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1. |
What
is Service Tax? Is it an indirect tax ? |
Ans:
|
Service Tax is an indirect
levy imposed under Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1994 as amended.
The tax is applicable to services specified in the section
65 & 66 |
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2. |
What
is the rate of Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
At present the rate of Service
Tax is eight percent to be levied on the "value of taxable
service".Generallly specking "value of taxable service" means
the gross amount received by the service provider for the
taxable service rendered by him. |
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3. |
Who is
liable to pay Service Tax to the Govt.? |
Ans:
|
The person who provides the
taxable service on receipt of charges is responsible for paying
the Service Tax to the Government. |
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4.
|
Who is
liable to pay Service Tax in case service is provided by a
person other than Indian resident or who does not have any
establishment in India ? |
Ans: |
In this case the services
receiver in India is liable to pay service tax |
|
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5. |
Whom
& where should one approach for registration? |
| Ans:
|
Generally, all Commissionerates
of Central Excise, have a Service Tax Cell, headed by Assistant
Commissioner / Deputy Commissioner. However, in certain Commissionerates,
separate Service Tax Divisions have been constituted. The
work is also delegated to Central Excise Divisions in many
Commissionerates. A prospective assessee of Service Tax can
approach the Assistant Commissioner / Deputy Commissioner
in charge of Service Tax cell of the Jurisdictional Commissionerates
or Central Excise Division for registration depending upon
the arrangements made in the Commissionerate. |
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6. |
What
is the procedure for registration ? |
Ans:
|
A prospective taxable service
provider seeking registration should file an application in
form ST-1 ( in duplicate) before the jurisdictional Central
Excise officer / Service Tax officer within thirty days from
the date of notification of the taxable service. Department
is required to issue the registration certificate within 7
days of the receipt of application. In case of failure to
issue registration certificate within 7 days, the registration
applied for is deemed to have been granted and the assessee
can carry on with his activities. |
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7.
|
Who should
apply for registration under Service Tax law? Is there any
provision for Centralised Registration ? |
Ans:
|
All persons providing taxable
services are required to register with the Central Excise
Department. They would have to take only one registration
even if they operate from more than one premise but have centralised
billing at one place. However, if such persons do not have
Centralised billing at one place, then they will have to register
at each place separately. Besides, only one registration is
required to be taken even if an individual provides more than
one service but from the same premises. |
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8.
|
What
is to be done with the registration when :- a) a registered
assessee transfers his business to another person, or b) a
registered assessee ceases to carry on the activity for
which he is registered ? |
Ans:
|
a) When a registered assessee
transfers his business to another person the transferee should
obtain a fresh certificate of registration.
b) When a registered assessee ceases to carry on the service
activity for which he is registered, he should surrender his
registration certificate to the Central Excise authorities.
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9.
|
What
is the time limit within which the service provider should
register with the Central Excise Department for the service
tax purpose once the service is notified or once the assessee
commences the business of rendering the taxable service ? |
Ans:
|
Every person liable to pay
the service tax should make an application to the concerned
Central Excise Officer for registration within a period of
30 days of the Service Tax having come into force. In cases
where a person commences the business of providing a taxable
service after such service has been notified, he is required
to make an application for registration within a period of
30 days from the date of commencement of his activities. |
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10.
|
Whether
a service provider can make payment of Service Tax and file
returns before the grant of registration by the proper officer
? |
Ans:
|
Yes. A service provider can
pay service tax and file returns immediately after applying
for registration. |
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11. |
Is there
any panel provision for non-registration ? |
Ans:
|
Yes. Any offence of failure
for non-registration will attract a mandatory penalty of rupees
five hundred |
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12.
|
Is obtaining
a PAN No. from Income Tax Deptt. a must for obtaining Service
Tax Registration ? |
Ans:
|
It is not mandatory to have
a PAN for obtaining registration in Service Tax. However,
it is advisable for Service Tax assessee to have a PAN No.
as Service Tax Code (STC) Number based on PAN allotted by
Income Tax Deptt. has been introduced in Service Tax also.
