Honeymoon of IT Sector with Service Tax is Over

Sudha Sharma appointed as Member of CBDT Rupee hits a high of 48.73 against Dollar Excise Officers caught burning official files in midight in Aligarh after Income Tax raids on Ponty Chadha SC cancels 122 licences issued by A Raja during his tenure as Telecom Minister Laxman Das is Officiating Chairman of CBDT Tariff Value for import of gold is 556 & for silver 1067 & for Brass Scrap 4078 & for poppy seeds 2205-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No. 10 Fused Silica is classifiable under Tariff Item 32074000-Customs Circular No.3 Additional Commisssioner of Income Tax HA Siddiqui sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for accepting bribe of Rs 1 Lakh by CBI Court in Delhi Exchange Rate for imported goods is Rs 50.20 Per US Dollar & Rs 66 per EURO-Exchange Rate for export goods is Rs 49.40 per US Dollar & Rs 64.40 per EURO HC upholds levy of service tax on booking of flats-The explanation which was inserted by the Finance Act of 2010 clearly brings within the fold of taxable service a construction service provided by the builder to a buyer where there is an intended sale between the parties whether before, during or after construction Authority for Advance Ruling rules super concentrates shall be classified as products of the chemical industry under heading 3824 90 90 of Customs Tariff Anti dumping duty imposed on import of Morpholine from China European Union & USA Anti dumping duty imposed on import of Geogrid/Geostrips/ Geostraps made of polyester or Glass fiber in all its forms from Refund of Anti-Dumping Duty (Paid in Excess of Actual Margin of Dumping) Rules, 2012 notified-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No.5 Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Anti-dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Amendment Rules, 2012-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No.6 Safeguard duty at the rate of 10% ad valorem notified on import of Phthalic anhydride, falling under tariff item 2917 35 00-Customs SG Notification No.1 Customs duty on import of Gold, Silver, Cut & Polished Diamonds hiked Customs duty to be charged at the rate of 2 per cent of Tariff Value on gold and 6 per cent of Tariff Value on silver Tariff Value for import of gold & silver notified-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No.3 Anti-dumping duty on imports ofSilk fabrics 20-100 gms per metre, falling under heading 5007 originating in, or exported from, China-CustomsTariff Notification No. 2 Anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of Nylon Filament Yarn, falling under Chapter 54 ,originating in, or exported from, China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea RP-Customs TariffNotification No.3 Anti-dumping duty imposed on import of Phosphoric Acid of allgrades and all concentrations (excluding Agriculture/Fertilizer Grade) ,falling under tariff item 28092010, originating in, or exported from, Israel and Taiwan-Customs Tariff Notification No.4 Anti-dumping duty on imports of Cellophane Transparent Film , falling under Chapter 39 , originating in, or exported from, China-Customs TariffNotification No.5 Anti-dumping duty onimports of Saccharin, falling under Chapters 29, 30, 33 and 38 ,originating in, or exported from, China-Customs Tariff Notification No.7 Special Bench of ITAT rules the appellant is not entitled to set off carry forward business loss against the long term capital gain arising on sale of land used for the purpose business ITAT rules Long Term and Short Term gains / losses on sale of equity shares under Portfolio Management Scheme is business income and not Capital Gains HC rules the opinion of the AO may have been legally erroneous but this cannot be a ground for initiation of re-assessment proceedings Anti-dumping duty on ‘Caustic Soda’, originating in, or exported from, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Japan, USA & France-Customs Tariff Notification No.1 Cost Accountants can issue Certificates for the purpose of refund of 4% CVD-Customs Circular No.1 Customs duty on import from ASEAN nations lowered- Customs Tariff Notification No.127 deeper tariff cut on import from Malaysia notified- Customs Tariff Notification No.128 deeper tariff cuts on import from Korea notified- Customs Tariff Notification No.123 deeper tariff cuts on import from Srilanka & Pakistan under SAFTA notified- Customs Tariff Notification No.125 Schedule of Rates for Service Tax Refund to Exporters notified in supersession of Notification No.17/2009-Service Tax Notification No. 52 Customs duty on import of several products from specified countries lowered-Customs Tariff Notification No.113 Anti-dumping duty on ‘Sodium Hydrosulphite (SHS)’, falling under headings 2831 and 2832 , originating in, or exported from, China PR- Customs Tariff Notification No.111 CBEC specifies documents required for Registration of ServiceTax Customs duty on import of 532 Products from Singapore lowered-many products exempted from duty-Customs Tariff Notification No. 106 Government allows Rebate of excise duty on export of goods to Nepal under ARE-1 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Honeymoon of IT Sector with Service Tax is Over

