Setting-up of ‘Taxpayers Lounge’ at the IITF – 2015

Setting-up of ‘Taxpayers Lounge’ at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) – 2015

CBDT to set-up a ‘Taxpayers’ Lounge’ at the India International Trade Fair – 2015 to Highlight the Various Taxpayer-Friendly Initiatives Taken by the Department Among Others

The Income Tax Department will be setting-up a ‘Taxpayers’ Lounge’ at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) – 2015 at Pragati Maidan, in national capital from 14th to 27th November, 2015.

The theme of the Taxpayers’ Lounge this year would follow the theme of IITF 2015 i.e. ‘Make in India’ and aims to generate awareness in the public about the various taxpayer-friendly initiatives taken by the Department. Besides it, various tax payers services would also be provided at the Taxpayers’ Lounge for the benefit of people at large including e-filing of returns, viewing of tax credit through 26AS, applications for PAN and services of Tax Return Preparers among others. Services delivered at Ayakar Seva Kendras (ASK) will also be showcased to the public. The Lounge will also highlight the contribution of taxes and the Income Tax Department to nation building. Activities such as Nukkad Natak, Drawing Competition and Quiz Contest will be carried-out to engage with school children and youth, who are potential taxpayers of the future. The Lounge will also feature live caricatures by Shri B. Sajiv, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax.

The Taxpayers’ Lounge will be inaugurated at Hall 12, Pragati Maidan on 14th November, 2015 at 4.00 pm by Ms. Anita Kapur, Chairperson,Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in the presence of senior officials of CBDT and the Income Tax Department.

Heavy Rains Expected over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamilnadu, Pudducherry and Kerala over next four days

Heavy Rains Expected over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamilnadu, Pudducherry and Kerala over next four days

A low pressure area is expected to form over southeast Bay of Bengal & neighbourhood by tomorrow.

Heavy rain occurs at isolated places over south Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamilnadu, Pudducherry and Kerala today.

Heavy rain would occur tomorrow at isolated places over south Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu & Pondicherry.

Heavy to very heavy rains are expected on Sunday at a few places over Tamilnadu & Puducherry and heavy rains at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Kerala.

On Monday, the Indian Meteorological Department predicted that Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few places, with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Tamilnadu & Puducherry. Heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places are also expected over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and heavy over Rayalaseema, South Interior Karnataka and Kerala.

The Indian Meteorological Department issued a warning for very heavy or extremely heavy rains for the coming Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for Tamilnadu & Puducherry and for Coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

On 17th November too, heavy to very heavy rain to occur at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Tamilnadu & Puducherry and Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Heavy to very heavy rain are expected at isolated places over Rayalaseema and heavy over South Interior Karnataka & Kerala.

Source: PIB News

Anubhav : Retiring officers to write note on their achievements

Anubhav : Retiring officers to write note on their achievements

Retiring officers to write note on their achievements

In another new initiative “Anubhav”, inspired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has advised officers retiring within a period of six months to leave behind a note or write-up on their achievements as well as outstanding work done by them which could have, according to them, contributed to efficient functioning of the government or any innovation introduced by them which could have led to improvement in work culture.

Disclosing this here today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that “Anubhav” will serve as a platform for retiring employees to showcase achievements made by them during their service tenure. While the retiring employees can look back with satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment, the written account left by them could serve as a vital database for future improvement, he added.

Ministry of Personnel has, through a circular dated November 5, 2015, sought to reiterate and remind all the Ministries and Departments to follow up this initiative seriously. The Link to “Anubhav” Portal is available on the homepage of Department’s website at http://persmin.nic.in → DoP&T → Anubhav, he informed and added that initially this facility is available only to retiring Central Government employees including Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and Central Secretariat Stenographers Services (CSSS) officials.

Earlier, on the advice of Prime Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that DoPT had also introduced a new practice of senior IAS officers who had put in nearly 25 to 30 years of service to revisit the place of their first posting as District Collectors or SDMs and furnish feedback about the change over the years as visualized by them. The DoPT and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG) are infact the Research & Development (R&D) organs of the government and not merely responsible for carrying out only transfers, promotions and empanelments. To this extent, he expressed satisfaction that during the last 17 months of the present government, a number of new reforms have been introduced with regard to recruitment in Services, Pension Department, IAS/Civil Services training and other areas.

Dr. Jitendra Singh complimented Union Secretary, DoPT, Shri Sanjay Kothari and Union Secretary, AR&PG, Shri Devendra Choudhary for their proactive approach which motivated the entire team of officers to carry forward the new initiatives.

Source: PIB News

New Rail Refund Rules came into effect from 12.11.2015

New Rail Refund Rules came into effect from 12.11.2015

Indian Railways today modified the refund system for train passengers. With accordance with the new refund rules, passengers will have to pay double for cancelling tickets.

