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It is directed by Central Government vide Notification No. 19/2015-Service Tax dated  14-10-2015 that the service tax on the service provided by an Indian Bank or other entity acting as an agent to the Money Transfer Service Operator (MTSO) in relation to remittance of foreign currency from outside India to India, in the period 01-07-2012 to 13-10-2014, but for the said practice, shall not be required to be paid.

However, the interpretation from this notification could be taken that for the subsequent period i.e. 14-10-2014 and onwards service tax is to be collected and deposited to the government account for which no exemption would be given. The complete notification is as under:

[TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (i)]

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Excise and Customs

Notification No. 19/2015-Service Tax

New Delhi, the 14th October, 2015

22 Asvina 1937 Saka

G.S.R. (E).- Whereas, the Central Government is satisfied that in the period commencing on and from the 1st day of July, 2012 and ending with the 13th day of October, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the said period) according to a practice that was generally prevalent, there was  non-levy of service tax on the services provided by an Indian Bank or other entity acting as an agent to the Money Transfer Service Operators (hereinafter referred to as MTSO),  in relation to remittance of foreign currency from outside India to India (hereinafter referred to as the said practice),  and this service was liable to service tax, which was not being paid according to the said practice.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11C of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) as made applicable to like matters in Service Tax vide section 83 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), the Central Government hereby directs that the service tax payable under section 66B of the Finance Act, 1994, on the service provided by an Indian Bank or other entity acting as an agent to the MTSO in relation to remittance of foreign currency from outside India to India, in the said period, but for the said practice, shall not be required to be paid.

(Himani Bhayana)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

[F.No. 137/51/2014-Service Tax]

Source: http://www.cbec.gov.in/

No Service Tax on Money Transfer Service for the period 01-07-2012 to 13-10-2014