know about service tax (part-1)

(8)

"authorized service station" means any service station or centre, authorized by any motor vehicle manufacturer, to carry out any service, repair, reconditioning or restoration of any motor car or two wheeled motor vehicle manufactured by such manufacturer;

 "banking company" shall have the meanings assigned to it in clauses (a) of section 45 A of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);

“banking and other financial services” means

(14)

{clause (7) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 1956 – “body corporate” or “corporation” includes a company incorporated outside India, but does not include – (a) a corporate sole; (b)a co-operative society registered under any law relating to co-operative societies; and (c ) any other body corporate (not being a company as defined under this Act) which the Central Government may, by Notification in the official Gazette, specify in this behalf.}

(15)

"broadcasting " has the meaning assigned to it in clause (c ) of section 2 of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990 (25 of 1990) and also includes programme selection, scheduling or presentation of sound or visual matter on a radio or a television channel that is intended for public listening or viewing, as the case may be; and in the case of a broadcasting agency or organisation, having its head office situated in any place outside India, includes the activity of selling of time slots or obtaining sponsorships for broadcasting of any programme or collecting the broadcasting charges or permitting the rights to receive any form of communication like sign, signal, writing, picture, image and sounds of all kinds by transmission of electro-magnetic waves through space or through cables, direct to home signals or by any other means to cable operator including multisystem operator or any other person on behalf of the said agency or organisation, by its branch office or subsidiary or representative in India or any agent appointed in India or by any person who acts on its behalf in any manner;

"broadcasting agency or organization" means any agency or organization engaged in providing service in relating to broadcasting in any manner and, in the case of a broadcasting agency or organization, having its head office situated in any place outside India, includes its branch office or subsidiary or representative in India or any agent appointed in India or any person who acts on its behalf in any manner, engaged in the activity of selling of time slots for broadcasting of any programme or obtaining sponsorships for programme or collecting the broadcasting charges or permitting the rights to receive any form of communication like sign, signal, writing, picture, image and sounds of all kinds by transmission of electro-magnetic waves through space or through cables, direct to home signals or by any other means to cable operator including multisystem operator or any other person on behalf of the said agency or organisation;

a) to market; or

(b) to promote; or

(c) to advertise; or

(d) to showcase,

any product or service, intended for the growth in business of the producer or provider of such product or service, as the case may be;

 [(i) a motorcab, or

  (ii) a maxicab, or

  (iii) any motor vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than twelve passengers, excluding the driver, for hire or reward:

Provided that the maxicab referred to in sub-clause (ii) or motor vehicle referred to in subclause (iii) which is rented for use by an educational body imparting skill or knowledge or lessons on any subject or field, other than a commercial training or coaching centre, shall not be included within the meaning of cab;]^*

"cable service" shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (b) of section 2 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (7 of 1995);

"cargo handling service” means loading, unloading, packing or unpacking of cargo and includes,—

(a) cargo handling services provided for freight in special containers or for non containerised freight, services provided by a container freight terminal or any other freight terminal, for all modes of transport, and cargo handling service incidental to freight; and

(b) service of packing together with transportation of cargo or goods, with or without one or more of other services like loading, unloading, unpacking,
but does not include, handling of export cargo or passenger baggage or mere transportation of goods;

 “civil enclave” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (i) of section 2 of the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 (55 of 1994);

“cleaning activity” means cleaning, including specialised cleaning services such as disinfecting, exterminating or sterilising of objects or premises, of —

(i) commercial or industrial buildings and premises thereof; or

(ii) factory, plant or machinery, tank or reservoir of such commercial or industrial buildings and premises thereof, but does not include such services in relation to agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry or dairying;

“club or association” means any person or body of persons providing services, facilities or advantages, for a subscripttion or any other amount, to its members, but does not include-

(i) any body established or constituted by or under any law for the time being in force; or

(ii) any person or body of persons engaged in the activities of trade unions, promotion of agriculture, horticulture or animal husbandry; or

(iii) any person or body of persons engaged in any activity having objectives which are in the nature of public service and are of a charitable, religious or political nature; or

(iv) any person or body of persons associated with press or media;

 “commercial or industrial construction service” means —

(a) construction of a new building or a civil structure or a part thereof; or

(b) construction of pipeline or conduit; or

(c) completion and finishing services such as glazing, plastering, painting, floor and wall tiling, wall covering and wall papering, wood and metal joinery and carpentry, fencing and railing, construction of swimming pools, acoustic applications or fittings and other similar services, in relation to building or civil structure; or

(d) repair, alteration, renovation or restoration of, or similar services in relation to, building or civil structure, pipeline or conduit, which is —

(i) used, or to be used, primarily for; or

(ii) occupied, or to be occupied, primarily with; or

(iii) engaged, or to be engaged, primarily in,

 

commerce or industry, or work intended for commerce or industry, but does not include such services provided in respect of roads, airports, railways, transport terminals, bridges, tunnels and dams;

"commercial training or coaching centre" means any institute or establishment providing commercial training or coaching for imparting skill or knowledge or lessons on any subject or field other than the sports, with or without issuance of a certificate and includes coaching or tutorial classes but does not include preschool coaching and training centre or any institute or establishment which issues any certificate or diploma or degree or any educational qualification recognised by law for the time being in force;