As per the rule, the first AC or executive class has been increased from Rs 120 to Rs 240, for second AC or First Class the cancellation charge has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 200 and for the Third AC/ ACC/3A economy goes up to Rs 180 from Rs 90.

Read the complete order issued by the Railway Board today

Amendments in the certain provisions of Refund Rules – Comprehensive Refund Rules.

Amendments in the certain provisions of Refund Rules have been made and Comprehensive Refund Rule shall be notified through Gazette Notification.

This will come into effect from 12.11.2015

The changes in the refund rule wherever required should be carried out in manual ticketing system and in PRS, UTS, SPTMs etc.

Special arrangements should be made to ensure that necessary instructions and the revised refund rules reach the staff well in time. Steps should also be taken to ensure that the staff fully understand these changes in the refund rule and implement them properly.

Wide publicity should be given through media at regular intervals and the same may also be displayed prominently at all stations at booking/reservation counters. Action should also be taken to make changes in Passenger Information Systems at all places including Enquiry office etc.

In case of any disparity in English and Hindi version, the English version shall prevail.

Source: http://irctcnews.net/

Swachh Bharat Cess : 50 paisa only on every one hundred rupees worth of taxable services - effect from 15th November 2015

Swachh Bharat Cess : 50 paisa only on every one hundred rupees worth of taxable services - effect from 15th November 2015

Clarifications on Swachh Bharat Cess

Swachh Bharat Cess will come into effect from 15th November 2015, at the rate of 0.5% on all services, which are presently liable to service tax. This will translate into a tax of 50 paisa only on every one hundred rupees worth of taxable services. The proceeds from this cess will be used for financing and promoting Swachh Bharat initiatives.

Some doubts are being raised with respect to the levy of Swachh Bharat Cess, such as,-

(i) what would be Swachh Bharat Cess on services where service tax is being paid under the alternative rates of service tax?

(ii) what would be the value of taxable services for computation of Swachh Bharat Cess?

(iii) whether reverse charge mechanism would apply for the levy of Swachh Bharat Cess?

(iv) what would be the point of taxation for Swachh Bharat Cess ?

In this regard, it is clarified that answers to the above queries are in the provisions of sub-section (5) of Section 119 of the Finance Act, 2015 by which all the provisions of service tax as contained in Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1994 have been made applicable to Swachh Bharat Cess. It is, thus, very clear that all the provisions including those related to computation of taxable value, assessment, exemption, payment, penalty applicable to service tax would also apply in respect of Swachh Bharat Cess.

Service tax is presently levied at alternative rates in respect of service provided by air travel agents, life insurance service, service in relation to sale/purchase of foreign exchange including money changing and service by lottery distributors/selling agents, subject to fulfilment of conditions prescribed under the Service Tax Rules. Option has been provided for levy of Swachh Bharat Cess also at alternative rates in respect of the above mentioned services. The alternate rate of Swachh Bharat Cess would be:

Service Tax Liability (at the alternate rate) X 0.5/14.

As regards the taxable value for the levy of Swachh Bharat Cess, it would be the same on which service tax is levied. Swachh Bharat Cess would be calculated on abated value or value arrived at under the Service Tax (Determination of Value) Rules, 2006, as the case may be. For example, the effective Swachh Bharat Cess in respect of services provided in relation to serving of food or beverages by a restaurant, eating joint or a mess, having the facility of air–conditioning or central air-heating in any part of the establishment, would be 0.5% of 40% i.e 0.2%. The cumulative service tax and Swachh Bharat Cess liability would be 5.8% (14.5% of 40%) of the total amount charged.

Similarly, a person liable to pay service tax on reverse charge basis would be laible to pay Swachh Bharat Cess also on reverse charge basis. As regards Point of Taxation, since this levy has come for the first time and all services (except those services which are in the Negative List or are wholly exempt from service tax) are being taxed, it is a new levy, which was not in existence earlier. Rule 5 of Point of Taxation Rules would be applicable in this case. Therefore, in case where payment has been received and invoice is raised before the service becomes taxable, i.e., prior to 15th November, 2015, there is no lability of Swachh Bharat Cess. In case payment has been received before the service became taxable and invoice is raised within 14 days, i.e. upto 29th November, 2015, even then the service tax liability does not arise. Swachh Bharat Cess will be payable on services which are provided on or after 15th Nov, 2015, invoice in respect of which is issued on or after that date and payment is also received on or after that date. Swachh Bharat Cess will also be payable where service is provided on or after 15th Nov, 2015 but payment is received prior to that date and invoice in respect of such service is not issued by 29th Nov, 2015.

Thus, it may be seen that all issues relating to Swachh Bharat Cess are addressed in the Service Tax provisions itself by virtue of the applicability of Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1994 and the rules made thereunder.

Source: PIB News