TIOL’s XCuSE– excisable?

By Vijay Kumar

Now the question seems to be answered with software moving from 8524 to 8523 in the tariff.

Service Tax - Foreign air travel – even return journey is taxable -

Suppose my friend buys a ticket for me in New York for a journey from Mumbai to London. Am I liable to pay the tax and should I get registered before I board the aircraft?

Simultaneous availment of SSI exemption and cenvat credit. – Yes says the Board.

Cenvat credit of CVD paid through Export promotion scrips – No need to amend Cenvat Credit Rules - Board

Service Tax- DGST no more Registering Authority - Records to be shown to CAG’s Audit too -

Now the Rules are amended to provide that these records are to be provided to audit party deputed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. So it is once again proved that after all the CAG does not have any constitutional powers to just go and audit anyone he feels like. He derives his powers from the Central Excise Rules and now the Service Tax Rules.

When the last date for payment of duty is a holiday? - it is clear that duty/tax can be paid and returns and appeals can be filed on the next working day if the due date happens to be a holiday.

Tax Return Preparers Scheme – CBDT’s new initiative -

Want help in filing your tax return? For just Rs. 250/- you will get assistance from a TRP to be appointed by CBDT. About 5000 TRPs are to be trained in 80 cities by NIIT.

Income Tax Ombudsman - Immediate benefit is 12 more Chief Commissioners are going to get Member level posts.

Excise Notification exempting alcohol - Our understanding all these days was that there is no Central Excise duty on alcohol fit for human consumption; it is supposed to be a state subject. But Notification No. 34/2006-Central Excise, exempts lcohol.

FM at the LTU - Toilet is the best place to judge the quality of the building -

Finance Minister Chidambaram has formally declared the LTU in Bangalore functional. Obviously Chief Commissioner KS Nair had done a good job and the FM was happy. The FM wants to come back to the LTU incognito and inspect the toilets for he believes that Toilet is the best place to judge the quality of the building.

Service Tax on government departments????????? – Board clarifies? -

DAVP, customs officers supervising exports, police providing protection etc, may be potential tax evaders.

Return unwanted seized records – Board member tells field.

Catering in trains – who is liable to pay Service Tax? IRCTC in trouble for Seeking a clarification.

Namkeen, Bhujia, PalakPanner – delicious exemptions? No more heating of palakpaneer.

Section 11B not applicable to North East refunds – Board clarifies

No Service Tax on Public Authorities performing statutory functions – Board clarifies -

Where is it laid down that statutory activities are outside the purview of Service Tax? Shouldn’t there be either an exemption or exclusion?

Delayed refunds – High Court raps Customs Commissioner – Disciplinary action ordered -

For those overzealous Revenue officers, who are quick to demand but slow to refund, here is bad news. The government will end up paying interest and you will be stuck with a charge sheet.

Customs loses a case for not depositing Rs.2500/-

The department which collects over a Lakh of Crores of taxes, could not find the Rs. 2500/- to comply with the directions of the Sessions Court.

There is no Crown and the illusive crown has no precedence in recovery of arrears.

You cannot recover arrears just because you are the Government. There should be a charge.

Budget file – exempted from disclosure? Not really

These are certainly not the most important events of 2006, nor even a representative sample. Let us hope for a better 2007