"computer network" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (j) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act,2000 (21 of 2000);

construction of a new residential complex or a (a) part thereof; or completion and finishing services in relation (b) to residential complex such as glazing, plastering, painting, floor and wall tiling, wall covering and wall papering, wood and metal joinery and carpentry, fencing and railing, construction of swimming pools, acoustic applications or fittings and other similar services; or repair, alteration, renovation or restoration (c) of, or similar services in relation to, residential complex;

"consulting engineer" means any professionally qualified engineer or any body corporate or any other firm who, either directly or indirectly, renders any advice, consultancy or technical assistance in any manner to any person in one or more disciplines of engineering; [Substituted vide Finance BIll 2008, w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

"courier agency" means a any person engaged in the door-to-door transportation of time –sensitive documents, goods or articles utilising the services of a person, either directly or indirectly, to carry or accompany such documents, goods or articles;

(i) by a banking company, financial institution including non-banking financial company or any other person (hereinafter referred to as the issuing bank), issuing such card to a card holder;

(ii) by any person to an issuing bank in relation to such card business, including receipt and processing of application, transfer of embossing data to issuing bank’s personalisation agency, automated teller machine personal identification number generation, renewal or replacement of card, change of address, enhancement of credit limit, payment updation and statement generation;

(iii) by any person, including an issuing bank and an acquiring bank, to any other person in relation to settlement of any amount transacted through such card.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “acquiring bank” means any banking company, financial institution including non-banking financial company or any other person, who makes the payment to any person who accepts such card;
 

(iv) in relation to joint promotional cards or affinity cards or co-branded cards;

(v) in relation to promotion and marketing of goods and services through such card;

(vi) by a person, to an issuing bank or the holder of such card, for making use of automated teller machines of such person; and

(vii) by the owner of trade marks or brand name to the issuing bank under an agreement, for use of the trade mark or brand name and other services in relation to such card, whether or not such owner is a club or association and the issuing bank is a member of such club or association.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, an issuing bank and the owner of trade marks or brand name shall be treated as separate persons;’;

"credit rating agency" means any  person engaged in the business of credit rating of any debt obligation or of any project or programme requiring finance, whether in the form of debt or otherwise, and includes credit rating of any financial obligation, instrument or security, which has the purpose of providing a potential investor or any other person any information pertaining to the relative safety of timely payment of interest or principal;

“design services” includes services provided in relation to designing of furniture,  consumer products, industrial products, packages, logos, graphics, websites and corporate identity designing and production of three dimensional models;

“development and supply of content” includes development and supply of mobile value added services, music, movie clips, ring tones, wall paper, mobile games, data, whether or not aggregated, information, news and animation films;’]^*

"electronic form" has the meaning assigned to it in clause ( r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);

(i) erection, commissioning or installation of plant, “machinery, equipment or structures, whether pre-fabricated or otherwise” or

(ii) installation of—

(a) electrical and electronic devices, including wirings or fittings therefor; or

(b) plumbing, drain laying or other installations for transport of fluids; or

(c) heating, ventilation or air-conditioning including related pipe work, duct work and sheet metal work; or

(d) thermal insulation, sound insulation, fire proofing or water proofing; or

(e) lift and escalator, fire escape staircases or travelators; or

(f) such other similar services;

"facsimile (FAX)" means a form of telecommunication by which fixed graphic images, such as printed texts and pictures are scanned and the information converted into electrical signals for transmission over the telecommunication system;

(43)

(46)

"foreign exchange broker" includes any authorised dealer of foreign exchange

(46a)

"forward contract" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (c) of section 2 of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act,1952 (74 of 1952)

(47)

“franchise” means an agreement by which the franchisee is granted representational right to sell or manufacture goods or to provide service or undertake any process identified with franchisor, whether or not a trade mark, service mark, trade name or logo or any such symbol, as the case may be, is involved

(48)

"franchisor" any person who enters in to franchise with a franchisee and includes any associates of franchisor or a person designated by franchisor to enter into franchise on his behalf and the term "franchisee" shall be construed accordingly

(49)

"general insurance business" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (g) of section 3 of General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972 (57 of 1972)

(50)

"goods" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (7) of section 2 of the sale of Goods Act, 1930 (3 of 1930)

(50a)

“goods carriage” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (14) of section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988)

(50b)

“goods transport agency” means any  person who provides service in relation to transport of goods by road and issues consignment note, by whatever name called

(51)

"health and fitness service" means service for physical well-being such as, sauna and steam bath, Turkish bath, solarium, spas, reducing or slimming salons, gymnasium, yoga, meditation, massage (excluding therapeutic massage)or any other like service

(52)

"health club and fitness centre" means any establishment, including a hotel or resort, providing health and fitness service

(53)

"information" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (v) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000)

(54)

"Insurance Agent" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (10) of section 2 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938)

(55)

"insurance auxiliary service" means any service provided by an actuary, an intermediary or insurance intermediary or an insurance agent in relation to general insurance business and includes risk assessment, claim settlement, survey and loss assessment

(55a)

“intellectual property right” means any right to intangible property, namely, trade marks, designs, patents or any other similar intangible property, under any law for the time being in force, but does not include copyright

(55b)

“intellectual property service” means, —

(a) transferring, temporarily; or

(b) permitting the use or enjoyment of any intellectual property right;’;

(56)

"intermediary or insurance intermediary" has the meaning assigned to it in sub-clause (f) of clause (1) of section 2 o the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999)

