Service tax on Rail Freight – Deferred for sixth time in a Row

Against the backdrop of high inflation, the implementation of levy on railway freight service has been put off once again. The levy is now likely to come into force from April 1 instead of January 1 as announced earlier. This is the sixth time that the levy on transport of goods by rail has been deferred. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the 2010-11 Union Budget brought transport of goods by railway under the service tax net from April 1, 2010. However, the proposal was vehemently opposed by Railway Ministry fearing adverse impact on goods movement, forcing the government to defer it repeatedly. “It is being felt that any levy on freight service at this juncture would adversely impact the industry. Movement of coal and cement among others goods would become costlier with the imposition of service tax,” a senior Railway Ministry official said. The levy is now likely to be implemented from April 1.

Notification Related to Deferment of  Service tax on Rail Freight are given below:-

Transport of Goods by rail service – Abatement provisions – Amendment in Notification No. 9/2010-ST, dated 27-2-2010 – Exemption extended till 1-4-2012

Exemption to Transportation of specified commodities by rail service – Amendment in notification No. 8/2010-ST, dated 27-2-2010 – Exemption extended till 1-4-2012

Transport of Goods by Rail Service – Exemption to transport of Goods by rail – Amendment in Notification No. 7/2010-ST, dated 27-2-2010 – Exemption extended till 1-4-2012

Related posts:

1. Service tax on rail freight deferred by 3 months – Fourth Such Defferment
2. Levy of Service tax on rail freight postponed till 31st March 2011
3. Applicability of Service tax on Railway freight deferred to 1st Jan 2011
4. Service tax on rail fright deferred till 1st July 2010 in Public Interest
5. Transport of Goods by Rail Service – Exemption to transport of Goods by rail – Amendment in Notification No. 7/2010-ST, dated 27-2-2010 – Exemption extended till 1-4-2012