service tax

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Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

20 April 2016 SIR,
KINDLY, TEL ME THE PROCEDURE OF SERVICE TAX, I AM WORKING IN TEXTILE INDUSTRIES,AND NEW IN TRAVEL AGENCY.
HOW CAN I HANDLE THE SERVICE TAX.WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE OF DEPOSITING SERVICE TAX.

CA.Sourabh Sethia

CA.Sourabh Sethia (Expert)
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20 April 2016 Pls clarify in detail what do you want to know....

and about which industry TEXTILE or TRAVEL

Asha Kanta Sharma online

Asha Kanta Sharma

(Expert)
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14 July 2024 Handling service tax, especially if you're new to managing tax compliance, can seem daunting. Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored to your situation, where you work in the textile industry and are dealing with a travel agency. Since the information is based on service tax procedures applicable up to the introduction of GST in 2017, please ensure to adapt it to the current GST regime if applicable.

### Understanding Service Tax Basics

Service tax was a tax levied by the Government of India on services provided or to be provided. If you are providing taxable services through your travel agency, you would need to register for service tax, collect tax from customers, file returns, and deposit the tax with the government.

### Registration

1. **Registration Requirement**: If your aggregate value of taxable services exceeds Rs. 9 lakhs in a financial year, you must register for service tax. Registration could also be voluntary even if your turnover is below this threshold.

2. **Application for Registration**:
- Obtain Form ST-1 from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) website or your jurisdictional service tax office.
- Fill out the form with all required details such as business name, address, PAN, nature of services provided, etc.
- Submit the completed form to your jurisdictional service tax office.

3. **Acknowledgement**: Upon successful submission, you will receive an acknowledgement of your application.

4. **Registration Certificate**: Once your application is processed, you will receive a Service Tax Registration Certificate (ST-2) with your unique Service Tax Registration Number (STN).

### Compliance and Procedures

1. **Charge of Service Tax**: Charge service tax on your taxable services provided to customers. The rate of service tax was specified by the government and could vary based on the nature of the service provided.

2. **Invoicing**: Issue invoices to your clients indicating the service tax charged separately.

3. **Payment of Service Tax**: Service tax payments were generally made on a quarterly basis, although certain categories of services required monthly payments. Payments were to be made electronically through designated banks using GAR-7 challan.

4. **Service Tax Returns**: File service tax returns (ST-3) on a half-yearly basis (April to September and October to March) by the due dates specified. The due date for filing returns was typically the 25th of the month following the half-yearly period.

5. **Input Tax Credit**: If you are providing taxable services and also paying service tax on inputs and input services used in providing these services, you could claim input tax credit on such taxes paid.

6. **Records Maintenance**: Maintain proper records of invoices issued, service tax collected, input tax credit availed, and other relevant documents for audit and compliance purposes.

### Transition to GST

Since the implementation of GST in 2017, service tax has been replaced by GST. If your turnover exceeds the GST threshold limit (currently Rs. 20 lakhs for most states), you would need to register under GST instead of service tax. The procedures for registration, invoicing, payment, and return filing under GST differ from those under service tax.

### Conclusion

For your travel agency and textile industries, understanding and complying with service tax (or GST) requirements is crucial to avoid penalties and ensure smooth business operations. It’s advisable to consult with a tax professional or chartered accountant who can provide specific guidance based on your business activities and the current tax regulations applicable to you.

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