‘(56a)

“international journey”, in relation to a passenger, means his journey from any customs airport on board any aircraft to a place outside India

(56b)

“internet” means a global information system which is logically linked together by a globally unique address, based on Internet Protocol or its subsequent enhancements or upgradations and is able to support communications using the Transmission Control Protocol or Internet Protocol suite or its subsequent enhancements or upgradations and all other Internet Protocol compatible protocols

(57)

"internet cafe" means a commercial establishment providing facility for assessing internet

‘(57a)

“internet telecommunication service” includes,—
(i) internet backbone services, including carrier services of internet traffic by one Internet Service Provider to another Internet Service Provider,
(ii) internet access services, including provision of a direct connection to the internet and space for the customer’s web page,
(iii) provision of telecommunication services, including fax, telephony, audio conferencing and video conferencing, over the internet;

[Substituted vide Finance Bill 2008 w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

(58)

"insurer," means nay person carrying on the general insurance business or life insurance business and includes a re-insurer”

(59)

"Interior decorator" means any person engaged, whether directly or indirectly, in the business of providing by way of advice, consulting, technical assistance or in any other manner, services related to planning, design or beautification of space, whether man-made or otherwise and includes a landscape designer

‘(59a)

“issue” means an offer of sale or purchase of securities to, or from, the public or the holder of securities

(60)

[Omitted]³

(61)

"life insurance business" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (11) of section 2 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938)

(62)

"light motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 6 passengers, but not more than 12 passengers, excluding the driver

(63)

"magnetic storage device" include wax blanks, discs or blanks strips or films for the purpose of original sound recording

(63a)

 “mailing list compilation and mailing” means any service in relation to —

(i) compiling and providing list of name, address and any other information from any source

or

(ii) sending document, information, goods or any other material in a packet, by whatever name called, by addressing, stuffing, sealing, metering or mailing,for, or on behalf of, the client

(64)

“management, maintenance or repair” means any service provided by—

(i) any person under a contract or an agreement; or

(ii) a manufacturer or any person authorised by him, in relation to,—

(a) management of properties, whether immovable or not;

(b) maintenance or repair of properties, whether immovable or not; or

(c) maintenance or repair including reconditioning or restoration, or servicing of any goods, excluding a motor vehicle;

‘Explanation.— For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this clause,—

(a) “goods” includes computer software;

(b) “properties” includes information technology software;

(65)

“management or [business]^* consultant” means any person who is engaged in providing any service, either directly or indirectly, in connection with the management of any organisation [or business]^* in any manner and includes any person who renders any advice, consultancy or technical assistance, in relation to financial management, human resources management, marketing management, production management, logistics management, procurement and management of information technology resources or other similar areas of management;

(66)

"Mandap" means any immovable property as defined in section 3 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882) and includes any furniture, fixtures, light fittings and floor coverings therein let out for consideration for organizing any official, social or business function;

[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, social function includes marriage;]^*

(67)

"Mandap keeper" means a person who allows temporary occupation of a Mandap for consideration for organizing any official, social or business function;

[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, social function includes marriage;]^*

(68)

"manpower recruitment or supply agency” means any  person  engaged in providing any service, directly or indirectly, in any manner for recruitment or supply of manpower, temporarily or otherwise, to any other person;   [Substituted vide Finance Bill 2008 w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

(69)

"market research agency" means any  person engaged in conducting market research in any manner, in relation to any product, service or utility, including all types of customized and syndicated research services;

(70)

"maxi cab" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (22) of section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);

(71)

"motor cab" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (25) of section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);

(72)

"motor car" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (26) of section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);

(73)

"motor vehicle" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (28) of section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);

(74)

"non-banking financial company" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (f) of section 45-I of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934);

(75)

"on-line information and database access or retrieval" means providing data or information, retrievable or otherwise, “to any person”, in electronic form through a computer network;  [Substituted vide Finance Bill 2008 w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

(75a)

“opinion poll” means any service designed to secure information on public opinion regarding social, economic, political or other issues;

(75b)

“opinion poll agency” means any person engaged in providing any service in relation to opinion poll;

(76)

"other port" has the meaning assigned to "port" in clause (4) of section 3 of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 (15 of 1908), but does not include the port defined in clause (81);

(76a)

“outdoor caterer” means a caterer engaged in providing services in connection with catering at a place other than his own but including a place provided by way of tenancy or otherwise by the person receiving such services;

(76b)

“packaging activity” means packaging of goods including pouch filling, bottling, labelling or imprinting of the package, but does not include any packaging activity that amounts to ‘manufacture’ within the meaning of clause (f) of section 2 of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944);

(77)

"pager" means an instrument, apparatus or appliance which is a non-speech, one way personal calling system which alert and has the capability of receiving, storing and displaying numeric or alpha-numeric message;

(77a)

“pandal or shamiana” means a place specially prepared or arranged for organising an official, social or business function;

[Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, social function includes marriage;]^*

(77b)

“pandal or shamiana contractor” means a person engaged in providing any service, either directly or indirectly, in connection with the preparation, arrangement, erection or decoration of a pandal or shamiana and includes the supply of furniture, fixtures, lights and lighting fittings, floor coverings and other articles for use therein;

(77c)

 “passenger” means any person boarding, at any customs airport, an aircraft for performing an international journey, but does not include—

