TIOL-DDT 1268 · Thursday, 31 December 2009 · story 2 of 5

Service Tax - Accounting Codes for new services – issued long ago, but kept a close secret

A leading lawyer sent us a mail on Monday. – “Has the Accounting code been issued for the new services, including legal services? The ST for the Quarter 31.12.09 has to be paid on or before 5th Jan? How to pay? Can you highlight this?”. The new services were effective from 1.9.2009 and there was no point in simply highlighting the issue now. We were eagerly waiting for the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, to notify the accounting codes. But nothing came out of his office. Even the Board had no clue. Finally our research team came up with the “eureaka” – from the banks – yes the bank's e payment portal had the list of accounting codes for all services and it seems the codes were issued in September 2009 – only the Board and the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts kept it a closely guarded secret.

Neither the CBEC website nor the Principal Chief Controller's website provides the accounting codes for the new services. We were told by a top Revenue Official that the Principal Chief Controller has informed the banks the new codes. But why don't they inform the taxpayers? Or are they not important?

Anyway here are the codes for the new services:

Service Name

Tax Code

Interest/Penalty Code

TRANSPORT OF COASTAL GOODS AND GOODS THROUGH NATIONAL WATERWAYS AND INLAND WATER

00440470

00440473

COSMETICS AND PLASTIC SURGERY SERVICE

00440460

00440463

LEGAL CONSULTANCY SERVICE

00440480

00440483

TRANSPORT OF GOODS BY RAIL

00440390

00440391

WE are also giving a full list of all services and their codes as given by a bank. We request the CBEC and the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts to upload it in their websites so that more stake-holders are aware of this important information.

Click here for the full list.