Taxability of services provided in relation to remittance of money to India from overseas

Last updated: 16 October 2015

Notice Date : 14 October 2015

[TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (i)]

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Excise and Customs

Notification No. 19/2015-Service Tax

New Delhi, the 14th October, 2015

22 Asvina 1937 Saka

G.S.R. (E).- Whereas, the Central Government is satisfied that in the period commencing on and from the 1st day of July, 2012 and ending with the 13th day of October, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the said period) according to a practice that was generally prevalent, there was nonlevy of service tax on the services provided by an Indian Bank or other entity acting as an agent to the Money Transfer Service Operators (hereinafter referred to as MTSO), in relation to remittance of foreign currency from outside India to India (hereinafter referred to as the said practice), and this service was liable to service tax, which was not being paid according to the said practice.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11C of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) as made applicable to like matters in Service Tax vide section 83 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), the Central Government hereby directs that the service tax payable under section 66B of the Finance Act, 1994, on the service provided by an Indian Bank or other entity acting as an agent to the MTSO in relation to remittance of foreign currency from outside India to India, in the said period, but for the said practice, shall not be required to be paid.

(Himani Bhayana)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

[F.No. 137/51/2014-Service Tax]