Swachh bharat cess @0.5%

SWACH BHARAT CESS OF 0.50%

The Central Government in the Union Budget 2015-16 proposed to Levy a Swach Bharat Cess at the rate of 2% on all applicable services and accordingly the Government has notified on 6th November, 2015 that there shall be levied a “Swach Bharat Cess” at the rate of 0.5% which will be effective from 15th November, 2015, the Government earlier proposed the rate of 2% for the Swach Bharat Cess. Thus a Cess at 0.5% will be levied on the value of all the taxable services.

Following are the notifications issued by Government regarding the applicability of Cess:

  1. 21/2015-ST dt. 06-11-2015
  2. 22/2015-ST dt. 06-11-2015

The Government has decided to levy the cess to give boost to the Flagship programme of the Government i.e. “Swach Bharat”. Thus accordingly the Service (Point of Taxation) Rules, 2011 have to be taken care off whether there will be any applicability of the Cess with regard to the date of payment or raising of invoice. The Government further clarified that cess shall be levied on the abated value.

Rules 4 for the determination of Point of Taxation Rules, 2011 is as follows:

S.No

Particulars

Action

1

Where the invoice for the service is issued and payment is received after change in effective rate of tax, the POT shall be date of Date of invoice or payment whichever is earlier or

Date Of Invoice Or Payment Whichever Is Earlier

2

Where the invoice for the service is issued prior to change in effective rate of Tax but the Payment is received after change in effective rate of tax, the POT shall be date of Date of issue of Invoice or

the POT shall be date of Date of issue of Invoice

3

Where the Payment is also received before the change in effective rate of Tax but the invoice is issued after the change in effective rate of tax, the POT shall be date of Date of Payment

POT shall be date of Date of Payment

Hence companies have to plan accordingly and see the applicability of the abovementioned rules.

But the most important point here is that the increase of Service Tax indicates the rate that are likely under the Good and Service Tax (Service Tax will be subsumed) after the notification of the same. Moreover the rates of GST most probably will be from 14% to 16% or it may be higher.

If anyone still have any doubts or need more clarification on how this issue will going to affect your business then please do post your Comment or you can reach me out at :

Jai Bijarnia
Email: jaibijarnia.cs @ gmail.com

Replies (2)

the service tax rate would be 14.5%

 

Yes the effective rate then shall be 14.5%

Leave a Reply

Your are not logged in . Please login to post replies

Click here to Login / Register  

Company
ARTICLESHIP 07 October 2026
Article assistant

S.K.Bajpai & Co.

Noida

B.Com

View Details
Company
ARTICLESHIP 08 October 2026
ARTICLE TRAINEE

S.B.G. & CO. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

New Delhi

CA Inter

View Details
Company
24 October 2026
CA Industrial Trainee

Fytomax Nutrition Private Limited

Aurangabad

CA Inter

View Details
Company
Featured 27 October 2026
semi-qualified CA

Saini Pati Shah & Co LLP, Chartered Accountants

Mumbai

CA Final

View Details
Company
ARTICLESHIP 17 October 2026
Articled Assistant

RRPM & Associates LLP

Chennai

CA Inter

View Details
Company
08 October 2026
Account Executive

Elite Taxation

New Delhi

CA Foundation

View Details
Company
14 October 2026
Accountant

Rize.farm

Bengaluru

B.Com

View Details
Company
10 October 2026
Accounts Associate Level 1

Abic and Mani Chartered Accountants

Kottayam

B.Com

View Details