Service Tax Return FY 2016-17 – Key Changes and Amendments

Service Tax Return FY 2016-17- Key Changes and Amendments

As per Section 70(1), every assessee who is liable to pay service tax shall file Service Tax Return to the Superintendent of Central Excise in the manner and frequency prescribed in Rule 7 of Service Tax Rules, 1994.

Rule 7

When the due date happens to be a public holiday then:

As per the master circular dated 23-08-2007, only in case of genuine hardship, return may be filed on immediate next working day of the due date otherwise assesses are advised to plan in such a manner that return is filed before the due date instead of waiting for the due date.

Amendment Relevant under Finance Act, 1994 for levy of service tax and filing of service tax return for the financial Year 2016-2017:

• Krishi Kalyan Cess (KKC)
• Government Services under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM)
• Cenvat Credit Rules
• Interest on Late Payment of service tax
• Form ST-3 Amendments

Krishi Kalyan Cess

• Krishi Kalyan Cess was levied on all taxable services and will be 0.5% of the taxable value of services in addition to the existing rate and cess w.e.f. 01-06-2016. The total service tax chargeable is 15% of the services. In case of RCM also, Krishi Kalyan Cess (KKC) has to be remitted by the service receiver.
• Cenvat Credit of KKC paid on input services shall be allowed for the payment of KKC liability on output services provided by service provider. Credit of KKC is only allowed to service provider and not to manufacturers.

Below is the list of G.A.R 7 Challan Head for payment of KKC:

Point of Taxation (POT) for KKC Rule 5 of POT rules shall apply for determining the point of taxation for new levy of tax and KKC is a new levy.

Point of Taxation can be determined by the following table:

If invoice is not issued within 14 days of completion of service then for the purpose of POT rules, date of completion of service shall be taken instead of Invoice date.

Under RCM, as per POT Rule 7 which deals with RCM taxability, POT will be – If the payment is made within 3 months of the date of invoice, then date of payment otherwise immediately next day after completion of 3 months.

For KKC, if the invoice is dated before 01.06.2016 then service receiver is not required to remit KKC even though payment is made after 01.06.2016.

Government Services under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM)

From 01.06.2016, “all services” provided by Government or a Local Authority are subject to service tax under Reverse Charge Mechanism, before the amendment only “support services” provided by Government or a Local Authority are covered by RCM.

Highlights of Circular

After payment to Government or a local Authority, following are not chargeable to service tax:

• Taxes, cesses or duties paid
• Fines and penalties levied for violation of any statue or violation of any contract with them
• Issuance of birth certificate, driving license, passport, visa or death certificate registration required under any law
• Certifications, safety checks, testing, calibration done by them
• Other services provided by them for payment of fees except
• where gross amount charged for such service exceeds Rs 5000
• in case of continuous services, where the gross amount of payment exceeds Rs 5000 in a financial year e.g. fee paid for ROC registration if exceeds Rs 5000 in a financial year then it will be chargeable to service tax

CENVAT CREDIT

Cenvat is allowed if such payment made by service receiver comes under the definition of ‘Input Services’ and not covered by exclusion part of the definition. Although challan of payment is required to claim the credit of Service tax paid.

Cenvat Credit Rules

Amendment under Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 vide Notification no. 13/2016 dated 01.03.2016 is effective from 01.04.2016

As per the new amendment, Input Service Distributor (ISD) can also distribute cenvat credit on Inputs to its Outsourced Manufacturing unit on pro rata basis on turnover but only after 01.04.2016 subject to following conditions:

Interest on late Payment of Service Tax (Provisions of Finance bill 2016 shall be applicable w.e.f 14^th May, 2016)

Earlier Provisions for Interest

• For first 6 months, Interest rate is 18% per annum
• For next 6 months, Interest rate is 24% per annum
• And after that rate is 30% per annum

New Provision w.e.f. 14^th May 2016

• Interest rate is 24% per annum (For Service Tax Collected but not deposited to Central Government)
• In other cases, Interest rate is 15% p.a. (E.g. Service Receiver under RCM)

This circular aims at offering a simple brief understanding of the provisions of the Act, notification and circulars – for complete details, please refer the original document.