In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with sub-section (2) of section 94 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Service Tax Rules, 1994, namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called the Service Tax (Amendment) Rules, 2015.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in these rules, they shall come into force on the 1st day of March, 2015.
2. In the Service Tax Rules, 1994,-
(a) in rule 2, in sub-rule (1),-
(i) after clause (a), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
˜(aa) aggregator means a person, who owns and manages a web based software application, and by means of the application and a communication device, enables a potential customer to connect with persons providing service of a particular kind under the brand name or trade name of the aggregator;’;
(ii) after clause (bc), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
˜(bca) brand name or trade name means, a brand name or a trade name, whether registered or not, that is to say, a name or a mark, such as an invented word or writing, or a symbol, monogram, logo, label, signature, which is used for the purpose of indicating, or so as to indicate a connection, in the course of trade, between a service and some person using the name or mark with or without any indication of the identity of that person;’;
(iii) in clause (d), in sub-clause (i),-
(I) after item (AA), the following item shall be inserted, namely:-
˜(AAA) in relation to service provided or agreed to be provided by a person involving an aggregator in any manner, the aggregator of the service:
Provided that if the aggregator does not have a physical presence in the taxable territory, any person representing the aggregator for any purpose in the taxable territory shall be liable for paying service tax;
Provided further that if the aggregator does not have a physical presence or does not have a representative for any purpose in the taxable territory, the aggregator shall appoint a person in the taxable territory for the purpose of paying service tax and such person shall be liable for paying service tax.’;
(II) in item (E), from such date as the Central Government may, by a notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, the word support shall be omitted;
(III) after item (EE), the following items shall be inserted with effect from the 1st day of April 2015, namely:-
(EEA) in relation to service provided or agreed to be provided by a mutual fund agent or distributor to a mutual fund or asset management company, the recipient of the service;
(EEB) in relation to service provided or agreed to be provided by a selling or marketing agent of lottery tickets to a lottery distributor or selling agent, the recipient of the service;;
(b) in rule 4,-
(i) sub-rule (1A) shall be omitted.
(ii) after sub-rule (8), the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely:-
(9) The registration granted under this rule shall be subject to such conditions, safeguards and procedure as may be specified by an order issued by the Board.;
(c) after rule 4B, the following rule shall be inserted, namely:-
4C. Authentication by digital signature-
(1) Any invoice, bill or challan issued under rule 4A or consignment note issued under rule 4B may be authenticated by means of a digital signature.
(2) The Board may, by notification, specify the conditions, safeguards and procedure to be followed by any person issuing digitally signed invoices.;
(d) in rule 5, after sub-rule (3), the following sub-rules shall be inserted, namely,-
(4) Records under this rule may be preserved in electronic form and every page of the record so preserved shall be authenticated by means of a digital signature.
(5) The Board may, by notification, specify the conditions, safeguards and procedure to be followed by an assessee preserving digitally signed records. Explanation For the purposes of rule 4C and sub-rule (4) and (5) of this rule,-
(i) The expression authenticate shall have the same meaning as assigned in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).
(ii) The expression digital signature shall have the meaning as defined in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000) and the expression digitally signed shall be construed accordingly.
(e) in rule 6,
(i) sub-rule (6A) shall be omitted, with effect from the date on which the Finance Bill, 2015, receives the assent of the President;
(ii) from such dates as the Central Government may, by a notification in the Official Gazette, appoint,-
(a) in sub-rule (7), for the figures 0.6% and 1.2 %, the figures and words 0.7 per cent. and 1.4 per cent. shall respectively be substituted;
(b) in sub-rule (7A), in clause (ii), for the figures and words 3 per cent. and 1.5 per cent., the figures and words 3.5 per cent. and 1.75 per cent. shall respectively be substituted;;
(c) in sub-rule (7B),-
(i) in item (a), for the figures and words 0.12 per cent and rupees 30³, the figures and words 0.14 per cent and rupees 35³ shall respectively be substituted;
(ii) in item (b), for the figures and words 120 and 0.06 per cent, the figures and words 140 and 0.07 per cent. shall be substituted;
(iii) in item (c), for the figures and words 660 and 0.012 per cent and rupees 6,000³, the figures and words 770 and 0.014 per cent and rupees 7,000³ shall respectively be substituted;
(d) in sub-rule (7C),-
(A) in the Table, in column (2),-
(i) against Sl. No. 1, for the figures 7000, the figures 8200 shall be substituted;
(ii) against Sl. No. 2, for the figures 11000, the figures 12800 shall be substituted;
(B) in the Explanation, item (i) shall be omitted, with effect from the date on which the Finance Bill, 2015, receives the assent of the President.
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