsite, by whatever name called,

for residential or lodging purposes, having declared tariff of a unit of

accommodation below one thousand rupees per day or equivalent (Amended vide

Notification No. 6/2014-ST dated July 11, 2014).

Provisions prior to the amendment are as follows:

34

Services by way of renting of a hotel, inn, guest house, club, campsite or other

commercial places meant for residential or lodging purposes, having declared tariff

of a unit of accommodation below rupees one thousand per day or equivalent

19 Services by restaurant or eating joints not having the following facilities is exempt

from tax:

i) The facility of air-conditioning or central air-heating in any part of the

establishment, at any time during the year,

In other words only those restaurants having air condition facility would be taxable

19A

Serving of food or beverages by a canteen maintained in a factory covered under

the Factories Act, 1948 having the facility of air-conditioning or central air-

heating at any time during the year.

Transportation of goods

20 Mode of transport rail or a vessel from one place in India to another place

Nature of goods

covered under

exemption

(a) relief materials meant for victims of natural or man-

made disasters, calamities, accidents or mishap;

(b) defence or military equipment,

(c) newspaper or magazines registered with the Registrar

of Newspapers;

(d) railway equipments or materials;

(e) agricultural produce;

(f) foodstuff including flours, tea, coffee, jaggery, sugar,

milk products, salt and edible oil, excluding alcoholic

beverages; or

(g) chemical fertilizer, organic manure and oilcakes;

(h) cotton, ginned or baled.

21 Mode of transport Transport of by goods by road by GTA

35

Nature of exemption (a) Agriculture produce,

(b)Transport of any goods where gross amount charged

for the transportation of goods on a consignment

transported in a single goods carriage does not exceed Rs.

1500/-

(c) transport of any goods, where gross amount charged

for transportation of all such goods for a single consignee

in the goods carriage does not exceed Rs.750/-

(d) foodstuff including flours, tea, coffee, jaggery, sugar,

milk products, salt and edible oil, excluding alcoholic

beverages;

(e) chemical fertilizer, organic manure and oilcakes;

(f) newspaper or magazines registered with the Registrar

of Newspapers;

(g) relief materials meant for victims of natural or man-

made disasters, calamities, accidents or mishap; or

(h) defense or military equipments

(i) Cotton ginned or baled.

22 (b) Services by way of giving on hire of a means of transportation of goods to a GTA

Passenger Transport

23(a) Mode of transport By air

Nature of exemption Exemption to transport of passengers by air embarking

from or terminating in an airport located in the state of

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,

Nagaland, Sikkim, or Tripura or at Bagdogra located in

West Bengal

23 (b) Mode of transport Road transport

Nature of exemption Transportation of passenger by a non-airconditioned

contract carriage other than radio taxi, excluding tourism,

conducted tour, charter or hire (Amended vide Notification

No. 6/2014-ST dated July 11, 2014).

Provisions prior to the amendment are as follows:

Transport of passenger by a contract carriage. However,

tourism, conducted tour, charter or hire are not covered

under exemption

23 (c) Transport of passengers by ropeway, cable car or aerial tramway

22(a) Services by way of giving on hire a motor vehicle meant to carry more than twelve

passengers to a state transport undertaking,

Insurance related

36

26 Following general insurances are exempt from tax

(a) Hut Insurance Scheme;

(b) Cattle Insurance under Swarnajaynti Gram SwarozgarYojna (earlier known as

Integrated Rural Development Programme);

(c) Scheme for Insurance of Tribals;

(d) Janata Personal Accident Policy and Gramin Accident Policy;

(e) Group Personal Accident Policy for Self-Employed Women;

(f) Agricultural Pumpset and Failed Well Insurance;

(g) premia collected on export credit insurance;

(h) Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme or the Modified National Agricultural

Insurance Scheme, approved by the Government of India and implemented by the

Ministry of Agriculture;

(i) Jan ArogyaBima Policy;

(j) National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (RashtriyaKrishiBimaYojana);

(k) Pilot Scheme on Seed Crop Insurance;

(l) Central Sector Scheme on Cattle Insurance;

(m) Universal Health Insurance Scheme;

(n) RashtriyaSwasthyaBimaYojana; or

(o) Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme;

26A Life Insurance Services provided under following schemes -

(a) JanashreeBimaYojana or

(b) AamAadmiBimaYojana or

(c) life micro-insurance product as approved by the Insurance Regulatory and

Development Authority, having maximum amount of cover of Rs 50,000/-

(Inserted vide Notification No. 6/2014-ST dated July 11, 2014).

