Service tax for consulting firms

Lakshman (Director) (30 Points)

11 March 2015  

Dear All,

             I am into consulting firm and i do place a candidate as per customer's requirement and do raise a bill for the consulting charge as 8.33% of the CTC of the candidate. I have been doing this from last 4 years and i have not crossed 5 lakhs in one year also. So there no necessary for me to apply the service tax number and do claim the same with the bills which i raise to the customers. 

           But now a customer has deducted  my payment saying service charges are applicable. I also explained him that only the service provider should raise the bill with service tax 12.36% in the bill and the customer should pay the total amount . But now he has deducted the TDS and also service tax from the billed amount ( I am a service provider ) . And he says from 2012 that law is changed and we will deduct in future also. Can any one explain in detail regarding service tax and when it is applicable also ? 

Thanks for people who give the answer and solution for this .