It was contended by the appellants that they were not aware that they had to pay service tax. Though it was a fact that they have taken service tax registration, they never disclosed the nature of services rendered nor they furnished ST-3 returns, which was mandatory for a person providing taxable services. The question naturally arises that if they were not aware that they had to pay service tax, why should they take a service tax registration. We are of the opinion that non-furnishing of information or non-filing of returns resulted in non-payment of service tax and this action on the part of appellants tantamount to deliberate non-compliance with the provisions. In other words, this is only implying suppression of facts with an intent to evade payment of service tax. Therefore, the extended period, under Section 73(1) is rightly invoked by the Revenue.
Issue before us involved in the current case is regarding the contract of supply, erection, installation and commissioning of fire, hydraulic systems and the issue before us in the case of the appellants own case in Final Order dt. 22/7/2010 was for supply, erection, installation and commissioning of power systems and distribution systems.
First issue involved in the appeal is whether the Cenvat credit available on raw materials and services used for non-excisable goods is admissible to the appellants. Under the Cenvat Credit Rules, input means all goods used in or in relation to the manufacture of final products whether directly or indirectly and whether contained in the final product or not and Cenvat credit can be availed on the duty paid on any input received in the factory of manufacture of the final product.
The short question to be considered in this appeal filed by the department is whether the view taken by the lower appellate authority that the respondent is eligible for CENVAT credit on outdoor catering service used for serving food to their employees during the period of dispute (July to December 2007) is correct or not. After hearing both sides, the learned Deputy Commissioner (AR) representing the appellant submits that the benefit is not admissible to the respondent unless they prove that no part of the cost of providing the service was recovered from their employees.
Short question which has to be considered in this case is whether the respondent is entitled to claim CENVAT credit of service tax paid by themselves on GTA service which was used for transportation of their final product from factory to the port for export. The respondent recovered FOB value from the foreign buyer, implying that the ownership of the goods vested in the respondent upto the place and time of loading of the goods into the ship. If the appellant had duty liability, they would have paid it on an assessable value including the freight. On these facts, it can be held that the place of removal of the goods was the port of export. The definition of ‘input service’ under rule 2(l) of the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 will squarely cover the above service which was used by the respondent for transportation of the goods from the factory to the place of removal.
Hon’ble Apex court in the case of P.C.PAulose vs. Commissioner of Central Excise & Customs, reported in. In that case the appellant was collecting entry fee at the airport on behalf of Airport Authority of India in terms of a licence agreement entered into between the appellant and the Airport Authority of India Ltd. The issue before the court was whether this activity would amount to a taxable service and the apex court held that the activity would get covered under section 65 clause 105 (zzm) of the Finance Act, 1994.
If intermediary service is subservient to the original transaction, mere break of the original transaction in transit does not bring out a different transaction. It may be stated that nature, character and terms of a contract decides incidence of tax of intermediate transaction. If the character of the service provided by intermediary in transit is GTA without the original transaction coming to an end, the service provided by an intermediary may not be construed to be a different transaction. But all intermediate transactions may not necessary be characterized as original transaction unless and until both transactions are integrally and indispensably related or connected to each other.
There is no clear finding whether the entire tax demanded falls in the category of tax collected from the customers but not deposited with the Government. We notice that provisions of Section 12D of Central Excise Act read with Section 83 of Finance Act, 1992 has not been invoked in the show cause notice or in the order in original. Further no attempt has been made by the Revenue to demarcate the value corresponding to erection of structures which was not taxable prior to 1.5.06. Such Information is very crucial for passing a legal and proper order in this case.
Brief facts arising for consideration of the case are that the appellant M/s Tata AIG Life Insurance Co. Ltd. are holders of service tax registration under the category of Insurance auxiliary services. The service rendered by insurance agents is covered under the category of insurance auxiliary services. However, the liability to pay service tax on such services is on the recipient of the services, which are the insurance companies who engage the agents as per the provisions of rule 2(1)(d)(iii) of the Service Tax Rules, 1994. It was observed that the appellant had utilized input service tax credit in respect of service tax on insurance auxiliary services. The department was of the view that since the appellant is only a recipient of the service and is not providing any output service, they cannot utilize any input service tax credit for payment of service tax on Insurance auxiliary service.
Assessees have made out a strong prima facie case on the ground that, although they were charging management fees from the bank who lend/advance money to the SHGs, they were a non-profit making organization as no profit or income or profit was paid or transferred to their members directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus. This view finds support from the decision of the Tribunal in M/s. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Vs CST, Mumbai [2007 (8) STR 529].