36 Services by Employees State Insurance corporation

Clubs / Associations, etc. - unincorporated body or a non-profit entity registered under any

law

Nature of entity Nature of exemption / Amount exempted

28(a) Trade union Services to its own members by way of reimbursement of

charges or share of contribution

28(b) Other

associations /

Services to its own members by way of reimbursement of

charges or share of contribution for the provision of carrying out

37

clubs any activity which is exempt from the levy of service tax

28(c) Resident

welfare

association of a

residential

complex

Upto an amount of Rs.5000/- per month for sourcing of goods or

services from a third person for the common use of its members

in a housing society or a residential complex

Services to Government or local authority

25(a) water supply, public health, sanitation conservancy, solid waste management or

slum improvement and up gradation,

25(b) Repair or maintenance of a vessel

Job work related exemptions

30 Following activities of production or processing on jobwork is exempt from service

tax

(a) agriculture, printing or textile processing;

(b) cut and polished diamonds and gemstones; or plain and studded jewellery of gold

and other precious metals, falling under Chapter 71 of the Central Excise Tariff Act,

1985 (5 of 1986);

(c) any goods on which appropriate duty is payable by the principal manufacturer; or

(d) processes of electroplating, zinc plating, anodizing, heat treatment, powder

coating, painting including spray painting or auto black, during the course of

manufacture of parts of cycles or sewing machines upto an aggregate value of

taxable service of the specified processes of one hundred and fifty lakh rupees in a

financial year subject to the condition that such aggregate value had not exceeded

one hundred and fifty lakh rupees during the preceding financial year;

Service of Incubatees

27 Services provided by an incubatee up to a total turnover of fifty lakh rupees in a

financial year subject to the following conditions, namely :-

(a) the total turnover had not exceeded fifty lakh rupees during the preceding

financial year; and

(b) a period of three years has not been elapsed from the date of entering into

an agreement as an incubatee;

incubatee means an entrepreneur located within the premises of a Technology

Business Incubator (TBI) or Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Park (STEP)

recognised by the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development

Board (NSTEDB) of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of

India and who has entered into an agreement with the TBI or the STEP to enable

himself to develop and produce hi-tech and innovative products

Other exemptions

29 Services by following persons are exempt from tax:

a) sub-broker or an authorised person to a stock broker;

38

(b) authorised person to a member of a commodity exchange;

(c) mutual fund agent to a mutual fund or asset management company;

(d) distributor to a mutual fund or asset management company;

(e) selling or marketing agent of lottery tickets to a distributer or a selling agent;

(f) selling agent or a distributer of SIM cards or recharge coupon vouchers;

(g) business facilitator or a business correspondent to a banking company or an

insurance company, in a rural area; or

(h) sub-contractor providing services by way of works contract to another

contractor providing works contract services which are exempt (also covered under

construction heading)

31 Services by an organiser to any person in respect of a business exhibition held

outside India

32 Services by way of making telephone calls from -

(a) departmentally run public telephone;

(b) guaranteed public telephone operating only for local calls; or

(c)free telephone at airport and hospital where no bills are being issued;

33 Services by way of slaughtering of animals

34 Services received from a provider of service located in a non- taxable territory

(import of service) by -

(a) Government, a local authority, a governmental authority or an individual in

relation to any purpose other than commerce, industry or any other business or

profession;

(b) an entity registered under section 12AA of the Income tax Act, 1961 (43 of

1961) for the purposes of providing charitable activities; or

(c) a person located in a non-taxable territory;

35 Services of public libraries by way of lending of books, publications or any other

knowledge - enhancing content or material

37 Services by way of transfer of a going concern, as a whole or an independent part

thereof

38 Services by way of public conveniences such as provision of facilities of bathroom,

washrooms, lavatories, urinal or toilets

39 Services by a governmental authority by way of any activity in relation to any

function entrusted to a municipality under article 243 W of the Constitution

governmental authority means a board, or an authority or any other body

established with 90% or more participation by way of equity or control by

Government and set up by an Act of the Parliament or a State Legislature to carry

out any function entrusted to a municipality under article 243W of the Constitution

39

40 Services in respect of rice by way of loading, unloading, packing, storage or

warehousing of rice, cotton, ginned and baled.(Amended vide Notification No.

6/2014-ST dated July 11, 2014).

Provisions prior to the amendment are as follows:Services by way of loading,

unloading, packing, storage or warehousing of rice

41 Services received by the Reserve Bank of India, from outside India in relation to

management of foreign exchange reserves (Inserted vide Notification No. 6/2014-

ST dated July 11, 2014).

42 Services provided by a tour operator to a foreign tourist in relation to a tour

conducted wholly outside India. (Inserted vide Notification No. 6/2014-ST dated

July 11, 2014).

