Service tax in India

Overall Rating: star ratingstar ratingstar ratingstar ratingstar rating[4/5]Total Votes [ 9 ]  
Rate this page:
Service tax in India is an important form of indirect tax. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has the responsibility of collecting the levy in different states in India. It is not imposed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Currently, the rate is 14%.

What is service tax?

It is a type of indirect duty levied on particular services that are categorized as taxable services. The responsibility of paying this kind of levy lies on the service provider. This duty can't be levied on services that are not included in the specified list. Over last one or two years, the domain of service tax been broadened to include new services.

The goal behind imposing service tax in India is to lower the extent of concentration of taxation on business and industry without compelling the government to find the middle ground on the revenue requirements.

Which are Taxed Services in India


Since the time of its inception in 1994-1995, only three services were liable to be taxed. From that time, the Government of India has introduced almost 100 categories under its ambit, which include the following :
  • Traveling agencies (road. air, and railway services)
  • Telecommunication
  • Management consultants
  • Architects
  • Credit rating agencies
  • Colleges, universities, and schools
  • Broadcasting services (television and radio)
  • Market research analyst
  • Authorized service stations
  • Banking and other financial services
  • Cargo and shipping
  • Export import unit
  • Hospitals and health care providers/services
  • Telegraph services
  • Maintenance and repair services
  • Storage and warehousing services
  • Retail stores
  • Franchise owner
  • Packaging services
  • Transportation of goods
  • Cable operators
  • Airport services
  • Beauty parlors
  • Event managements
  • Real estate agents
  • Dry cleaning services
  • Insurance underwriting agencies
  • Consultants of different services
  • Passport services
  • Stock brokers
  • Legal advising units
  • Immigration services
  • Customer service units
  • Chartered accountant firms
  • Tourist services
  • Technical support advising firms
  • Electronic and electrical service stations
  • Automobile service stations
  • Membership of clubs and association
  • Human resource services
  • Survey and exploration of minerals
  • Share and stock transfer agent
  • Internet telephony services
  • Cost accountant
  • Transport of goods by air
  • Security agencies
  • Pager services
  • Health clubs
  • Ship management services
  • Custom house agent
  • Port services
  • Containers by rail
  • General insurance services
  • Postal services

Exemptions from Service Tax in India

The Government of India can offer part or complete exemption by circulating an exemption notice. However, it cannot be offered with retrospective effect. Some of the exemptions are as follows:
  • Small-scale service providers whose turnover is below Rs. 4 lakhs per year are relieved from payment of this tax.
  • Services offered to United Nations and Global Agencies and provisions to Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are excepted from payment of service tax.
  • It is not imposed on export of services.
  • Service tax is not payable on cost of commodities and substances rendered at the time of offering services. This kind of exemption is allowable only if CENVAT credit on those commodities and substances is not collected.


Last Updated on 6/20/2015


>> More About India Tax