(i) a person who has arrived at such customs airport from a place outside India and is in transit through India, provided that he does not pass through immigration and does not leave customs area and continues his journey to a place outside India; and

(ii) a person employed or engaged by the aircraft operator in any capacity on board the aircraft;’

(78)

"photography" includes still photography, motion picture photography, laser photography, aerial photography and fluorescent photography;

(79)

"photography studio or agency" means any professional photographer or any  person engaged in the business of rendering service relating to photography;

(80)

"policy holder" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (2) of section 2 of the Insurance Act, 1963 (4 of 1938);

(81)

"port" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (q) of section 2 of the Major Port Trust Act, 1963 (38 of 1963);

(82)

"port service" means any service rendered by a port or any person authorized by the port, in any manner, in relation to a vessel or goods;

(83)

"practising chartered accountant" means a person who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and is holding a certificate of practice granted under the provision of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949) and includes any concern engaged in rendering services in the field of Chartered accountancy;

(84)

"practicing cost accountant" means a person who is member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India and is holding a certificate of practice granted under the provisions of the Cost and works Accountants Act, 1959 (23 of 1959) and includes any concern engaged in rendering services in the field of cost accountancy;

(85)

"practicing company secretary" means a person who is a member of the Institute of company Secretaries of India and is holding a certificate of practice granted under the provisions of the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 (56 of 1980) and includes any concern engaged in rendering services in the field of company secretaryship;

(86)

"prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Chapter;

(86a)

“programme” means any audio or visual matter, live or recorded, which is intended to be disseminated by transmission of electro-magnetic waves through space or through cables intended to be received by the general public either directly or indirectly through the medium of relay stations;

(86b)

“programme producer” means  any person who  produces a programme on behalf of another person;

(86c)

“public relations” includes strategic counseling based on industry, media and perception research, corporate image management, media relations, media training, press release, press conference, financial public relations, brand support, brand launch, retail support and promotions, events and communications and crisis communications;’;

‘“processing and clearing house” means any person including the clearing corporation authorised or assigned by a recognised stock exchange, recognised association or a registered association to perform the duties and functions of a clearing house in relation to,—

(i) the periodical settlement of contracts for, or relating to, the sale or purchase of securities, goods or forward contracts and differences thereunder;

(ii) the delivery of, and payment for, securities, goods or forward contracts;

(iii) any other matter incidental to, or connected with, securities, goods and forward contracts;

[Inserted vide Finance Bill 2008 w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

(87)

"rail travel agent" means any person engaged in providing any service connected with booking of passage for travel by rail;

(88)

"real estate agent" means a person who is engaged in rendering any service in relation to sale, purchase, leasing or renting of real estate and includes a real estate consultant;

(89)

"real estate consultant" means a person who renders in any manner, either directly or indirectly, advice, consultancy or technical assistance, in relation to evaluation, conception, design. Development, construction, implementation, supervision, maintenance, marketing, acquisition or management, of real estate;

(89a)

“recognised association” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (j) of section 2 of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of 1952);

(89b)

“registered association” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (jj) of section 2 of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952 (74 of 1952);

(89c)

“registrar to an issue” means any person carrying on the activities in relation to an issue including collecting application forms from investors, keeping a record of applications and money received from investors or paid to the seller of securities, assisting in determining the basis of allotment of securities, finalising the list of persons entitled to allotment of securities and processing and dispatching allotment letters, refund orders or certificates and ot her related documents;’

(90)

"recognized stock exchange" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (f) of section 2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956);

[(90a)

“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;

Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this clause, “for use in the course or furtherance of business or commerce” includes use of immovable property as factories, office buildings, warehouses, theatres, exhibition halls and multiple-use buildings;]^*

Explanation 2.— For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this clause “renting of immovable property” includes allowing or permitting the use of space in an immovable property, irrespective of the transfer of possession or control of the said immovable property;

[Explanation 2 inserted vide Finance Bill 2008 w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

“residential complex” means any complex comprising of—

(i) a building or buildings, having more than twelve residential units;

(ii) a common area; and

(iii) any one or more of facilities or services such as park, lift, parking space, community hall, common water supply or effluent treatment system, located within a premises and the layout of such premises is approved by an authority under any law for the time being in force, but does not include a complex which is constructed by a person directly engaging any other person for designing or planning of the layout, and the construction of such complex is intended for personal use as residence by such person.

Explanation. — For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this clause, —

(a) “personal use” includes permitting the complex for use as residence by another person on rent or without consideration;

(b) “residential unit” means a single house or a single apartment intended for use as a place of residence;

(92)

"scientific or technical consultancy" means any advice, consultancy or scientific or technical assistance rendered in any manner, either directly or indirectly, by a scientist or a technocrat or any science or technology institution or organization, to any person, in one or more disciplines of science or technology;

[Substituted vide Finance Bill 2008 w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

(93)

"securities" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (h) of section 2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956);

(94)

"security agency" means any  person engaged in the business of rendering services relating to the security of any property, whether movable or immovable, or of any person, in any manner and includes the services of investigation, detection or verification, of any fact or activity, whether of a personal nature or otherwise, including the services of providing security personnel;

(95)

"service tax" means tax leviable under the provisions of this Chapter;

(95a)

“share transfer agent” means any person who maintains the record of holders of securities and deals with all matters connected with the transfer or redemption of securities or activities incidental thereto;’;

