Overarching circular on service tax by mid-June-07

The government would issue a comprehensive circular clarifying ambiguities over nearly 100 services in the service tax net by mid-June, the source of which would be the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) and not the director-general of service tax, board member PC Jha said on Wednesday. Addressing mediapersons at an Assocham seminar, Mr Jha said, “The government is aware of inconveniences that trade and business have been facing on the service tax front. The comprehensive circular would replace all the present circulars and would enable taxpayers to access all required information in a detailed and simplified manner.” The government has withdrawn 48 circulars issued since 1994 and efforts are on to clarify all issues related to service tax.