The last date of filing the ST-3 return for the said period is 25th April, 2015.

Utility for e-filing Service Tax Return (ST-3) for the period October 2014 to March 2015 is now available in both offline and online version. Return can be filed either online or though offline utility by downloading the latest version from http://acesdownload.nic.in/ or from 'DOWNLOADS' Section of ACES website (www.aces.gov.in).

Department has updated utility to incorporate new exemptions and changes in reverse charge mechanism e.g. w.e.f. 1st October, 2014 Service Recipient of Rent-a-Cab Service is liable to pay Service Tax on 50% value under Reverse Charge Mechanism, if applicable.

The last date of filing the ST-3 return for the said period is 25th April, 2015.
 

Form 15CA and 15CB are of a lot importance. We professional atleast have to issue one Form 15CB every day and form 15CA is also to be made by the professional on behalf of the client.

Form 15CA is a Declaration of Remitter and is used as a tool for collecting information in respect of payments which are chargeable to tax in the hands of recipient non-resident. This is starting of an effective Information Processing System which may be utilized by the Income tax Department to independently track the foreign remittances and their nature to determine tax liability. In the modern times, the system for selection of cases into scrutiny have reduced drastically and without scrutiny there was no check to ensure that taxable foreign remittances have been made after deduction of tax or not. Therefore, the remittance channel i.e. Banks have been directed to obtain Form 15CA and 15CB before making any remittance. Authorised Dealers/ Banks are now becoming more vigilant in ensuring that such Forms are received by them before remittance is effected since now as per revised Rule 37BB a duty is casted on them to furnish Form 15CA received from remitter, to an income-tax authority for the purposes of any proceedings under the Income-tax Act and also the revised FEMA Guidelines issued in July’2014 cast duty on the banks to ascertain the Tax Liability in each case of remittance. As per the revised RBI Guidelines, The RBI in this regard will not issue any guidelines with respect to deduction of tax at source on foreign remittances. Therefore the Banks are urging the remitters to provide such Form 15CA and 15CB even in case of Import purchases.  

Here is an attempt to make a comprehensive check list/procedure for effecive furnishing of Form 15CA and 15CB.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING FORM 15CA and 15CB

Step 1: Ascertain whether Form 15CA and CB are actually required to be made.                  

As per Income Tax (Fourteenth Amendment) Rules, 2013, No reporting in Form 15CA and 15CB is to be made in case of the following nature of foreign remittances w.e.f 01.10.2013

SPECIFIED LIST  

Sl.No.	Purpose code as per RBI	Nature of Payment
1	S0001	Indian investment abroad -in equity capital (shares)
2	S0002	Indian investment abroad -in debt securities
3	S0003	Indian investment abroad -in branches and wholly owned subsidiaries
4	S0004	Indian investment abroad -in subsidiaries and associates
5	S0005	Indian investment abroad -in real estate
6	S0011	Loans extended to Non-Residents
7	S0202	Payment- for operating expenses of Indian shipping companies operating abroad.
8	S0208	Operating expenses of Indian Airlines companies operating abroad
9	S0212	Booking of passages abroad -Airlines companies
10	S0301	Remittance towards business travel.
11	S0302	Travel under basic travel quota (BTQ)
12	S0303	Travel for pilgrimage
13	S0304	Travel for medical treatment
14	S0305	Travel for education (including fees, hostel expenses etc.)
15	S0401	Postal services
16	S0501	Construction of projects abroad by Indian companies including import of goods at project site
17	S0602	Freight insurance – relating to import and export of goods
18	S1011	Payments for maintenance of offices abroad
19	S1201	Maintenance of Indian embassies abroad
20	S1 202	Remittances by foreign embassies in India
21	S1301	Remittance by non-residents towards family maintenance and-savings
22	S1302	Remittance towards personal gifts and donations
23	S1303	Remittance towards donations to religious and charitable institutions abroad
24	S1304	Remittance towards grants and donations to other Governments and charitable institutions established by the Governments.
25	S1305	Contributions or donations by the Government to international institutions
26	S1306	Remittance towards payment or refund of taxes.
27	S1501	Refunds or rebates or reduction in invoice value on account of exports
28	S1503	Payments by residents for international bidding”.

Therefore no Form 15CA and 15CB are required in the abovementioned 28 nature of foreign remittances.

Step 2:Once it is ascertained that Form 15CA and 15CB have to be made then one should ascertain the part of Form 15CA to be filled by the assessee, by reading the following extracts of Amended Rule 37BB;                         

Rule 37BB. (1) Any person responsible for paying to a non-resident, not being a company, or to a foreign company, any interest or salary or any other sum chargeable to tax under the provisions of the Act, shall furnish the following, namely:

(i) the information in Part A of Form No.15CA, if the amount of payment does not exceed fifty thousand rupees and the aggregate of such payments made during the financial year does not exceed two lakh fifty thousand rupees;             

(ii) the information in Part B of Form No.15CA for payments other than the payments referred in clause (i)

