Service Tax not payable on Services provided to Government Company for ‘Transmission of Electricity’

Vivek Constructions Vs Commissioner of Central Excise and Central Goods & Service Tax (CESTAT Delhi)

The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi (CESTAT) in the case of M/s Vivek Constructions v. Commissioner of Central Excise and Central Goods & Service Tax [Service Tax Appeal No.50791 of 2019 decided on October 5, 2021] held that no Service Tax is payable on services provided to a Government Company for ‘transmission of electricity’.

M/s. Vivek Constructions (Appellant) is registered with the Service Tax Department and is engaged in providing works contract services to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. (RRVPNL) which is a Government Company. It appeared to Revenue Department that the Appellant has not paid/ short paid service tax for the taxable services provided during the period 2010-2011 to 2014-2015 and thus, the short-paid tax was found to be Rs.7,75,082/-. A show cause notice raising the demand for the same was given to the Appellant.

The Appellant raised the contention that as per exemption notification no. 11/2010-ST dated 27.12.2010, the services provided by any person to any other person for ‘transmission of electricity’ is exempt from service tax. Further, as per negative list of services vide read with exemption notification no. 25/2012-ST, services provided to the Government and Government Companies are exempt and only those services were taxable, which are used primarily for commerce or industry, or work intended for commerce or industry.

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