Services

• Registration
• E-filing of returns
• Assessments& Representation at authority on behalf of client
• Audit
• Appeals involving filing and appearing before appellate and tribunals.

Things to know.

Excise Duty

Excise Duty is a duty on production or manufacture of excisable goods in India. Thus taxable event is production or manufacture of excisable goods in India. However, duty is usually payable when it is removed from any place where they are produced or manufactured.

Service Tax

Service tax is tax on provision of services. For a layman it would mean taking up any work on behalf of others, professional assignments or rendering intangible benefits to others. The Service Provider will can collect this Service Tax amount from the consumer of service and deposits the same with the Central Government. This tax would be applicable on all services except the negative list of services.

Registration:Every provider of the service in India (except J&K where the law is not applicable) has to register itself if the value of services provided during a year is more than Rs. 9 Lakhs and Input Service Distributor, but the tax would be payable only when the value of services provided is more than Rs. 10 Lakhs.

Steps to check Service Tax Applicability

Step No.	Particulars
1	Check whether Activity has been done by ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER
2	Check whether activity involves CONSIDERATION
3	Check whether activity involves outside the scope of exclusion clause:Transfer of Title in goods or immovable property;Transfer which constitutes deemed sale; Transaction only in Money or actionable Claims; Services provided by employee to employer; Court/Tribunal Fees
4	If result of the above three test is affirmative; activity will be termed as Service otherwise activity will be outside the ambit of Service Tax
5	Check whether Place of Provisions of Service falls in taxable territory
6	If result of above two tests is affirmative, service will be termed as Taxable Service falls under Mega Exemption Notification or any other exemption notification.
7	If result of supra test is affirmative, service will be termed as Exempted Service otherwise service tax will apply.
8	In nutshell, Service Tax will apply if an activity (except those mentioned in exclusion clause) has been provided/performed in taxable territory by one person for another for consideration and is neither covered in negative list nor under Mega Exemption & other exemption notifications.

Due Dates of Payment of Service Tax

Month	Constitution of Person Liable to Pay Service Tax
	Individual / Proprietary Firm / Partnership Firm including LLP	Otherwise
April	5 / 6th July	5 / 6th May
May		5 / 6th June
June		5 / 6th July
July	5 / 6th October	5 / 6th August
August		5 / 6th September
September		5 / 6th October
October	5 / 6th January	5 / 6th November
November		5 / 6th December
December		5 / 6th January
January	31st March	5 / 6th February
February		5 / 6th March
March		31st March
Note: In case on online payment of Service Tax 6th and otherwise 5th.

Service Tax Returns

Every assesse shall submit the half yearly return by the 25^th of the following month i.e. 25^th October (for April to September) and 25^th April (for October to March).The assesse is required to file the service tax return even if the value of taxable services provided or the tax thereon is Nil.Return can be revised within 90 days of filling the original return.

Value Added Tax

VAT is a form of indirect tax imposed on only goods sold within a particular state. Which means the buyer and seller should be in the same state.

VAT or Value Added Tax is a tax added to the goods at each step of the production and distribution process. VAT tax however is ultimately paid by the end consumer, as dealers are allowed to collect VAT tax on their sales, retain the tax paid on their purchases and only pay the balance to the Government. Unlike service tax, VAT is still governed by the State Government by separate VAT act passed by each of the state in India under the guidelines issued by an Empowered Committee to ensure uniformity. Therefore, the procedure for VAT Registration, the VAT Rates, due date for VAT payment, deadline for VAT Return Filing and other modalities differ from State to State.

Registration: VAT registration is compulsory for dealers having turnover exceeding 5 lakhs (or increased limit of 10 lakhs for some states). On registration the dealer is allotted a unique 11 digit TIN (Tax Payers Identification Number).

Central Sales Tax

VAT is a form of indirect tax imposed on only goods sold from one state to another state. Which means the buyer and seller should be in the different states.

Registration of dealer under CST is not governed by turnover. It is compulsory for a dealer to get registered if he affects an inter-state sale.

Customs

Customs Duty is a type of indirect tax levied on goods imported into India as well as on goods exported from India. Taxable event is import into or export from India. Import of goods means bringing into India of goods from a place outside India.

Professional Tax

Professional tax is the tax charged by the state governments in India. Anyone earning an income from salary or anyone practicing a profession such as chartered accountant, lawyer, doctor etc. are required to pay this professional tax.

The professional tax is similar to income tax except it is taken by state government. Unlike income tax return filing you need not to file return professional tax return not every state charges this tax. According to law, any state, government cant charge maximum Rs 2,500 per year as professional tax. It is charged according to the income slab. It is eligible for income tax saving. You can deduct the professional tax paid from your gross salary for income tax calculation.

It is the duty of every employer to collect the professional tax from its employee and deposit the total amount with the municipal corporation. The employer deducts it from the salary of the employee every month.

Profession Tax in Maharashtra

Maharashtra uses a full limit of professional tax. Here, Most of the employees pay Rs 2,500 annually as PT. It has given some relaxation to those who earn very less or involved in petty jobs. All other wage earners and white collared professionals are charged Rs 2,500 Annually.

Monthly Salary	Professional Tax Rate Per Month
Up to Rs 7,500 (Rs 10,000 For Women)	Nil
From Rs 7,500- 10,000	175
Above Rs 10,000	Rs 200 per month, but Rs 300 in February

The Indian Government is actively working towards implementation of a common indirect tax by the name of GST which is expected to be applicable soon.GST will merge the major indirect taxes which will reduce the hassle of compliance to great extend