Current Affairs-Indian Government's Union Budget 2013-14: ‘Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme’ Proposed to Motivate Defaulters to File Service tax Returns and Pay Dues

‘Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme’ Proposed to Motivate Defaulters to File Service tax Returns and Pay Dues

Two More Services included in the Negative list for Service Tax 
All Air Conditioned Restaurants to Come under Service Tax Net 

To motivate about 10 lakh of those registered assesses of service tax, who are not filing returns and paying tax dues, the Finance Minister has proposed to introduce a one-time scheme called ‘Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme’ in 2013-14 Budget proposals. Under this scheme a defaulter can file a truthful declaration of service tax dues since 1st October, 2007 and make the payment in one or two installments before prescribed dates. In such a case, interest, penalty and other consequences will be waived. 

Two more services have been included in the negative list for service tax. These are: Vocational courses offered by institutes affiliated to the State Council of Vocational Training; and, testing activities in relation to agriculture and agricultural produce. 

The Finance Minister has also accepted the request of the Film Industry that full exemption of service tax granted on copy right on cinematography be limited to the films exhibited in cinema halls only. 

All air conditioned restaurants will be brought under the service tax net. At present service tax does not apply to those air conditioned restaurants which do not serve liquor. But considering this distinction to be artificial, Shri P. Chidambaram has proposed the uniformity of service tax for the two. 

The rate of abatement for such homes and Flats which have a carpet area of 2000 sq. ft. or more; or have a value of Rs. 1 crore or more, has been reduced from 75% to 70%. However, low cost housing and single residential units will continue to enjoy existing exemptions from service tax.