Government grants full service tax exemption on taxable services provided to a Goods Transport Agency by their sub-contractors-Service Tax Notification No.1 Transporters strike hampers movement of cargo Daiichi to book an extra ordinary loss of 3.9 Billion Dollars arising from its acquisition of Ranbaxy Government releases Rs. 600 crore to regional authorities of DGFT for payment of pending claims of Terminal Excise Duty and Duty Drawback under deemed export scheme-Government also releases Rs. 200 crore to the Development Commissioners of SEZs for payment towards pending claims of CST in respect of supplies made to 100% EOUs Mobile Companies directed to freeze Cellphones without IMEI numbers Sensex hits 10275 Points Omar Abdullah sworn in as Chief Minister of J & K Farooq Abdullah offered Cabinet Ministership in Centre Anti-dumping duty on import of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) originating in, or exported from, Korea RP -Customs Tariff Notification No.1 Changes in Customs duty on specified goods-Customs Tariff Notification No.2 New Drawback Rates for Boots/half boots/shoes/sandals of leather-cum synthetic/textile materials-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No.1 Drawback Rates on several products hiked-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No.2 Government announces Second Economic Stimulus Package to boost recession hit Sectors-Exemptions from CVD on TMT bars and structurals, and from CVD and Special CVD on cement, withdrawn-Full exemption from basic customs duty on zinc and ferro alloys, withdrawn-Government restores DEPB rates to those prevailing prior to November 2008- DEPB Scheme extended till 31.12.2009-Duty drawback benefits on certain items including knitted fabrics, bicycles, agricultural hand tools and specified categories of yarn enhanced retrospectively from 1st September 2008-Accelerated depreciation of 50% provided for commercial vehicles to be purchased on or after 1.1.2009 upto 31.03.09-Click on the link below for details Home Loan Rates, Auto Loan Rates & Retail Loan Rates set to be lowered as RBI cuts Repo Rate by 100 BPS to 5.5 per cent and Reverse Repo Rate by 100 BPS to 4 percent with immediate effect -CRR also cut by 50 BPS to 5 per cent from 17th Jan-Banks get Rs 20000 Crore of liquidity CENVAT Credit of service tax paid on all input services up to the Port allowed to Exporters-Click on the link below for details As demanded by AIT; FinMin finally amends CENVAT Credit Rules to allow benefit of non-reversal of Credit on clearances to SEZ Developers-Central Excise Non-Tariff Notification No.50-Click on the lik below for details Anti-dumping duty on import of Flexible Slabstock Polyol, originating in, or exported from, the People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and Brazil continued till 23rd July, 2009-Customs Tariff Notification No.138 Tariff Value for import of Brass Scrap is 3252 and for Poppy Seeds 4238-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No. 141 Exchange Rate for imported goods is Rs 48.20 Per US Dollar and Rs 68 Per EURO-Exchange Rate for export goods is Rs 47.40 Per US Dollar and Rs 66.35 Per EURO-Customs Non-Tariff Notification No. 140 Import of new vehicles having an FOB value of US $ 40,000 or more and engine capacity of more than 3000cc for petrol run vehicle and more than 2500cc for diesel run vehicles exempted from policy provision of Import Licensing Note No. 2-DGFT Notification No.74 CBEC clarifies the classification of 'Combined refrigerator freezer with separate external doors' would be under sub- heading 8418 10 and not under 8418 21-Customs Circular No.23 Procedure relating to sanction and pre-audit of refund claims-Customs Circular No.22 Anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of Sodium Hydroxide(Caustic Soda)originating in, or exported from, Korea ROK and the People's Republic of China-Customs Tariff Notification No.137 export of Staples in Strips entitled for Focus Product Scheme benefits on exports made w.e.f 1.4.2008-DGFT PN 120 export of specified products destined to specified linked markets entitled to benefit under Focus Product scheme for exports made w.e.f 1.4.2008-DGFT PN 121 Abatement from MRP for payment of excise duty lowered by 3 per cent on most of the products-Abatement on Auto Parts lowered to 30 per cent-Central Excise Non-Tariff Notification No. 49 excise duty of 300 PMT notified on cement clinkers-Central Excise Tariff Notification No.64 10% ethanol blended petrol exempted from excise duty Duty free import of capital goods and spare parts under EPCG-Customs Tariff Notification No.136 Anti-dumping duty on import of phenol-Customs Tariff Notification No.135 Authority for Advance Ruling rules looking at the nature of activities carried on or to be carried on by the liaison office of Ikea Trading (Hong Kong) Ltd. in India, no income would accrue or arise or deemed to accrue or arise in India in terms of section 5(2)(b) of Income Tax Act, 1961-AIT-2008-482-AAR Authority for Advance Ruling rules the swapping premium is profit derived from the business of providing long-term finance (computed under the head 'Profits & Gains of Business or Profession' before making any deduction under this clause) in terms of section 36(1)(viii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961-specified percentage thereof is eligible for deduction u/s 36(1)(viii) of the Income Tax Act in view of the fulfillment of condition for carrying this sum to the special reserve-AIT-2008-483-AAR HC rules to arrive at book profit we see no reason why current year's depreciation even though, not charged, to the profit and loss account though disclosed in the notes appended to the accounts cannot be deducted from the "net profit" In determining "book profit" for the purposes of Section 115J of the Act-assessee is entitled to seek deduction of current year depreciation from net profit to arrive at the "book profit" even though it is not charged to the profit and loss account, though disclosed in the notes appended to the accounts-AIT-2008-484-HC Definition of 'Charitable purpose' under section 2(15) of the Income-tax Act-Income Tax Circular No.11 Import of Trucks/Tippers/Dumpers and spares thereof, under EPCG Scheme by any other sector except for the mining sector is not permitted-DGFT Circular No. 48 transitional arrangements in respect of items whose import has been restricted, shall continue-DGFT Circular No.49 SION norms for export of Shea Stearine notified-DGFT PN 118 The appellant an international firm of solicitors resident in UK, has no office or fixed base in India-the income of the assessee is charged on hourly basis in India and utilised in India shall only be chargeable to Income-Tax Act as disclosed in the return of Income-AIT-2008-480-HC CBDT clarifies that any return of income for the assessment year 2008-09 filed electronically on 30th September 2008, in respect of which the electronic acknowledgement bears the date stamp of 1st October 2008, shall be treated as having been filed within the due date, i.e. 30th September 2008 Export of cement freely allowed from all Ports-DGFT Notification No. 73 Bombay HC rules it is only after enactment of Section 66-A w.e.f. 18.4.2006 that taxable services received from abroad by a person belonging to India are taxed in the hands of the Indian residents- In such cases, the Indian recipient of the taxable services is deemed to be a service provider-Before enactment of Section 66-A, there was no such provision in the Act and therefore, Union of India had no authority to levy service tax-Click on the link below for details Import of all pre-packaged commodities subjected to compliance of all the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977-Customs Circular No.21 Larger Bench of CESTAT rules in the case of provisional assessment under the Central Excise Rules, 2002 interest is required to be paid from the first day of the month succeeding the month for which such amount is determined-Interest is required to be paid even if the differential amount is paid before the order, under the Rule 7(3) of the said Rules, is issued finalizing the assessment-AIT-2008-473-CESTAT