The main objective of allocating a number is to identify the
concerned person where he is located and registered. |
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13. |
How
and where to pay Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
The Service Tax amount is
required is required to be paid in Form TR-6 challan (yellow
in colour) in the specified branches of designated banks.
The list of such Banks and Branches is available in every
Commissionerate of Central Excise. Different heads of accounts
have been specified for different taxable service by the Govt.
under which payment has to be made. While making the payment
of Service Tax to the credit of Central Govt., head of account
should be correctly and properly indicated under major and
minor heads and sub-heads to avoid misclassification. |
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14. |
When
is Service Tax required to be paid ? |
Ans:
|
If the assessee is an individual
or a proprietary or partnership firm, the Service Tax is to
be paid on quarterly basis. The payment is to be made by the
25th day of the month following the quarter. For example,
Service Tax for the quarter ending 30th June is to be paid
by 25th July .In respect of other categories, the tax is payable
on monthly basis and is to paid by 25th day of the succeeding
month. |
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15.
|
Whether
the payment of Service Tax is to made for the billed amount
or for the value received ? |
Ans:
|
The Service Tax for a particular
period is payable on the value of taxable service received
in that period and not on the gross amount billed to the client. |
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16.
|
Whether
Service Tax deposited by the assesses in non-designated bank
will amount to non-payment of Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
Yes. For payment of Service
Tax, specific Bank has been nominated for every Central Excise
Commissionerate. If Service Tax amount is deposited in a branch
of Bank other than nominated Bank, it amounts to non-payment
of Service Tax. |
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17.
|
What
is the date of payment of Service Tax ? Is it the date on
which the cheque for the same is deposited / tendered
in the designated Bank or the date on which the amount is
credited ? |
Ans:
|
The date of deposit of cheque
is the date of payment of Service Tax. The Service Tax Rules
as amended provide that it would suffice if the cheque is
presented to the Bank by the 25th of the month. However, if
the cheque bounces, it would mean as if the tax has not been
paid and the necessary penal consequences would follow. |
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18.
|
How
do you describe the expression "person" appearing in the definition
of taxable service ? |
Ans:
|
The expression refers to
a "legal person" and would include any individual, proprietary
firm or partnership firm, company, trust, institution and
society etc. |
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19.
|
Would
services provided in India for the foreign client be liable
for payment of Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
Yes, the service tax is payable
on all taxable services rendered in India whether Indian or
foreign client. |
|
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20. |
Would
the service provided abroad liable for payment of Service
Tax ? |
Ans:
|
No, the services rendered
abroad shall not attract service tax as the levy covers only
the services provided in India. |
|
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21.
|
When
payment is made by a client or customer to an assessee after
deducting his Income Tax liability under "Tax Deducted At
Source" provision, whether the Service Tax liability of the
assessee is only towards the amount actually received from
his client or customer or tax is to be paid on the amount
of income tax deducted at source also ? |
Ans:
|
The Service Tax is to be
paid on the value of taxable services which is charged by
an assessee. Any income tax deducted at source is included
in the charged amount. Therefore, Service Tax is to be paid
on the amount of income tax deducted at source also. |
|
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22. |
What
is the interest rate applicable on delayed payment of Service
Tax ? |
Ans:
|
Every person, liable to pay
the tax in accordance with the provisions of section 68 or
rules made thereunder, who fails to credit the tax or any
part thereof to the account of the Central Government within
the period prescribed, shall pay simple interest at the rate
of fifteen per cent per annum for the period by which such
crediting of the tax or any part thereof is delayed. |
|
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23.
|
Is the
amount for Service Tax charged from the client compulsorily
to be indicated separately in the Bills / Invoices raised
on him ? |
Ans:
|
Yes it is compulsory to separately
indicate the amount of Service Tax charged in the Bills /
Invoices raised on clients in terms of Section 83 of Finance
Act 1994 read with sec 12A of Central Excise Act 1994. It
is also advisable for the service providers to separately
bill the amount of Service Tax in the invoice/bill on the
basis of taxable value of service rendered, especially so
if he requires to avail the input credit scheme. |
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24.
