SERVICE TAX |
The Service Tax has been introduced in the year 1994 in the Budget presented by Finance Minister in February 1994. Initially it was decided to levy service tax on stockbrokers, life Insurance Agent and telephone Bills with effect from 01.07 1994.
The Service tax net was further enlarged in the year 1996 and 3 more Service namely (1) Advertising Service (2) Courier Service and (3) Pager Service were brought into Tax net w.e.f. 01.11.1996.
The scope of Service tax was again widened in the year 1997 and 12 more services, names of which shown below, have been brought under service tax net.
| Sr. No. | Name of Service | Effective date |
| 1. | Customs House Agents Services | 15.06.97 |
| 2. | Steamer Agent Services | 15.06.97 |
| 3. | Consulting Engineer's Services | 07.07.97 |
| 4. | Clearing & Forwarding Agents | 16.07.97 |
| 5. | Manpower Recruitment Agency | 07.07.97 |
| 6. | Air Travel Agents Services | 01.07.97 |
| 7. | Mandap Keepers Services | 01.07.97 |
| 8. | Rent-a-cab scheme Operators | 16.07.97 |
| 9. | Outdoor Caterer's Services | 01.08.97 |
| 10. | Pendal Or Shamiyana Contractor's Service | 01.08.97 |
| 11. | Tour Operator's Services | 01.09.97 |
| 12. | Goods Transport Operator's Services | 16.11.97 |
As per Budget proposal, 1998, the Service Tax levy on the four Services, out of the above mentioned services, namely (1) Goods Transport Operators (2) Outdoor Caterers (3) Pendal or Shamiyana Contractors Services and (4) Tour Operator's Services has been exempted from 02.06.98 vide Notification No. 49/98 dt. 02.06.98 and from 18.07.98 vide Notifn. No. 18.7.98 and 12 new services brought in service tax net w.e.f. 16.10.98 vide Notifn. No. 53/98-ST dated 16.10.98.
| 1 | Architects |
| 2 | Interior Decorators |
| 3 | Management Consultants |
| 4 | Practicing Chartered Accountants |
| 5 | Practicing company Secretaries |
| 6 | Practicing Cost Accountants |
| 7 | Real Estate Agents & Read Estate Consultants |
| 8 | Credit Rating Agencies |
| 9 | Private Security/Detective Agencies |
| 10 | Market Research Agencies |
| 11 | Under Writing Agencies |
| 12 | Mechanised Slaughter Houses |
At present, there are in all 58 services under service Tax net as mentioned below :
| Sr. No. | Service Category Code | Category of Service | Account Head Code | Date with Effect from |
| 1. | ADV | Advertising Agency | 00440013 | 01-11-1996 |
| 2. | AIR | Air Travel Agency | 00440032 | 01-07-1997 |
| 3. | AS | Architects services | 00440072 | 16-10-1998 |
| 4. | BFN | Banking and Financial | 00440173 | 16-07-2001 |
| 5. | BTY | Beauty Parlours | 00440209 | 16-08-2002 |
| 6. | BRD | Broadcasting Service | 00440162 | 16-07-2001 |
| 7. | BAS | Business Auxiliary Services | 00440225 | 01-07-2003 |
| 8. | RAC | Cab Operators | 00440048 | 16-07-1997 |
| 9. | CBL | Cable Operators | 00440217 | 01-08-2002 |
| 10. | CHS | Cargo Handling Services | 00440189 | 01-08-2002 |
| 11. | PCA | Chartered Accountants | 00440092 | 16-10-1998 |
| 12. | CFA | Clearing and Forwarding Agency | 00440045 | 16-07-1997 |
| 13. | CTC | Commercial Training & Coaching | 00440229 | 01-07-2003 |
| 14. | CAI | Commissioning & Installation | 00440233 | 01-07-2003 |
| 15. | PCS | Company Secretaries | 00440100 | 16-10-1998 |
| 16. | CER | Consulting Engineer | 00440057 | 07-07-1997 |
| 17. | CVN | Convention Service | 00440133 | 16-07-2001 |
| 18 | COA | Cost Accountants | 00440096 | 16-10-1998 |
| 19. | COU | Courier Agency | 00440014 | 01-11-1996 |
| 20. | CRA | Credit Rating Agencies | 00440088 | 16-10-1998 |
| 21. | CHA | Custom House Agent | 00440026 | 15-06-1997 |
| 22. | DCS | Dry Cleaning Services | 00440221 | 16-08-2002 |
| 23. | EVS | Event Management Service | 00440197 | 16-08-2002 |
| 24. | FCS | Facsimile Services | 00440149 | 16-07-2001 |
| 25. | FDS | Fashion Designer Services | 00440213 | 01-08-2002 |
| 26. | FRA | Franchise Services | 00440237 | 01-07-2003 |
| 27. | GIB | General Insurance Business | 00440005 | 01-07-1994 |
| 28. | HFC | Health Club & Fitness Center | 00440205 | 01-08-2002 |
| 29. | IAX | Insurance Auxiliary | 00440169 | 16-07-2001 |
| 30. | IDS | Interior Decorators | 00440076 | 16-10-1998 |
| 31. | INC | Internet Cafe | 00440241 | 01-07-2003 |
| 32. | LCR | Leased Circuits | 00440137 | 16-07-2001 |
| 33. | LIS | Life Insurance Services | 00440185 | 01-08-2002 |
| 34. | MRS | Maintenance or Repair Service | 00440245 | 01-07-2003 |
| 35. | MGC | Management Consultants | 00440116 | 16-10-1998 |
| 36. | MAK | Mandap Keeper | 00440035 | 01-07-1997 |
| 37. | MRA | Manpower Recruitment Agency | 00440060 | 07-07-1997 |
| 38. | MRK | Market Research Agency | 00440112 | 16-10-1998 |
| 39. | OID | Online Information and Data | 00440153 | 16-07-2001 |
| 40. | PGS | Pager Services | 00440015 | 01-11-1996 |
| 41. | PGH | Photography Service | 00440129 | 16-07-2001 |
| 42. | PRT | Port Services (Major Ports) | 00440177 | 16-07-2001 |
| 43. | RTA | Rail Travel Agent | 00440201 | 01-08-2002 |
| 44. | REA | Real Estate Agents | 00440104 | 16-10-1998 |
| 45. | STC | Scientific & Technical Consu | 00440125 | 16-07-2001 |
| 46. | SEA | Security Agencies | 00440108 | 16-10-1998 |
| 47. | ARS | Servicing of Motor Vehicles (Authorised Auto Service Station) | 00440181 | 16-07-2001 |
| 48. | SRC | Sound Recording Service | 00440161 | 16-07-2001 |
| 49. | STA | Steamer Agent | 00440029 | 15-06-1997 |
| 50. | STB | Stock Broker | 00440008 | 01-07-1994 |
| 51. | SWS | Storage & Wharehouse Service | 00440193 | 16-08-2002 |
| 52. | TGH | Telegraph Service | 00440141 | 16-07-2001 |
| 53. | TSU | Telephone Service | 00440003 | 07-01-1994 |
| 54. | TLX | Telex Services | 00440145 | 01-07-2001 |
| 55. | TIC | Test, Inspection, Certification | 00440249 | 01-07-2003 |
| 56. | TOU | Tour Operator | 00440063 | 01-09-1997 |
| 57. | UWS | Under Writers | 00440084 | 16-10-1998 |
| 58. | VTP | Video Tape Production | 00440157 | 16-07-2001 |