CA Pradeep Jain & Bharat Rathore
It is a regular practice of the government to follow tactics that are illusive and misleading. One of the tricks adopted by the government while increasing the rate of service tax is that during the Budget Speech, the Hon’ble Finance Minister announced increase in rate of service tax from 12.36% (inclusive of Education Cess and SHE Cess) to 14% (after exemption from Education Cess and SHE Cess). However, the effective rate of service tax that will come force after the Finance Bill receives the assent of the President is 16% because a new Cess has been introduced by the government in the Finance Bill, 2015. Hence, the government knew that there will be opposition from the people regarding hike in service tax from 12% to 16% and so it chose to increase the rate of service tax in indirect manner, thereby burdening the common man.
The Finance Minister has announced Budget on 28th of February, 2015, wherein a new chapter VI has been inserted in the Finance bill that contains a new levy of cess called the ‘Swachh Bharat Cess’. This chapter empowers the government to impose Cess on all the taxable services at the rate of 2% of the value of taxable services. This cess shall be levied from such date as may be notified by the Central Government after the enactment of the Finance Bill, 2015.
It is worth observing that the Government has not given any further details of this levy “ Swachh Bharat Cess”. Consequently, a number of questions are haunting the minds of the assessee as follows:-
- Whether there will be new accounting head for deposition of this cess?
- Whether Cenvat credit of this cess will be available or not because there are no amendments proposed in the Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004?
- Whether there will be restriction as regards utilisation of cess as was in case of Education Cess and SHE Cess or not?
The above cited questions will remain unanswered until the enactment of Finance bill, 2015. But it seems that in respect of indirect tax, Government’s main focus on service tax. They are going to raise the rate of service tax from 12.36% to 14% and then this Swachh Bharat cess of 2% of the value of taxable service is also applicable on all services. We can say that Government has indirectly enhanced the rate of service tax to 16% after enactment of Finance bill.
It’s also seems that service providers will play the main roll in fulfilling Mr. Narendra Modi’s Dream of Swachh Bharat. His dream will be fulfilled with the provision of services by the service providers. However, with the introduction of this levy and the hike in the service tax rate, the burden of tax on the common man has definitely increased as service tax is an indirect tax regime whose ultimate burden is to be borne by the service recipient. It is to be observed that how far the new government would be able to meet out the expectations of the public who had instilled confidence in the said government to reduce the inflation.
There is Little bit confusion regarding the swatch bharat tax that we can take credit avail as a service tax of Swatch Bharat Tax..????? or not…..
This article shows only one side of coin.
Goverment increase the service tax rate because fo GST to be implement, so that excise/servicetax/vat will remain at par.
Opposition goverment didnt oppose because it is already fixed eariler when the G.S.T is at final stage,
Today credit of vat is not available against service tax but later it will be, when GST will come over all net position will be in common man favours
And rate is 14 2 =16% please always read bare act. Not frm media news
When BJP not in power, they shouted against each budget presentation. No one is having the guts to increase the slab or reduce tax rates. Bring all services including doctors, lawyers at reasonable service rates. Avoid cumbersome practice of filing quarterly returns for TDS. Make simple procedures to follow. Through mapping with survey nos., identify all the property owners and their source of Income, it will be more than the stashed money abroad. No one in the country is having strong will and real interest on our motherland. Only the bureaucrats are ruling and continued to rule the country.
It is clearly stated that the Cess will be on the value of services and not on tax
The Rate is 14% + 2% = 16%.
See Sec 117 under Chapter VI. 2% is on the value of services AND NOT on Tax.
In my opinion, In that case it shall be 14.28% not 16 %. Though it is yet to announce.
Sir,
Is it 2% S B cess on service tax of 13.6% i.e.14%-3% educational cess or on the entire portion of taxable amount or on the new revused rate of 14% which is inclusive of 3% educational cess ? Cess normally chargedon the service tax portion .