|
Is there
any exemption for payment of Service Tax if the receiver /
provider of the service is the Central Govt. / State Govt.
organisation and /or Public Sector Undertakings ? Can any
one of the above claim immunity from the liability to pay
or make provision for paying the Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
No, there is no such general
exemption, exempting the services received/ provided by the
Central Government/State Government organiastion or Public
Sector Undertakings. No one can claim immunity from payment
of service tax until specifically provided in law. |
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25.
|
Whether
any general exemption from Service Tax is available for small
scale service providers, as in the Central Excise ? |
Ans:
|
No. At present there is no
such general exemption available for small scale service providers. |
|
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26. |
What
are the penal provisions if the Service Tax is not paid /
paid late ? |
Ans:
|
Any person liable to pay
service tax in accordance with the provisions of section 68
or the rules made there under, who fails to pay such tax shall
pay in addition to paying such tax, and interest on that tax
in accordance with the provisions of section 75, a penalty
which shall not be less than one hundred rupees but which
may extend to two hundred rupees for every day during which
such failure continues, so, however that the penalty under
this clause shall not exceed the amount of service tax that
he failed to pay. |
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27.
|
Can
any adjustment of tax liability be made by an assessee on
his own in case where Service Tax has been paid in excess
? |
Ans:
|
Yes. As per Rule 6(3) " Where
an assessee has paid to the credit of Central Government service
tax in respect of the taxable service, which is not so provided
by him either wholly or partially for any person, the assessee
may adjust the excess service tax so paid by him (calculated
on a pro-rata basis) against his service tax liability for
the subsequent period, if the assessee has refunded the value
of taxable service and the service tax thereon to the person
from whom it was received." In all other cases of excess payment,
the refund claims have to be filed with the department. |
|
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28. |
How
to file Service Tax Returns on what interval and with whom? |
Ans:
|
The Service Tax assessee
are required to file a half yearly return in Form ST-3 or
ST-3A as applicable in duplicate, to the Superintendent, Central
Excise, dealing with Service Tax work. The return is to be
filed within 25 days from the last day of the half year it
relates to and should be accompanied by copies of all TR-6
challans issued in the relevant period. Thus, returns of half
year ending 30th September and 31st March are required to
be filed by 25th October and 25th April, respectively. |
|
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29. |
What
is e-filing of Service Tax returns ? |
Ans:
|
E- filing is a facility for
the electronic filing of Service Tax returns by the assessee
from his office, residence or any other place of choice, through
the Internet, by using a computer. The assessee can go to
the e-filing site 'Home Page' by typing the address http://servicetaxefiling.nic.in
in the address bar of the browser. |
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|
30. |
Who
can e-file their returns ? |
| Ans:
|
Assessee having a 15 digit
STP code and falling under the following categories can avail
of the facility of electronic filing of their 'Return' for
the following services :
a) Telegraph Services (TGH)
b) Telephones (TSU)
c) Life Insurance Services (LIS)
d) Insurance Auxiliary (IAX)
e) General Insurance Business (GIB)
f) Stockbrokers (STB)
g) Advertising Agencies (COU)
h) Courier Services (COU)
i) Banking and Financial (BFN)
j) Custom House Agents (CHA)
This facility will be extended to other services in stages.
The assessee should take care to ensure that he has been indicating
his 15 digit STP code in the challans used by him from September
2002. An assessee who has not done this may also opt for e-filing
but he will have to submit copies of challans manually to
the department after e-filing his return, evidencing payment
of duties, after indicating his 15 digit STP code on each
challan. |
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31. |
What
is the procedure for e-filing ? |
Ans:
|
Those assessee coming under
the above service categories and who have 15 digit Service
Tax Payer Code allotted to them, should file an application
to their jurisdictional AC/Dc as laid out in Trade Notice
issued in this regard. They should mention a trusted e-mail
address in their application, so that the department can send
them their userword and password to help them file their return.
