Manager (Indirect Taxes)
821 Points
Joined January 2011
As Service Tax is an Indirect Tax, Circulars, Notifications, Instructions in this respect are issued by CBEC, Ministry of Finance.
Please note XYZ in your case is the landlord & PQR Bank is tenant.
As per Section 65(105)(zzzz) of Finance Act, 1994 as amended, “Renting of immovable property” includes renting, letting, leasing, licensing or other similar arrangements of immovable property for use in the course or furtherance of business or commerce but does not include —
(i) renting of immovable property by a religious body or to a religious body; or
(ii) renting of immovable property to an educational body, imparting skill or knowledge or lessons
on any subject or field, other than a commercial training or coaching centre.
Hence, renting of Immovable Property by & to a Religious Body and to an educational body, imparting skill or knowledge or lessons on any subject or field (other than a commercial training or coaching centre) have been kept out of purview of Service Tax, but there does not seems to be any exemption for Banks, so far. Hence, in absence of any specific exemption/exclusion, banks would also be treated as other service receivers & Service Tax would be charged from them. The bank should pay Service Tax to owner of the property.