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SECTION 23. Failure of Central Excise Officer in duty. — Any Central Excise Officer who ceases or refuses to perform or withdraws himself from the duties of his office, unless he has obtained the express written permission of the Commissioner of Central Excise, or has given to his superior officer two months’ notice in writing of his intention or has other lawful excuse, shall on conviction before a Magistrate be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to three months’ pay, or with both.

CHAPTER IIIA

ADVANCE RULINGS

SECTION 23A. Definitions. — In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, -

(a)“activity” means production or manufacture of goods;

(b)“advance ruling” means the determination, by the authority of a question of law or fact specified in the application regarding the liability to pay duty in relation to an activity proposed to be undertaken, by the applicant;

( c) “applicant” means-

(i) (a) non-resident setting up a joint venture in India in collaboration with a non-resident or a resident; or

(b) a resident setting up a joint venture in India in collaboration with a non-resident; or

( c) a wholly owned subsidiary Indian company, of which the holding company is a foreign company,

who or which, as the case may be, proposes to undertake any business activity in India;

(ii) a joint venture in India; or

(iii) a resident falling within any such class or category of persons, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf,

and which or who, as the case may be, makes application for advance ruling under sub-section (1) of section 23C;

(d) “application” means an application made to the Authority under sub-section (1) of section 23C;

(e) “Authority” means the Authority for Advance Rulings (Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax) constituted under section 28F of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962);

(f) “non-resident”, “Indian company” and “foreign company” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (30), (26) and (23A) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).