(96)

"ship" means a sea-going vessel and includes a sailing vessel;

(96a)

“ship management service” includes,—

(i) the supervision of the maintenance, survey and repair of ship;

(ii) engagement or providing of crews;

(iii) receiving the hire or freight charges on behalf of the owner;

(iv) arrangements for loading and unloading;

(v) providing for victualling or storing of ship;

(vi) negotiating contracts for bunker fuel and lubricating oil;

(vii) payment, on behalf of the owner, of expenses incurred in providing services or in relation to the management of ship;

(viii) the entry of ship in a protection or indemnity association;

(ix) dealing with insurance, salvage and other claims; and

(x) arranging of insurance in relation to ship;’;

(97)

"shipping line" means any person who owns or charters a ship and includes an enterprise which operates or manages the business of shipping;

(97a)

“site formation and clearance, excavation and earthmoving and demolition” includes, —

(i) drilling, boring and core extraction services for construction, geophysical, geological or similar purposes; or

(ii) soil stabilization; or

(iii) horizontal drilling for the passage of cables or drain pipes; or

(iv) land reclamation work; or

(v) contaminated top soil stripping work; or

(vi) demolition and wrecking of building, structure or road,

but does not include such services provided in relation to agriculture, irrigation, watershed development and drilling, digging, repairing, renovating or restoring of water sources or water bodies;

(98)

“sound recording” means recording of sound on any media or device including magnetic storage device, and includes services relating to recording of sound in any manner such as sound cataloguing, storing of sound and sound mixing or re-mixing or any audio post-production activity;

(99)

"sound recording studio or agency" means any  person engaged in the business of rendering any service relating to sound recording;

(99a)

“sponsorship” includes naming an event after the sponsor, displaying the sponsor’s company logo or trading name, giving the sponsor exclusive or priority booking rights, sponsoring prizes or trophies for competition; but does not include any financial or other support in the form of donations or gifts, given by the donors subject to the condition that the service provider is under no obligation to provide anything in return to such donors;’;

(100)

"steamer agent" means any person who undertakes, either directly or indirectly, --

(i)   to perform any service in connection with the ship’s husbandry or dispatch including the rendering of administrative work related thereto; or

(ii)   to book, advertise or canvass for cargo for or on behalf of a shipping line; or

(iii)  to provide container feeder services for or on behalf of a shipping line;

(101)

"stock broker" means a person,who has either made an application for registration or is registered as a stock-broker or sub-broker, as the case may be, in accordance with the rules and regulations made under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992);

(102)

"storage and warehousing" includes storage and warehousing services for goods including liquids and gases but does not include any service provided for storage of agricultural produce or any service provided by a cold storage;

(103)

[Omitted]⁴

(104)

 [Omitted]⁵

 (104a)

“survey and exploration of mineral” means geological, geophysical or other prospecting, surface or sub-surface surveying or map making service, in relation to location or exploration of deposits of mineral, oil or gas;

(104b)

“survey and map-making” means geological, geophysical or any other prospecting, surface, sub-surface or aerial surveying or map-making of any kind, but does not include survey and exploration of mineral;

(104c)

“support services of business or commerce” means services provided in relation to business or commerce and includes evaluation of prospective customers, telemarketing, processing of purchase orders and fulfilment services, information and tracking of delivery schedules, managing distribution and logistics, customer relationship management services, accounting and processing of transactions, operational assistance for marketing, formulation of customer service and pricing policies, infrastructural support services and other transaction processing.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, the expression “infrastructural support services” includes providing office along with office utilities, lounge, reception with competent personnel to handle messages, secretarial services, internet and telecom facilities, pantry and security; ’;

(105)

"taxable service" means any service provided or to be provided -

(a) to any person, by a stock-broker in connection with the sale or purchase of securities listed on a recognized stock exchange;

(b) [Omitted]⁶

(c ) [Omitted]⁷

(d) to a policy holder or any person, by an insurer, including re-insurer carrying on general insurance business in relation to general insurance businesses;

(e) to any person, by an advertising agency in relation to advertisement, in any manner;

(f) to any person, by courier agency in relation to door-to-door transportation of time-sensitive documents, goods or articles;

(g) to any person, by a consulting engineer in relation to advice, consultancy or technical assistance in any manner in one or more disciplines of engineering including the discipline of computer hardware engineering.

Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-clause, it is hereby declared that services provided by a consulting engineer in relation to advice, consultancy or technical assistance in the disciplines of both computer hardware engineering and computer software engineering shall also be classifiable under this sub-clause;
[Clause (g) substituted vide Finance Bill 2008, w.e.f. 16th May, 2008]

(h) to any person, by a custom house agent in relation to the entry or departure of conveyances or the import or export of goods;

(i)  to a shipping line, by a steamer agent in relation to a ship’s husbandry or dispatch or any administrative work related thereto as well as the booking, advertising or canvassing of cargo, including container feeder services;

(j)  to any person, by a clearing and forwarding agent in relation to clearing and forwarding operations, in any manner;

(k)  to any person, by a manpower recruitment or supply agency in relation to the recruitment or supply of manpower, temporarily or otherwise, in any manner;

‘Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that for the purposes of this sub-clause, recruitment or supply of manpower includes services in relation to pre-recruitment screening, verification of the credentials and antecedents of the candidate and authenticity of documents submitted by the candidate]^*

