Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Basics of Service Tax

Service Tax – Meaning

“Service Tax is a tax levied by Central Government of India on services provided or to be provided excluding services covered under negative list and considering the Place of Provision of Services Rules, 2012 and collected as per Point of Taxation Rules, 2011 from the person liable to pay service tax. Person liable to pay service tax is governed by Service Tax Rules, 1994 he may be service provider or service receiver or any other person made so liable”.


Key points:
It is a tax on services levied by the Central Government under the Finance Act, 1994.
Business entities includes food service, consulting, banks, software development etc provides service to the customer and attracts additional service amount is called service tax.
Business entity collects the service tax from the consumer and pays to the central govt. on behalf of them.
It is indirect tax as service provider is not directly paying it but collecting from the recipients or customers and paying on their behalf to the central government.

 The government had increased the service tax rate to 14% (inclusive of all cess) from 12.36% earlier, making services more expensive for the end user.

Criteria for payment of service Tax in India

ü  The concept of service tax comes into existence in 1994. However, in 2012 the scope of items under service tax increases covering wide varieties of service.


ü  Service Tax is applicable to business when total value of service exceeds Rs. 10 lacs in a financial year.

Receiver of service liable for payment of service tax directly.

There are cases when receiver or consumer of service instead of paying tax to the service provider directly pays to the Central Government. This is referred to as reverse charge .These are as follow:


·         Service provided by foreign company with no office or establishment tin India.


·         Services provided by Director to a body corporate.


·         Services provided for transportation of goods by Goods Transport Agency, the person who pays or is liable to pay freight is liable to pay Service Tax too. , if the consignor or consignee falls under any of the seven categories viz. (a) a body corporate or a partnership firm (b) a factory (c) a corporation  (d) a company (e) a society (f) a co-operative society (g) a registered dealer of excisable goods .


·         The services in relation to Insurance Auxiliary Service by an Insurance Agent, the Service Tax is to be paid by the Insurance Company


·         Legal service provided by an individual or firm to any business entity.


·         Services by government or local authority to any business entity.


·         Sponsorship service provided by any person to Body Corporate or partnership firm.


List of services taxable

Almost all services are taxable for e.g. from architects , chartered accountants, beauty parlors, clubs, security agencies cosmetic surgeries, consulting engineers, packaging services, interior decorators, real estate agents, and restaurants. A complete list of taxable services has been specified under Section 65(105) of the Finance Act, 1994. From 1st July 2012 onwards all services (except those specified in the negative list of services by government) are not liable for tax.


 

Negative list of Services

These are services exempt from paying service tax and included in the negative list of service tax. For the following service, service Tax is not applicable.


ü  Services provided to the United Nations or any specific international organizations.


ü  Ambulance service 


ü  Transporting students.

ü  Providing services in the educational institution, security and cleanliness services in educational institutions, sports events, sponsorships given to students during events etc.

ü  An authorized Clinical establishment or medical practioner.


ü  Services provided by Blood Bank or any other preservation centers.

ü   Services offered by temples or for conducting religious ceremony.

ü  Services provided by teachers of arts to i students, faculty and staff.

ü  Service in veterinary hospital or vet.

Beside these, there are other services too that are included in the negative list of services.



Author: This blog is written by Ms. Chanchal Sharma, a passionate blogger of Aapka Consultant.


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