Step 3:  Information to be required from the client

A Details of Remitter  

1. Name of the Remitter

2. Address of the Remitter

3. PAN of the  Remitter

4. Principal Place of Business of the Remitter

5. E-Mail Address and Phone No. Of Remitter

6. Status of the Remitter (Firm/Company/Other)

B.  Details of Remittee

1. Name and Status of the Remittee

2. Address of the Remittee

3. Country of the Remittee (Country to Which Remittance Is Made)

4. Principal Place of the Business of the Remittee

C.  Details of the Remittance

1. Country to Which Remittance Is Made

2. Currency in Which Remittance Is Made

3. Amount of Remittance in Indian Currency

4. Proposed Date of Remittance

5. Nature of Remittance as Per Agreement (Invoice Copy to Be Asked From Client)

D Bank Details of the Remitter     

1. Name of Bank of the Remitter

2. Name of Branch of the Bank

3.  BSR Code of the Bank

E.  Others 

1. Father’s Name of the Signing Person

2. Designation Of The Signing Person

F      a. Form 10f Duly Filled By the Authorised Person Of The Remittee.

b. Tax Residency Certificate From The Remittee (Tax Registration Of The Country In Which Remittee Is Registered)

c. Certificate That The Remittee Does Not Have Any Permanent Establishment In India. This Is Mandatory If The Income Is A Business Income And Not Chargeable To Tax As Per DTAA If There Is No P.E In India.

This Is Required If Any Benefit Under DTAA Is Taken, Whether By Way Of Lower Rate Of Deduction Of Tax At Source Or No Deduction Of Tax At Source As Per DTAA.     Hope you find the above information relevant and useful in your daily practise.

How GST will Impact Indian Economy

How GST will Impact Indian Economy

Goods and Service Tax – GST

One of the biggest taxation reforms in India — the Goods and Service Tax (GST) — is all set to integrate State economies and boost overall growth. GST will create a single, unified Indian market to make the economy stronger.

The implementation of GST will lead to the abolition of other taxes such as octroi, Central Sales Tax, State-level sales tax, entry tax, stamp duty, telecom licence fees, turnover tax, tax on consumption or sale of electricity, taxes on transportation of goods and services, et cetera, thus avoiding multiple layers of taxation that currently exist in India.

But just what is GST all about and how will it impact you?

How GST will Impact Indian Economy,check here

 What is GST?

Goods and Services Tax – GST is a comprehensive tax levy on manufacture, sale and consumption of goods and services at a national level.

Through a tax credit mechanism, this tax is collected on value-added goods and services at each stage of sale or purchase in the supply chain.

The system allows the set-off of GST paid on the procurement of goods and services against the GST which is payable on the supply of goods or services. However, the end consumer bears this tax as he is the last person in the supply chain.

Experts say that GST is likely to improve tax collections and boost India’s economic development by breaking tax barriers between States and integrating India through a uniform tax rate.

What are the benefits of GST?

Under GST, the taxation burden will be divided equitably between manufacturing and services, through a lower tax rate by increasing the tax base and minimizing exemptions.

It is expected to help build a transparent and corruption-free tax administration. GST will be is levied only at the destination point, and not at various points (from manufacturing to retail outlets).

Currently, a manufacturer needs to pay tax when a finished product moves out from a factory, and it is again taxed at the retail outlet when sold.

What will be the rate of GST?

The combined Goods and Service Tax rate is being discussed by government. The rate is expected around 14-16 per cent. After the total GST rate is arrived at, the States and the Centre will decide on the CGST and SGST rates.

How will GST be implemented?

The empowered committee is likely to finalize the details of Goods and Service Tax by August. But States have to sort out several issues like agreement on GST rates, constitutional amendments and holding talks with industry associations. Experts feel the drafting of legislation and the implementation of law will take time. Goods and Services Tax in India is set to be implemented from 1st April 2016.

What are the items on which GST may not be applied?

Alcohol, tobacco, petroleum products are likely to be out of the GST regime.

How will it benefit the Centre and the States?

It is estimated that India will gain $15 billion a year by implementing the Goods and Services Tax as it would promote exports, raise employment and boost growth. It will divide the tax burden equitably between manufacturing and services.

What are the benefits of GST for individuals and companies?

In the GST system, both Central and State taxes will be collected at the point of sale. Both components (the Central and State GST) will be charged on the manufacturing cost. This will benefit individuals as prices are likely to come down. Lower prices will lead to more consumption, thereby helping companies.

What type of GST is proposed for India?

India is planning to implement a dual GST system. Under dual GST, a Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and a State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) will be levied on the taxable value of a transaction.

All goods and services, barring a few exceptions, will be brought into the GST base. There will be no distinction between goods and services.

Which other nations have a similar tax structure?

Almost 140 countries have already implemented the GST. Most of the countries have a unified GST system. Brazil and Canada follow a dual system where GST is levied by both the Union and the State governments.

France was the first country to introduce Goods and Service Tax system in 1954.

Will this be an extra tax?

It will not be an additional tax. CGST will include central excise duty (Cenvat), service tax, and additional duties of customs at the central level; and value-added tax, central sales tax, entertainment tax, luxury tax, octroi, lottery taxes, electricity duty, state surcharges related to supply of goods and services and purchase tax at the State level.

Currently, services are taxed at 10 per cent and the combined charge indirect taxes on most goods is around 20 per cent.

Will goods and services cost more after this tax comes into force?

The prices are expected to fall in the long term as dealers might pass on the benefits of the reduced tax to consumers.

Why are some States against GST; will they lose money?

The governments of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu say that the information technology systems and the administrative infrastructure will not be ready by April 2010 to implement GST. States have sought assurances that their existing revenues will be protected.

The central government has offered to compensate States in case of a loss in revenues.

Some States fear that if the uniform tax rate is lower than their existing rates, it will hit their tax kitty. The government believes that dual GST will lead to better revenue collection for States.

However, backward and less-developed States could see a fall in tax collections. GST could see better revenue collection for some States as the consumption of goods and services will rise.