(l)  to any person, by an air travel agent in relation to the booking of passage for travel by air;

(m) to any person, by a Mandap keeper in elation to the use of Mandap in any manner including the facilities provided or to be provided to such person in relation to such use and also the services, if any, provided or to be provided as a caterer;

(n) to any person, by a tour operator in relation to a tour;

(o) to any person, by a rent-a-cab scheme operator in relation to the renting of a cab;

(p) to any person, by an architect in his professional capacity, in any manner;

(q) to any person, by an interior decorator in relation to planning, design or beautification of spaces, whether manmade or otherwise, in any manner;

(r) to any person by a management or [business]^*  consultant in connection with the management of  any organization or [business,]^* in any manner;

(s) to any person, by a practising chartered accountant in his professional capacity, in any manner;

(t) to any person, by a practising cost accountant in his professional capacity, in any manner;

(u) to any person, by a practising company secretary in his professional capacity, in any manner;

(v) to any person, by a real estate agent in relation to real estate;

(w) to any person, by a security agency in relation to the security of any property or person, by providing security personnel or otherwise and includes the provision of services of investigation, detection or verification of any fact or activity;

(x) to any person, by a credit rating agency in relation to credit rating of any financial obligation, instrument or security;

(y) to any person, by a market research agency in relation to market research of any product, service or utility, in any manner;

(z)  to any person, by an underwriter in relation to underwriting, in any manner;

(za) to any person, by a scientist or technocrat or any science or technology institution or organization, in relation to scientific or technical consultancy;

(zb) to any person, by a photography studio or agency in relation to photography, in any manner;

(zc) to any person, by any person in relation to holding of convention, in any manner;

(zd) [Omitted]⁸

(ze) [Omitted]⁹

(zf) [Omitted]¹⁰

(zg) [Omitted]¹¹

(zh) to any person, by   any person, in relation to on-line information and database access or retrieval or both in electronic form through computer network, in any manner;

(zi) to any person, by a video production agency in relation to video-tape production, in any manner;

 (zj) to any person, by a sound recording studio or agency in relation to any kind of sound recording;

(zk) to a client, by a broadcasting agency or organization in relation to broadcasting, in any manner and, in the case of broadcasting agency or organisation, having its head office situated in any place outside India, includes service provided by its branch office or subsidiary or representative in India or any agent paoointed in India or by any person who acts on its behalf in any manner, engaged in the activity of selling of time slots for broadcsting of any programme or obtaining sponsorships for programmes or collecting the broadcasting charges or permitting the rights to receive any form of communication like sign, signal, writing, picture, image and sounds of all kinds by transmission of electro-magnetic waves through space or through cables, direct to home signals or by any other means to cable operator, including multisystem operator or any other person on behalf of the said agency or organisation.

Explanation: For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that so long as the radio or television programme broadcast is received in India and intended for listening or viewing, as the case may be, by the public, such service shall be taxable service in relation to broadcasting, even if the encryption of the signals or beaming thereof through the satellite might have taken place outside India;

(zm) to any person, by a banking company or a financial institution including a non-banking financial company or any other body corporate or commercial concern, in relation to banking and other financial services;

(zn) to any person, by a port or any person authorised by the port, in relation to port services, in any manner;

(zo) to any person, by an authorised service station, in relation to any service or repair of motor cars or two wheeled motor vehicles; in any manner

(zp)  [Omitted]              

(zq) to any person, by a beauty parlour in relation to beauty treatment;

(zr) to any person, by a cargo handling agency in relation to cargo handling services;

(zs) to any person, by a cable operator including a multi-system operator in relation to cable services;

(zt) to any person, by a dry cleaner in relation to dry cleaning;

(zu) to any person, by an event manager in relation to event management.

(zv) to any person, by a fashion designer in relation to fashion designing;

(zw) to any person, by a health club and fitness centre in relation to health and fitness services;

(zx) to a policy holder or any person, by an insurer, including re-insurer carrying on life insurance business in relation to risk cover in life insurance;

(zy) to a policy holder or any person or insurer, including re-insurer by an actuary, or intermediary or insurance intermediary or insurance agent, in relation to insurance auxiliary services concerning life insurance business;

(zz) to any person, by a rail travel agent in relation to booking of passage for travel by rail;

(zza) to any person, by a storage or warehouse keeper in relation to storage and  warehousing of goods; and the term "service provider" shall be construed

accordingly;

(zzb) to a client, by   any person in relation to business auxiliary service;

(zzc) to any person, by a commercial training or coaching centre in relation to commercial training or coaching;

(zzd) to any person, by a erection, commissioning and installation agency in relation to commissioning and installation;

(zze) to a franchisee, by the franchisor in relation to franchise;

(zzf) to any person, by an internet cafe in relation to access of internet;

(zzg) to any person, by any person in relation to management, maintenance or  repair;

(zzh) to any person, by a technical testing and analysis agency, in relation to technical testing and analysis;

(zzi) to any person, by a technical inspection and certification agency, in relation to technical inspection and certification;

(zzj) Omitted.