SECTION 23B. Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings.— No proceeding before, or pronouncement of advance ruling by, the Authority under this Chapter shall be questioned or shall be invalid on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority.

SECTION 23C. Application for advance ruling.— (1) An applicant desirous of obtaining an advance ruling under this Chapter may make an application in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed, stating the question on which the advance ruling is sought.

(2)The question on which the advance ruling is sought shall be in respect of, -

(a)classification of any goods under the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 (5 of 1986);

(b) applicability of a notification issued under sub-section (1) of section 5A having a bearing on the rate of duty;

( c)the principles to be adopted for the purposes of determination of value of the goods under the provisions of this Act;

( d) notifications issued, in respect of duties of excise under this Act, the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 (5 of 1986) and any duty chargeable under any other law for the time being in force in the same manner as duty of excise leviable under this Act;

(e) admissibility of credit of excise duty paid or deemed to have been paid on the goods used in or in relation to the manufacture of the excisable goods.

“(f) determination of the liability to pay duties of excise on any goods under this Act.” (inserted vide Finance Act 2006)

(3) The application shall be made in quadruplicate and be accompanied by a fee of two thousand five hundred rupees.

(4) An applicant may withdraw an application within thirty days from the date of the application.

SECTION 23D. Procedure on receipt of application. — (1) On receipt of an application, the Authority shall cause a copy thereof to be forwarded to the Commissioner of Central Excise and, if necessary, call upon him to furnish the relevant records :

Provided that where any records have been called for by the Authority in any case, such records shall, as soon as possible, be returned to the Commissioner of Central Excise.

(2)The Authority may, after examining the application and the records called for, by order, either allow or reject the application :

Provided that the Authority shall not allow the application where the question raised in the application is, -

(a)already pending in the applicant’s case before any Central Excise Officer, the Appellate Tribunal or any Court;

(b)the same as in a matter already decided by the Appellate Tribunal or any Court :

Provided further that no application shall be rejected under this sub-section unless an opportunity has been given to the applicant of being heard :

Provided also that where the application is rejected, reasons for such rejection shall be given in the order.

(3)A copy of every order made under sub-section (2) shall be sent to the applicant and to the Commissioner of Central Excise.

(4) Where an application is allowed under sub-section (2), the Authority shall, after examining such further material as may be placed before it by the applicant or obtained by the Authority, pronounce its advance ruling on the question specified in the application.

(5 )On a request received from the applicant, the Authority shall, before pronouncing its advance ruling, provide an opportunity to the applicant of being heard, either in person or through a duly authorised representative.

Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-section, “authorised representative” shall have the meaning assigned to it in sub-section (2) of section 35Q.

(6)The Authority shall pronounce its advance ruling in writing within ninety days of the receipt of application.

(7)A copy of the advance ruling pronounced by the Authority, duly signed by the Members and certified in the prescribed manner shall be sent to the applicant and to the Commissioner of Central Excise, as soon as may be, after such pronouncement.

SECTION 23E. Applicability of advance ruling. — (1) The advance ruling pronounced by the Authority under section 23D shall be binding only -

(a)on the applicant who had sought it;

(b)in respect of any matter referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23C;

(c)on the Commissioner of Central Excise, and the Central Excise authorities subordinate to him, in respect of the applicant.

(2)The advance ruling referred to in sub-section (1) shall be binding as aforesaid unless there is a change in law or facts on the basis of which the advance ruling has been pronounced.

SECTION 23F. Advance ruling to be void in certain circumstances. — (1) Where the Authority finds, on a representation made to it by the Commissioner of Central Excise or otherwise, that an advance ruling pronounced by it under sub-section (6) of section 28-I has been obtained by the applicant by fraud or misrepresentation of facts, it may, by order, declare such ruling to be void ab initio and thereupon all the provisions of this Act shall apply (after excluding the period beginning with the date of such advance ruling and ending with the date of order under this sub-section) to the applicant as if such advance ruling had never been made.

(2) A copy of the order made under sub-section (1) shall be sent to the applicant and the Commissioner of Central Excise.

SECTION 23G.Powers of Authority — (1) The Authority shall, for the purpose of exercising its powers regarding discovery and inspection, enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath, issuing commissions and compelling production of books of account and other records, have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).

(2)The Authority shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section 195, but not for the purposes of Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), and every proceeding before the Authority shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purpose of section 196, of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

SECTION 23H. Procedure of Authority. — The Authority shall, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, have power to regulate its own procedure in all matters arising out of the exercise of its powers under this Act.