By RS Sharma Advocate

IT Industry which is already hit by recession in US is no more immune from service tax.The Finance Bill has proposed withdrawal of exemption hereto being availed by IT Sector under Business Auxiliary Service by amending Section 65 of the Finance Act 1994 and also specifically including information technology software service under service tax net. The only solace to IT firms is that service tax will be effective after passing of the Finance Bill 2008 by both the Houses of Parliament and after rubber stamp of the President.

In addition the excise duty on packaged software has also been hiked to 12 per cent.

Section 65 is being amended to specifically include and define the following services in the list of taxable services,namely:

(i) information technology software service,

(ii) management of investment under Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) service,

(iii) stock exchange service,

(iv) recognised association or registered association commonly known as commodity exchange service,

(v) processing and clearing house service,

(vi) supply of tangible goods for use service;

(vii) internet telecommunication service.

Taxable service means any service provided or to be provided to any person, by any other person in relation to information technology software for use in the course, or furtherance, of business or commerce, including,—

(i) development of information technology software,

(ii) study, analysis, design and programming of information technology software,

(iii) adaptation, upgradation, enhancement, implementation and other similar services related to information technology software,

(iv) providing advice, consultancy and assistance on matters related to information technology software, including conducting feasibility studies on implementation of a system, specifications for a database design, guidance and assistance during the startup phase of a new system, specifications to secure a database, advice on proprietary information technology software,

(v) acquiring the right to use information technology software for commercial exploitation including right to reproduce, distribute and sell information technology software and right to use software components for the creation of and inclusion in other information technology software products,

(vi) acquiring the right to use information technology software supplied electronically;

The definition and scope of the following taxable services is being amended as a result of on levy of service tax on information technology software service, namely:-

(i) Business auxiliary service [section 65(19)], so as to omit the reference to exclusion of information technology service;

(ii) Consulting engineer service [section 65(105)(g)], so as to omit the exclusion of computer software engineering consultancy and provide that services provided by a consulting engineer in relation to advice, consultancy or technical assistance in the disciplines of both computer hardware engineering and computer software engineering shall also be classifiable under this service;

(iii) Technical testing and analysis service [section 65(106)] so as to specifically include testing or analysis of information technology software;

(iv) Technical inspection and certification service [section 65(108)] so as to specifically include inspection, examination and certification of information technology software;

(i) Banking and other financial services [section 65(12)] so as to levy service tax on purchase or sale of foreign currency, including money changing by an authorized dealer and authorized money changer;

(ii) Foreign exchange broker services provided by individual [section 65(105)(zzk)] so as to levy service tax on purchase or sale of foreign currency, including money changing by an authorized dealer and authorized money changer;

(iii) Business auxiliary service [section 65(19)] so as to clarify as a removal of doubt, that “service in relation to promotion or marketing of service provided by the client” includes any service provided in relation to promotion or marketing of games of chance, organized, conducted or promoted by the client;

(iv) Cargo handling service [section 65(23)] so as to specifically include services of packing together with transportation of cargo or goods, with or without one or more other services like loading, unloading, unpacking;

(v) Tour operator’s service [section 65(115)] so as to include any person engaged in the business of operating tours in a contract carriage and to provide that “tour” does not include a journey organized or arranged for use by an educational body imparting skill or knowledge or lessons on any subject or field, other than a commercial training or coaching centre;

(vi) Renting of immovable property so as to clarify as a removal of doubt, that renting of immovable property service includes allowing or permitting the use of space in an immovable property, irrespective of the transfer of possession or control of the immovable property.

Further, the rate of Service Tax on Works Contract service under composition scheme has also been hiked to 4 per cent vide Service Tax Notification No. 7/2008 with effect from 1^st March 2008.

(The Writer is an Advocate & Consultant based in Delhi and is advising several MNCs and Indian Corporates on Service Tax, Central Excise & Customs matters. He can be mailed at rssharma@gmail.com)

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