kirankumaradv
(n/a)
22 December 2007
[font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""]Even if an organisation is exempted under IT Act as a charitable institution, it need not automatically go out of the purview of Service Tax. [/font][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""]As per the Act,[/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""](25a) ΓÇ£club or associationΓÇ¥ means any person or body of persons providing services, facilities or advantages, for a subscription or any other amount, to its members, but does not includeΓÇö[/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""](i) any body established or constituted by or under any law for the time being in force; or[/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""](ii) any person or body of persons engaged in the activities of trade unions, promotion of agriculture, horticulture or animal husbandry; or[/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""](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[/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""](iv) any person or body of persons associated with press or media; [/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""]The recent clarification given by the Commissioner, Service Tax in the Board says, [/font][/align][indent][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""]++Exemption under the Income Tax Act on the ground of being a public charitable institution is of no consequence to levy of service tax. Levy of service tax is entirely governed by the provisions contained in the Finance Act, 1994 and the rules made there under.[/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""]++ The definition of ΓÇ£charityΓÇ¥ and ΓÇ£charitableΓÇ¥ as defined in BlackΓÇÖs Law Dictionary may be kept in mind. ΓÇ£CharityΓÇ¥ is defined as ΓÇ£aid given to the poor, the suffering or the general community for religious, educational, economic, public safety, or medical purposesΓÇ¥, and ΓÇ£charitableΓÇ¥ as ΓÇ£dedicated to a general public purpose, usually for the benefit of needy people who cannot pay for the benefits receivedΓÇ¥.[/font][/align][align=justify][font=""Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif""]++The officer concerned should examine the matter on a case-by-case basis, and the decision should be made after taking into account all material facts and statutory provisions. [/font][/align][/indent]