We should meet our tax obligations every year as responsible citizens. However, the law allows certain “tax-deductible” savings and we owe it to ourselves to benefit from these options, which could translate into future savings. Every citizen has a fundamental duty to pay taxes honestly and a fundamental right to avail of all the tax incentives that the government provides. Therefore, through prudent tax planning, not only can income-tax liability be reduced but a better future can also be ensured through compulsory savings in government and other schemes. Let us take a look at how one can achieve successful tax planning to enjoy optimum benefits.
The aggregators who were till now not specifically covered under the Service Tax net on strict interpretation of law and could not catch the attention of revenue authorities came under the radar of one and all in Indian regulatory world once the app based cab services received the attention after Uber fiasco.
Clause 106 of the Finance Bill, 2015 seeks to amend section 66B so as to increase the Service Tax from 12 to 14 percent. Further, Clauses 179 and 187 respectively of the Finance Bill, 2015 provide that – Section 95 of the Finance Act, 2004 levying education cess, and Section 140 of the Finance Act, 2007 levying SHE cess
It is important to understand what is meant by ‘business entity’ in Service Tax. The expression ‘business entity’ is used in exemption notification and reverse charge mechanism and as those exemption / reverse charge provisions are applicable to business entity only.
As we all know, Service Tax is levied when an activity is carried out by one person for another for a consideration i.e., two persons are involved – a service provider and a service receiver. The term ‘person’ is defined in clause 37 of section 65B of the Finance Act, 1994 which, inter alia includes ‘government’.
On a optimistic note, introduction of common Goods and Services Tax (GST) could be a game changer. The economic situation is therefore upbeat, on a rise and forward looking so far as growth and reforms are concerned. So far as goods and services are concerned, there are many items on which excise duty has been increased from 6% to 12% including mobile handsets. On certain input and raw materials, duties have been rationalized or hiked.
Dr. Sanjiv Agarwal Banking and financial services are subject to levy of Service Tax in more than one form. While only specific services were taxed prior to 1.7.2012, all such services are taxable now barring those which are in negative list. W.e.f.1.07.2012, all services, other than services specified in the negative list, provided or agreed […]
support services means infrastructural, operational, administrative, logistic, marketing or any other support of any kind comprising functions that entities carry out in ordinary course of operations themselves but may obtain as services by outsourcing from others for any reason whatsoever and shall include advertisement and promotion, construction or works contract, renting of immovable property, security, testing and analysis.
Charge of Service Tax on and after 1.07.2012 is defined under section 66B of the Finance Act, 1994. Section 66B states that Service Tax shall be charged at the rate of 12% on value of all taxable services i.e., other than those specified in the negative list or exempted services, which are provided or agreed to be provided in the taxable territory by one person to another and collected in such manner as may be prescribed.
The power to search the premises of the service providers are contained in section 82 of the Finance Act, 1994 which deals with provisions relating to search and seizure of articles, documents etc, as a consequence of search. Search and seizure provisions contained in tax statutes are provided to act as a restraint on evasion of taxes. Such powers are within the constitutional frame work and cannot be considered as violative of Article 19 of Constitution of India.