They should log on to the Service Tax E-filing Home Page using
the internet. On entering their STP Code, userword and password
in place provided on the Home Page they will be permitted
access to the E filing facility. They should then follow the
instructions given therein. |
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32. |
What
is to be done when no services are provided for in a half-year? |
Ans:
|
If no services have been
provided during a half year no Service Tax is payable; the
assessee may file a Nil Return within the prescribed time
limit. |
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|
33.
|
What
is the penalty for non-filing or delayed filing of half yearly
returns ? |
Ans:
|
As per Section 77, " If a
person fails to furnish in due time the return which he is
required to furnish under section 70 or the rules made there
under, he shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to
an amount not exceeding one thousand rupees." |
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34.
|
Whether
a single return is sufficient when an assessee provides more
than one Service or separate return is to be filed for each
service ? |
Ans:
|
A single return would suffice.
However, details in each of the column in Service Tax the
Forms ST-3 has to be furnished separately for each of the
taxable service rendered by the assessee. |
|
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35.
|
Is there
any statutory documents prescribed by the Govt. such as specified
invoice proforma, specified registers etc for use by the Service
Providers? |
Ans:
|
No specific records have
been prescribed to be maintained by a Service Tax assessee.
The records including computerized data if any being maintained
by an assessee as required under any other law in force. (e.g.
Income Tax, Sales Tax) is acceptable to the Central Excise
Department for the purpose of Service Tax. |
|
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36.
|
From
where do the service Tax assessee get the Forms Viz ST-1,
ST-2 etc ? |
Ans:
|
The forms are available on
the website as well as with the jurisdictional Central Excise
Commissionerates. |
|
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37.
|
Can
the Department ask for more information than what assesee
is submitting to it in the Form ST-1 and ST-3 ? |
Ans: |
Yes, if required the Department
can always ask for additional information. |
|
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38.
|
Is the
Service Tax payable by the assessee even in case where his
clients do not pay for the service rendered or pay only a
part of the bill raised in this regard ? |
Ans:
|
The Service Tax is required
to be paid only on the value of taxable service received in
a particular month or quarter as the case may be and not on
the gross amount billed to the client. However, in all such
cases where the amount received is less than the gross amount
charged/billed to the client, the Service Tax assessee are
required to amend the bills either by rectifying the existing
bill or by issuing a revised bill and by properly endorsing
such charge in the billed amount. In case an assessee fails
to do, his liability to pay Service Tax shall be on the amount
billed by him to the client for the services rendered. |
|
|
39. |
What
is the procedure for claiming refund ? |
Ans:
|
The procedure for claiming
refund for the amount due from the Department is as mentioned
below :-
i) Submission of application in prescribed Form-R in triplicate
to the jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner.
ii) Application should be filed within the prescribed period,
i.e. before the expiry of six months from the relevant date
as defined in Section 11 B of the Central Excise Act, 1994
which has been made applicable to service tax refund matters
also. Application should be accompanied by documentary evidence
to establish that the amount claimed as refund is amount paid
by him in excess of service tax due and the incidence of such
tax has been passed on to any other person. |
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40.
|
What
is the "Relevant Date" for calculation of limitation period
of six months in respect of filing refund claims related to
Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
The "Relevant Date" for the
purpose of refund (under section 11 B of CEA 1944) is date
of payment of Service Tax. Thus, the limitation period of
six months is to be calculated from the said date. |
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41.
|
Who
should be approached when an assessee is aggrieved by an order
of Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner in respect of
Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
An assessee aggrieved by
the order of Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner in
respect of Service Tax, may file an appeal to the Commissioner
of Central Excise (Appeals) in Form ST-4, in duplicate along
with a copy of order appealed against. The appeal should be
presented within three months from the date of receipt of
the decision or order of the Central Excise Officer. |
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42.
|
What
is the procedure for filing of appeal against the order of
Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise
? |
| Ans:
|
Any person aggrieved by any
order passed by any assessing officer or adjudicating authority
below the rank of Commissioner may file an appeal before the
Commissioner, Central Excise (Appeals).
i) The appeal shall be filed in the prescribed form ST-4.
ii) It shall be presented within three months from the date
of receipt of order which is being appealed against.
iii) It should be filed in duplicate.