(zzk)  to any person, by a foreign exchange broker, including an authorised dealer in foreign exchange or an authorised money changer, other than a banking company or a financial institution including a non-banking financial company or any other body corporate or commercial concern referred to in sub-clause (zm); [ Substituted vide Finance Bill 2008, w.e.f. 16th May, 2008 ]

(zzl) to any person, by other port or any person authorised by that port in relation to port services, in any manner;

(zzm) to any person, by airports authority or any person authorised by it, in an airport  or a civil enclave;

(zzn) to any person, by air craft operator, in relation to transport of goods by aircraft;

(zzo) to an exhibitor, by the organisor of business exhibition, in relation to business exhibition;

(zzp) to any person, by a goods transport agency, in relation to transport of goods by road in a goods carriage;

(zzq) to any person, by a  any other person, in relation to commercial or industrial construction service;

(zzr) to any person, by the holder of intellectual property right, in relation to intellectual property service;

(zzs) to any person, by an opinion poll agency, in relation to opinion poll;

(zzt) to any person, by an outdoor caterer;

(zzu) to any person, by a programme producer, in relation to a programme;

(zzv) to any person, by any person, in relation to survey and exploration of mineral;

(zzw) to any person, by a panadal or shamiana contractor in relation to a panadal or shamiana in any manner and also includes the services, if any, provided or to be provided as a caterer;

(zzx) to any person, by a travel agent, in relation to the booking of passage for travel;

(zzy) to any person, by a member of a recognised association or a registered association, in relation to a forward contract; and the term "service provider" shall be construed accordingly;

(zzz) to any person, by any other person, in relation to transport of goods other than water, through pipeline or other conduit;

(zzza) to any person, by any other person, in relation to site formation and clearance, excavation and earthmoving and demolition and such other similar activities;

(zzzb) to any person, by any other person, in relation to dredging;

(zzzc) to any person, by any other person, other than by an agency under the control   of, or authorised by, the Government, in relation to survey and map-making;

(zzzd) to any person, by any other person, in relation to cleaning activity;

(zzze) to its members, by any club or association in relation to provision of services, facilities or advantages for a subscripttion or any other amount;

(zzzf) to any person, by any other person, in relation to packaging activity;

(zzzg) to any person, by any other person, in relation to mailing list compilation and mailing;

(zzzh) to any person, by any other person, in relation to construction of complex;

(zzzi) to any person, by a registrar to an issue, in relation to sale or purchase of securities;

(zzzj) to any person, by a share transfer agent, in relation to securities;

(zzzk) to any person, by any other person, in relation to automated teller machine operations, maintenance or management service, in any manner;

(zzzl) to a banking company or a financial institution including a non-banking financial company or any other body corporate or a firm, by any person, in relation to recovery of any sums due to such banking company or financial institution, including a non-banking financial company, or any other body corporate or a firm, in any manner;

(zzzm) to any person, by any other person, in relation to sale of space or time for advertisement, in any manner; but does not include sale of space for advertisement in print media and sale of time slots by a broadcasting agency or organisation.

Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “sale of space or time for advertisement” includes,—

(i) providing space or time, as the case may be, for display, advertising, showcasing of any product or service in video programmes, television programmes or motion pictures or music albums, or on billboards, public places, buildings, conveyances, cell phones, automated teller machines, internet;

(ii) selling of time slots on radio or television by a person, other than a broadcasting agency or organisation; and

(iii) aerial advertising.

[Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, ‘‘print media’’ means,—

(i) ‘‘newspaper’’ as defined in sub-section (1) of section 1 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867;

(ii) ‘‘book’’ as defined in sub-section (1) of section 1 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, but does not include business directories, yellow pages and trade catalogues which are primarily meant for commercial purposes;]^*

(zzzn) to any body corporate or firm, by any person receiving sponsorship, in relation to such sponsorship, in any manner, but does not include services in relation to sponsorship of sports events;

(zzzo) to any passenger, by an aircraft operator, in relation to scheduled or non-scheduled air transport of such passenger embarking in India for international journey, in any class other than economy class.

Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, economy class in an aircraft meant for scheduled air transport of passengers means,—

(i) where there is more than one class of travel, the class attracting the lowest standard fare; or

(ii) where there is only one class of travel, that class.

Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, in an aircraft meant for nonscheduled air transport of passengers, no class of travel shall be treated as economy class;

(zzzp) to any person, by any other person other than Government railway as defined in clause (20) of section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989, in relation to transport of goods in containers by rail, in any manner;

(zzzq)  to any person, by any other person, in relation to support services of business or commerce, in any manner;

(zzzr) to any person, by any other person, in relation to auction of property, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, in any manner, but does not include auction of property under the directions or orders of a court of law or auction by the Government;

(zzzs) to any person, by any other person, in relation to managing the public relations of such person, in any manner;

(zzzt) to any person, under a contract or an agreement, by any other person, in relation to ship management service;

(zzzu) to any person, by any other person, in relation to internet telecommunication service;

(zzzv) to any person, by any other person, in relation to transport of such person embarking from any port or other port in India, by a cruise ship.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “cruise ship” means a ship or vessel used for providing recreational or pleasure trips, but does not include a ship or vessel used for private purposes or a ship or vessel of, or less than, fifteen net tonnage;

(zzzw) to any person, by any other person, in relation to credit card, debit card, charge card or other payment card service, in any manner;’;

[(zzzx) to any person, by the telegraph authority in relation to telecommunication service;

(zzzy) to any person, by any other person in relation to mining of mineral, oil or gas;

(zzzz) to any person, by any other person in relation to renting of immovable property for use in the course or furtherance of business or commerce.

