Analysis of Service tax rate increase from 12.36% to 14% (Subsuming EC and SHEC) effective from 01.06.2015
By CA. Chitresh Gupta, B.Com(H), FCA, IFRS (Certified), IDT (Certified)
Author of Book “An Insight Into Goods & Service Tax”
After the Hon’ble President has given assent to the Finance Bill, 2015 on May 14, 2015, the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue vide Notification No. 14/2015-ST dated May 19, 2015 has notified increase in the rate of Service tax from 12.36% to flat 14% (Subsuming Education Cess and Secondary & Higher Secondary Education Cess) to be effective from June 1, 2015.
Service Tax Rate |
Earlier 12.36% |
New 14.00% (all inclusive) |
In respect of certain services like money changing service, service provided by air travel agent, insurance service and service provided by lottery distributor and selling agent the service provider has been allowed to pay service tax at an alternative rate subject to the conditions as prescribed under rule 6 (7), 6(7A), 6(7B) and 6(7C) of the Service Tax Rules, 1994. Consequent to the upward revision in Service Tax rate, the said alternative rates shall also be revised proportionately. The new rates are summarized in the table below:
Service |
Old Rate |
New Rate |
Air Travel Agent |
Domestic booking |
0.6 per cent |
0.7 per cent |
International booking |
1.2 per cent |
1.4 per cent |
Life insurance |
First year premium |
3 per cent |
3.5 per cent |
Subsequent year premium |
1.5 per cent |
1.75 per cent |
Money changing service |
Amount of currency exchanged upto INR 0.1 million |
0.12 per cent subject to minimum of INR 30 |
0.14 per cent subject to minimum of INR 35 |
Amount of currency exchanged exceeding INR 0.1 million and upto INR1 million |
INR 120 and 0.06 per cent |
INR 140 and 0.07 per cent |
Amount of currency exchanged exceeding INR1 million |
INR 660 and 0.012 per cent subject to maximum of INR 6,000 |
INR 770 and 0.014 per cent subject to maximum of INR 7,000 |
Lottery |
Where guaranteed prize payout is more than 80 per cent |
INR 7,000 |
INR 8,200 |
Where guaranteed prize payout is less than 80 per cent |
INR 11,000 |
INR 12,800 |
POINT OF TAXATION WHEN THERE IS CHANGE IN EFFECTIVE RATE OF TAX
Point of taxation involving change in effective rate of tax is governed by Rule 4 of the POT Rules, which provides for determination of Point of taxation when there is change in effective rate of tax as mentioned in the table below:
S. No. |
In case a taxable service has been provided |
Invoice has been issued |
Payment received for the invoice |
Point of taxation shall be |
Applicable Rate |
1. |
BEFORE the change in effective rate of tax |
AFTER the change in effective rate of tax |
AFTER the change in effective rate of tax |
Date of issuance of invoice or Date of receipt of payment, whichever is earlier |
New Rate |
2. |
BEFORE the change in effective rate of tax |
AFTER the change in effective rate of tax |
Date of issuance of invoice |
Old Rate |
3. |
AFTER the change in effective rate of tax |
BEFORE the change in effective rate of tax |
Date of receipt of payment |
Old Rate |
4. |
AFTER the change in effective rate of tax |
BEFORE the change in effective rate of tax |
AFTER the change in effective rate of tax |
Date of receipt of payment |
New Rate |
5. |
BEFORE the change in effective rate of tax |
BEFORE the change in effective rate of tax |
Date of issuance of invoice or Date of receipt of payment, whichever is earlier |
Old Rate |
6. |
AFTER the change in effective rate of tax |
BEFORE the change in effective rate of tax |
Date of issuance of invoice |
New Rate |
SWACHH BHARAT CESS
Swachh Bharat Cess is not notified till date, it will be notified separately at a later date.
Only an enabling provision is being incorporated in the Finance Bill, 2015 to empower the Central Government to impose a Swachh Bharat Cess on all or any of the taxable services at a rate of 2% on the value of such taxable services. The cess shall be levied from the date to be notified after the enactment of the Finance Bill 2015.
Hence, an illustrative clarification to this effect is much warranted from the Board before the new rate of Service becoming effective from June 1, 2015.
BALANCE OF EDUCATION CESS AND SECONDARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION CESS AS ON 01-06-2015
The question arises what will happen to the balance lying in ‘Education Cess’ and ‘Secondary and Higher Education Cess’ as on June 1, 2015. Will it be allowed to be adjusted with Service tax liability as this is being denied in terms of Rule 3(7)(b) of the Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 (“the Credit Rules”).
The same issue arose in Excise when the rate of duty was changed from 12.36% to 12.50%
subsuming the Education Cess and Secondary and Higher Education cess on 01-03-2015.
Recently, the CBEC has issued a Notification No. 12/2015-Central Excise (N.T.) dated 30-
04-2015 in this regard in case of Central Excise.
It is thus expected CBEC should come with a clarificatory circular on the above mentioned
issue in case of Service Tax also.
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