(c) Services provided to SEZ units or developers

(Notification No. 12/2013-ST dated 1.07.2013)

A Nature of

exemption

Exemption to specified services received by a unit located in a

SEZ or the developer of SEZ and used for the authorized

operations

B How it works i. Services wholly consumed within SEZ- directly exempt

ii. Services not wholly consumed within SEZ- recipient of service

(SEZ unit or developer) shall claim refund

C How to determine whether service is wholly consumed with in SEZ

D In respect of services relating to immovable property and

performance based services (referred to in Rule 4 & 5 of

Place of Provision of Service Rules, 2012)

Location of

immovable property

or performance of

service within SEZ

E Other Services

If SEZ unit or developer

does not have any other

operations other than SEZ

operations

All services received by such unit or developer shall be

deemed to be wholly consumed within SEZ.

All services received by such unit or developer would

be directly exempt from service tax.

Where SEZ unit or

developer has any other

operations outside SEZ

Not considered as wholly consumed within SEZ

F How to compute refund

(Export turnover of goods + Services of SEZ Unit/Developer)

Service tax paid on services other than wholly consumed Services (both for SEZ and

40

DTA) / Total Turnover

A) refund amount means the maximum refund that is admissible for the

period;

(B) export turnover of goods means the value of final products and

intermediate products cleared during the relevant period and exported;

(C) export turnover of services means the value of the export service

calculated in the following manner, namely :-

Export turnover of services = payments received during the relevant period for

export services + export services whose provision has been completed for which

payment had been received in advance in any period prior to the relevant period -

advances received for export services for which the provision of service has not

been completed during the relevant period;

(D) total turnover means sum total of the value of-

(a) all excisable goods cleared during the relevant period including exempted

goods, dutiable goods and excisable goods exported;

(b) export turnover of services determined in terms of clause (C) and the value

of all other services, during the relevant period;

G Conditions

For the purpose of claiming ab initio exemption, the unit of a SEZ or developer

shall furnish a declaration in Form A-1, verified by the Specified Officer of the

SEZ, in addition to the list of specified services;

Central Excise Officer would issue authorization in Form A-2, within fifteen

working days from the date of receipt of Form A-1.

Authorization shall be valid from the date on which Form A-1 is verified by the

Specified Officer of SEZ. However, if Form A-1 is furnished after a period of 15

days from the date of its verification by the Specified Officer, the authorization

shall have validity from the date on which it is furnished. the unit of a SEZ or

developer claiming the exemption shall declare that the specified services on

which exemption and/ or refund is claimed, have been used for the authorized

operations;

the unit of a SEZ or developer claiming the exemption by way of refund, should

have paid the amount indicated in the invoice, bill or as the case may be,

challan, including the service tax payable, to the person liable to pay the said

tax or the amount of service tax payable under reverse charge, as the case may

be, under the provisions of the said Act;

no CENVAT credit of service tax paid on the specified services used for the

41

authorized operations in a SEZ has been taken under the CENVAT Credit Rules,

2004;

No refund shall be available on services wholly consumed for operations in the

Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) worked out in the same manner as clauses (i) and

(ii) of the explanation to condition (a);

Exemption or refund of service tax paid on the specified services other than

wholly consumed services used for the authorised operations in a SEZ shall not

be claimed except under this notification;

The unit of a SEZ or developer, who intends to avail exemption and or refund

under this notification, shall maintain proper account of receipt and use of the

specified services on which exemption is claimed, for authorised operations in

the SEZ.

d) Exemptions in relation to export of goods

Sl.

No.

Notification # Nature of exemption Conditions and other particulars

1. 31/2012 ST Transport of export

goods by GTA from place

of clearance to an inland

container depot, a

container freight station,

a port or airport, as the

case may be, from where

the goods are exported

The exporter shall have to produce the

consignment note, by whatever name

called, issued in his name.

2. 31/2012 ST transport of the export

goods by goods

transport agency in a

goods carriage from any

container freight station

or inland container

depot to the port or

airport, as the case may

be, from where the

goods are exported;

3. 42/2012 ST Service provided by a

commission agent

located outside India and

engaged under a

contract or agreement or

any other document by

the exporter in India, to

1) The exporter shall declare the amount

of commission paid or payable to the

commission agent in the shipping bill or

bill of export, as the case may be.

(2) The exemption shall be limited to the

service tax calculated on a value of ten per

42

act on behalf of the

exporter, to cause sale of

goods exported by him.

cent of the free on board value of export

goods for which the said service has been

used.

(3) The exemption shall not be available

on the export of canalised item, project

export, or export financed under lines of

credit extended by the Government of

India or EXIM Bank, or export made by

Indian partner in a company with equity

participation in an overseas joint venture

or wholly owned subsidiary.

(4) The exporter shall submit with the half-

yearly return after certification of the

same as specified in clause (g) of the

proviso

(i) the original documents showing actual

payment of commission to the

commission agent; and

(ii) a copy of the agreement or contract

entered into between the commission

agent located outside India and the

exporter in relation to sale of export goods

outside India :

e) Miscellaneous Exemption

Sl.