Explanation 1.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “immovable property” includes—

(i) building and part of a building, and the land appurtenant thereto;

(ii) land incidental to the use of such building or part of a building;

(iii) the common or shared areas and facilities relating thereto; and

(iv) in case of a building located in a complex or an industrial estate, all common areas and facilities relating thereto, within such complex or estate, but does not  include-

(a) vacant land solely used for agriculture, aquaculture, farming, forestry, animal husbandry, mining purposes;

(b) vacant land, whether or not having facilities clearly incidental to the use of such vacant land;

(c) land used for educational, sports, circus, entertainment and parking purposes; and

(d) building used solely for residential purposes and buildings used for the purposes of accommodation, including hotels, hostels, boarding houses, holiday accommodation, tents, camping facilities.

Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, an immovable property partly for use in the course or furtherance of business or commerce and partly for residential or any other purposes shall be deemed to be immovable property for use in the course  or  furtherance of business or commerce;

(zzzza)  to any person, by any other person in relation to the execution of a works contract, excluding works contract in respect of roads, airports, railways,   transport terminals, bridges, tunnels and dams.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause, “works contract” means a contract wherein,—

(i) transfer of property in goods involved in the execution of such contract is leviable to tax as sale of goods, and

(ii) such contract is for the purposes of carrying out,—

(a)    erection, commissioning or installation of plant, machinery, equipment or  structures, whether pre-fabricated or otherwise, installation of electrical and electronic devices, plumbing, drain laying or other installations for transport of fluids, heating, ventilation or air-conditioning including related pipe work, duct work and sheet metal work, thermal insulation, sound insulation, fire proofing or water proofing, lift and escalator, fire escape staircases or elevators; or

(b) construction of a new building or a civil structure or a part thereof, or of a pipeline or conduit, primarily for the purposes of commerce or industry; or

(c) construction of a new residential complex or a part thereof; or

(d) completion and finishing services, repair, alteration, renovation or restoration of, or similar services, in relation to (b) and (c); or

(e) turnkey projects including engineering, procurement and construction or commissioning (EPC) projects;

(zzzzb) to any person, by any other person in relation to development and supply of content for use in telecommunication services, advertising agency services    and on-line information and database access or retrieval services;

(zzzzc) to any person, by any other person, except a banking company or a financial institution including a non-banking financial company or any other body corporate or commercial concern referred to in sub-clause (zm), in relation to asset management including portfolio management and all forms of fund management;

(zzzzd) to any person, by any other person in relation to design services, but does not include service provided by-

(i) an interior decorator referred to in sub-clause (q); and

(ii) a fashion designer in relation to fashion designing referred to in sub-clause (zv);’]^*

         Explanation: [Omitted]

(zzzze) to any person, by any other person in relation to information technology software for use in the course, or furtherance, of business or commerce, including,—

(i) development of information technology software,
(ii) study, analysis, design and programming of information technology software,
(iii) adaptation, upgradation, enhancement, implementation and other similar services related to information technology software,
(iv) providing advice, consultancy and assistance on matters related to information technology software, including conducting feasibility studies on implementation of a system, specifications for a database design, guidance and assistance during the startup phase of a new system, specifications to secure a database, advice on proprietary information technology software,
(v) acquiring the right to use information technology software for commercial exploitation including right to reproduce, distribute and sell information technology software and right to use software components for the creation of and inclusion in other information technology software products,
(vi) acquiring the right to use information technology software supplied electronically;

(zzzzf) to a policy holder, by an insurer carrying on life insurance business, in relation to management of investment, under unit linked insurance business, commonly known as Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) scheme.

Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-clause,—

(i) management of segregated fund of unit linked insurance business by the insurer shall be deemed to be the service provided by the insurer to the policy holder in relation to management of investment under unit linked insurance business; and

(ii) the gross amount charged by the insurer from the policy holder for the said services provided or to be provided shall be equivalent to the difference between,—

(a) premium paid by the policy holder for the Unit Linked Insurance Plan policy; and

(b) the sum of premium paid for or attributable to risk cover, whether for life, health or other specified purposes, and the amount segregated for actual investment.

Illustration

Total premium paid for the Unit Linked Insurance Plan policy = Rs.100

Risk premium = Rs. 10

Amount actually invested = Rs. 85

Gross amount charged for the service provided = Rs. 5 [100-(10+85)];

(iii) in addition to the amount referred to in clause (ii), the gross amount charged shall include any amount charged subsequently, whether or not periodically, by the insurer from the policy holder in relation to management of investment under unit linked insurance business;

(zzzzg) to any person, by a recognised stock exchange in relation to assisting, regulating or controlling the business of buying, selling or dealing in securities and includes services provided in relation to trading, processing, clearing and settlement of transactions in securities;

(zzzzh) to any person, by a recognised association or a registered association in relation to assisting, regulating or controlling the business of the sale or purchase of any goods or forward contracts and includes services provided in relation to trading, processing, clearing and settlement of transactions in goods or forward contracts;

(zzzzi) to any person, by a processing and clearinghouse in relation to processing, clearing and settlement of transactions in securities, goods or forward contracts including any other matter incidental to, or connected with, such securities, goods and forward contracts;

(zzzzj) to any person, by any other person in relation to supply of tangible goods including machinery, equipment and appliances for use, without transferring right of possession and effective control of such machinery, equipment and appliances;