Mega Exemption Notification Extended to cover basic Services Provided by Government

1. Services by way of grant of passport, visa, driving license, birth or death certificates have been exempted vide Notification No. 25/2012 -ST dated 20.6.2012 as amended by Notification No. 22/2016 -ST dated 13.4.2016 [Entry 55 refers].

2. Further, for services provided upto a taxable value of Rs 5000/-, Sl. No. 5 below may please be seen.

1. It is clarified that fines and penalty chargeable by Government or a local authority imposed for violation of a statute, bye-laws, rules or regulations are not leviable to Service Tax.

2. Fines and liquidated damages payable to Government or a local authority for non-performance of contract entered into with Government or local authority have been exempted vide Notification No. 25/2012 -ST dated 20.6.2012 as amended by Notification No. 22/2016 -ST dated 13.4.2016 [Entry 57 refers].

It is clarified that any activity undertaken by Government or a local authority against a consideration constitutes a service and the amount charged for performing such activities is liable to Service Tax. It is immaterial whether such activities are undertaken as a statutory or mandatory requirement under the law and irrespective of whether the amount charged for such service is laid down in a statute or not. As long as the payment is made (or fee charged) for getting a service in return (i.e., as a quid pro quo for the service received), it has to be regarded as a consideration for that service and taxable irrespective of by what name such payment is called. It is also clarified that Service Tax is leviable on any payment, in lieu of any permission or license granted by the Government or a local authority.

2. However, services provided by the Government or a local authority by way of:

(i) registration required under the law;

(ii) testing, , calibration, safety check or certification relating to protection or safety of workers, consumers or public at large, required under the law,
have been exempted vide Notification No. 25/2012 – -ST dated 20.6.2012 as amended by Notification No. 22/2016 -ST dated 13.4.2016 [Entry 58 refers].

3. Further, services provided by Government or a local authority where the gross amount charged for such service does not exceed Rs 5000/-have been exempted vide Notification No. 25/2012 -ST dated 20.6.2012 as amended by Notification No. 22/2016 -ST dated 13.4.2016 [Entry 56 refers]. However, the said exemption does not cover services specified in sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (a) of section 66D of the Finance Act, 1994. Further, in case of continuous service, the exemption shall be applicable where the gross amount charged for such service does not exceed Rs. 5000/-in a financial year.

4. It is also clarified that Circular No. 89/7/2006-Service Tax dated 18-12-2006 & and Reference Code 999.01/23.8.07 in Circular No. 96/7/2007-ST dated 23.8.2007 issued in the pre-negative list regime are no longer applicable.

Rule 7 of the Point of Taxation Rules, 2011 has been amended vide Notification No. 24/2016 -ST dated 13.4.2016 to provide that in case of services provided by Government or a local authority to any business entity, the point of taxation shall be the earlier of the dates on which:

(a) any payment, part or full, in respect of such service becomes due, as indicated in the invoice, bill, challan, or any other document issued by Government or a local authority demanding such payment; or

(b) such payment is made.

Thus, the point of taxation in case of the services of the assignment of right to use natural resources by the Government to a business entity shall be the date on which any payment, including deferred payments, in respect of such assignment becomes due or when such payment is made, whichever is earlier. Therefore, if the assignee/allottee opts for full upfront payment then Service Tax would be payable on the full value upfront. However, if the assignee opts for part upfront and remainder under deferred payment option, then Service Tax would be payable as and when the payments are due or made, whichever is earlier.

The CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 have been amended vide Notification No. 24/2016 C.E. (N.T.) dated 13.4.2016. Consequently, the CENVAT Credit of the Service Tax on one time charges (whether paid upfront or in installments) paid in a year, may be allowed to be taken evenly over a period of 3 (three) years. [Rule 4(7) of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 as amended refers]. Detailed illustrations explaining how the CENVAT Credit is to be availed, are given in para 2 below.

However, the Service Tax paid on spectrum user charges, license fee, transfer fee charged by the Government on trading of spectrum would be available in the year in which the same is paid. Likewise, Service Tax paid on royalty in respect of natural resources and any periodic payments shall be available as credit in the year in which the same is paid. The existing eighth proviso in sub-rule (7) of rule 4 of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 is being omitted because the same is superfluous.

Amendments have also been made in CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 so as to allow CENVAT credit to be taken on the basis of the documents specified in sub-rule (1) of rule 9 of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 even after the period of 1 year from the date of issue of such a document in case of services provided by the Government or a local authority or any other person by way of assignment of right to use any natural resource [Fifth Proviso to sub-rule (7) of Rule 4 of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004].