No.

Notification No. Nature of exemption

1. 29/2012-S.T., dated

20-6-2012

Exemption from payment of service tax on renting services

to the extent of corporation tax or municipal taxes paid on

such building.

2. 27/2012-S.T., dated

20-6-2012

Exemption from service tax for official use of a foreign

diplomatic mission or consular post in India for personnel use

of diplomatic agents or career consular officers, subject to

conditions and procedures as detailed in notifications

3. 32/2012-S.T., dated

20-6-2012

Exemption from service tax on services provided or to be

provided, by a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) or a

Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Park (STEP)

recognized by the National Science and Technology

Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) of the

Department of Science and Technology, Government of

43

India,

Abatements:

Notification No. 26/2012 ST dated 20.06.2012 provides the following abatements to various

services:

Sl.

No.

Description of taxable

service

Percentage on

which tax

payable

Conditions

(1) (2) (3) (4)

1 Services in relation to financial

leasing including hire purchase

10 Nil.

(a) The amount charged shall be an amount, forming or representing as interest, i.e. the

difference between the installments paid towards repayment of the lease amount and the

principal amount contained in such installments;

(b) the exemption shall not apply to an amount, other than an amount forming or

representing as interest, charged by the service provider such as lease management fee,

processing fee, documentation charges and administrative fee, which shall be added to

the amount calculated in terms of (a) above.

2 Transport of goods by rail 30 Nil.

3 Transport of passengers,

with or without

accompanied belongings

by rail

30 Nil.

4 Bundled service by way of

supply of food or any other

article of human

consumption or any drink,

in a premises ( including

hotel, convention center,

club, pandal, shamiana or

any other place, specially

arranged for organizing a

function) together with

renting of such premises

70 (i) CENVAT credit on any goods classifiable

under Chapters 1 to 22 of the Central Excise

Tariff Act, 1985 (5 of 1986) used for

providing the taxable service, has not been

taken under the provisions of the CENVAT

Credit Rules, 2004.

The amount charged shall be the sum total of the gross amount charged and the fair market

value of all goods and services supplied in or in relation to the supply of food or any other

article of human consumption or any drink (whether or not intoxicating) and whether or not

44

supplied under the same contract or any other contract, after deducting-

(i) the amount charged for such goods or services supplied to the service provider, if any; and

(ii) the value added tax or sales tax, if any, levied thereon:

Provided that the fair market value of goods and services so supplied may be determined in

accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles.

5 Transport of passengers by

air, with or without

accompanied belongings

40 CENVAT credit on inputs and capital goods,

used for providing the taxable service, has

not been taken under the provisions of the

CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004.

6 Renting of hotels, inns,

guest houses, clubs,

campsites or other

commercial places meant

for residential or lodging

purposes.

60 Same as above.

7 Services of goods transport

agency in relation to

transportation of goods.

25 CENVAT credit on inputs, capital goods and

input services, used for providing the

taxable service, has not been taken by the

service provider under the provisions of the

CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004.

8 Services provided in

relation to chit

70 CENVAT credit on inputs, capital goods

and input services, used for providing the

taxable service, has not been taken under

the provisions of the CENVAT Credit Rules,

2004.

9 Renting of any motorcab 40 (i) CENVAT credit on inputs and capital

goods, used for providing the taxable

service, has not been taken under the

provisions of the CENVAT Credit Rules,

2004;

(ii) CENVAT credit on input service of

renting of motorcab has been taken under


2004, in the following manner:

(a) Full CENVAT credit of such input

service received from a person who is

paying service tax on forty percent of

45

the value; or

(b) Up to forty percent CENVAT credit

of such input service received from a

person who is paying service tax on

full value;

(iii) CENVAT credit on input services other

than those specified in (ii) above, has not

been taken under the provisions of the

CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004

(w.e.f 1st

October 2014)

9A Transport of passengers,

with or without

accompanied belongings,

by a contract carriage

other than motorcab

40 CENVAT credit on inputs, capital goods and

input services, used for providing the

taxable service, has not been taken under


2004]

10 Transport of goods in a

vessel

40 (Prior to 1st

October 2014 -

50%)

Same as above.

11

Services by a tour operator

in relation to,-

(i) a package tour

25 (i) CENVAT credit on inputs, capital goods

and input services other than the input

service of a tour operator, used for



Credit Rules, 2004.

(ii) The bill issued for this purpose indicates

that it is inclusive of charges for such a

tour.

46

(ii) a tour, if the tour

operator is providing

services solely of arranging

or booking

accommodation for any

person in relation to a tour

10 (i) CENVAT credit on inputs, capital goods

and input services other than the input

service of a tour operator, used for



Credit Rules, 2004.

(ii) The invoice, bill or challan iss

Documents

Bimal Jain BGM Service Tax 051014