Service Tax Law In India

Service Tax is an indirect levy imposed under Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1994 as amended. The tax is applicable to services specified in the chapter called ''taxable services''. At present the rate of Service Tax is eight percent to be levied on the ''value of taxable service''. Generally speaking ''value of taxable service'' means the gross amount received by the service provider for the taxable service rendered by him. The person who provides the taxable service on receipt of charges is responsible for paying the Service Tax to the Government. Where the service is provided by a person other than Indian resident or who does not have any establishment in India then the services receiver in India is liable to pay service tax.

Service Tax is administered by the Central Excise Commissionerates working under the Central Board of Excise & Customs, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.