iv) It should be accompanied by a copy of the order appealed
against. |
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43.
|
Can
the limit of three months for filing the appeal to the Commissioner
(Appeal) be extended, if yes, under what circumstances? |
Ans:
|
Yes. If the commissioner
of Central Excise (Appeals) is satisfied that the appellant
was prevented by sufficient cause, from presenting the appeal
within the statutory period of three months, he may allow
the appeal to be presented within a further period of three
months. |
|
|
44.
|
Can
an appeal be filed against the order of Commissioner of Central
Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise ( Appeals) ? |
Ans:
|
Yes, the law provides for
filing an appeal against the order of Commissioner of Central
Excise or Commissioner (Appeals). Such appeals can be filed
with the CESTAT within three months of the date of receipt
of the order sought to be appealed against. |
|
|
45.
|
What
is the procedure for filing appeal against the order of Commissioner
of Central Excise or Commissioner (Appeals) ? |
Ans:
|
i) Any assessee aggrieved
by the Commissioner of Central Excise or the Commissioner
(Apeals)may file an appeal before the Appellate Tribunal i.e.
CESTAT.
ii) The appeal should be filed within three months from the
date of receipt of the order appealed against.
iii) It should be filed in the prescribed form ST-5.
iv) It should be filed in quadruplicate.
v) It should be accompanied by a copy of the order appealed
against one of which should be certified copy.
vi) The appeal should be accompanied by a fee of Rs. Two Hundred
only. |
|
|
46.
|
Whether
credit of Service Tax is available for all the input services
used? If so what are the records to be maintained ? |
Ans:
|
Yes. An output service provider
is allowed to avail Service Tax credit of the Service Tax
paid on all input services in the following manner, namely
:-
a) where the input service falls in the same category of taxable
services as that of the output service, Service Tax shall
be allowed to be taken on such input service for which invoice
or bill or challan is issued on or after the sixteenth day
of August,2002;
b) in any other case, Service Tax credit shall be allowed
to be taken on such input service for which invoice or bill
or challan is issued on or after the fourteenth day of May,2003;
The invoice or bill or challans as the case may be shall contain
the following details:
i) Serial Number of the document.
ii) Date of issue.
iii) Description and value of input service.
iv) Amount of Service Tax paid.
v) Service Tax Registration No.
vi) Address of Input service provider. |
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|
47. |
Is there
any prescribed document/register for availing Input Service
Credit? |
Ans:
|
The Output service provider
availing Service Tax credit shall maintain proper records
in which the relevant information regarding the Sr.No. and
date of document on which Service Tax credit is availed, Service
Tax registration No and name of the input service provider,
description and value of input service, service tax credit
availed, Service Tax credit utilized for payment of Service
Tax on output service shall be recorded. The burden of proof
regarding the admissibility of Service Tax credit shall lie
upon the person taking such credit. |
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|
48. |
How
to avail Service Tax credit ? |
Ans:
|
The output service provider
to avail Service Tax credit shall submit to the Superintendent
of Central Excise, a return in the form annexed to the Service
Tax Credit Rules,2003 along with Form ST-3. |
|
|
49.
|
Whether
Input Credit can be accumulated and adjusted at the time of
payment of Service Tax ? |
Ans:
|
Service Tax credit availed
on input service may be utilized for payment of Service Tax
on output service. Since no refund of any excess credit available
is admissible, the assessee has to utilize the same on payment
of Service Tax. While paying Service Tax on the output service,
the service tax credit shall be utilized only to the extent
such credit is available on the last date of the month for
payment of Service Tax relating to the month or in case where
the assessee is an individual or proprietary or partnership
firm to the extent the credit is available on the last day
of the quarter for payment of Service Tax relating to the
quarter. |
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|
50.
|
How
do the service provider operate within the scheme of service
tax credit when he is providing both taxable and non taxable
or exempt services? |
Ans:
|
Where a service provider
avails credit on any input service and renders such output
services which are chargeable to service tax as well as exempted
services or non taxable services, as the case may be, then
the service provider shall maintain separate accounts for
receipt and consumption of input service mea |