Sub : I) Revision of procedure for exemption of Service Tax for supplies to SEZ units vide notification No. 4/2004-Service Tax dated 31-3-2004.

II) Request to Department of Revenue for permitting Service Tax exemption for supplies to EOUs as well.

I) Department of Revenue had extended the facility of Service Tax exemption for supplies of services from DTA to SEZ units. Procedure for availing Service Tax exemption was notified vide Notification No. 17/2002-Service Tax dated 21-11-2002. However, this facility had not become operational because of the cumbersome procedure specified in this notification. As per the procedure specified in this notification, the taxable services had to be authorized to be rendered by the service provider by a committee headed by the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise.

In view of this problem, the issue had been discussed with Ministry of Commerce and Department of Revenue for simplifying the procedure. Ministry of Commerce had also taken up the issue with Department of Revenue. EPCES had taken up this issue with Department of Revenue in a meeting held with Member (Customs) on 6-10-2003. EPCES again had taken up the issue with Revenue Secretary in a meeting held on 17-12-2003.

Now, Department of Revenue has issued notification No. 4/2004-Service Tax dated 31-3-2004 wherein the procedure for availing Service Tax has been simplified considerably. As per the procedure, now notified, the Service Tax can be availed subject to the following conditions:-

(i) the developer has been approved by the Board of Approvals to develop, operate and maintain the Special Economic Zone.

(ii) The unit of the Special Economic Zone has been approved by the Development Commissioner or Board of Approvals, as the case may be, to establish the unit in the Special Economic Zone.

(iii) The developer or unit of a Special Economic Zone shall maintain proper account of receipt and utilization of the said taxable services.

This notification has simplified the procedure for Service Tax exemption and the requirement of approval by a committee headed by the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise has also been done away with. Copies of notification No. 17/2002-Service Tax dated 21-11-2002 and notification No. 4/2004-Service Tax dated 31-3-2004 are enclosed along with.

II) EPCES has represented to Ministry of Commerce and Department of Revenue that EOUs and SEZ units basically operate within the same parameters as both are operating within the Customs bonded premises. Hence, EPCES had requested Department of Revenue that EOUs should also be exempted from the payment of Service Tax as EOUs are entitled for exemption from all indirect taxes. This issue has been taken up with the Department of Revenue in a meeting held with Member (Customs) on 6-10-2003 and again in a meeting held with Revenue Secretary on 17-12-2003. Now EPCES is going to have a meeting with Shri A. K. Singh, Chairman, CBEC on 15-4-2004 and with Member (Customs) on 15-4-2004. EPCES will take up this issue in this meeting.

This is for your information please.

31st March, 2004
Notification No. 4 / 2004 - Service Tax

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 93 of the Finance Act, 1994 ( 32 of 1994) and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Finance and Company Affairs ( Department of Revenue), No. 17/2002-ServiceTax, dated the 21st November, 2002, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section ( i ) dated the 21st November, 2002, vide, G.S.R.777(E), dated the 21st November 2002, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession , the Central Government being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts taxable service of any description as defined in clause (90) of sub-section (1) of section 65 of the said Act provided to a developer of Special Economic Zone or a unit (including a unit under construction) of Special Economic Zone by any service provider for consumption of the services within such Special Economic Zone, from the whole of service tax leviable thereon under section 66 of the said Act, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the developer has been approved by the Board of Approvals to develop, operate and maintain the Special Economic Zone;

(ii) the unit of the Special Economic Zone has been approved by the Development Commissioner or Board of Approvals, as the case may be, to establish the unit in the Special Economic Zone;

(iii) the developer or unit of a Special Economic Zone shall maintain proper account of receipt and utilisation of the said taxable services.



Explanation .- For the purposes of this notification,-



(1) “ Board of Approvals ” means the combined Board of Approvals for export oriented unit and Special Economic Zone units, as notified in the Official Gazette, from time to time by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry;

(2)“ developer ” means a person engaged in development or operation or maintenance of Special Economic Zone, and also includes any person authorised for such purpose by any such developer;

(3)“ Special Economic Zone” means a zone specified as Special Economic Zone by the Central Government in the notification issued under clause (iii) of Explanation 2 to the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944).

V. Kezo
Under Secretary to the Government of India

F. No. 305/55/2003-FTT

21st November, 2002

Notification No.17/2002-Service Tax

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 93 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), the Central Government, being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts taxable service of any description as defined in clause (90) of sub-section (1) of section 65 of the said Act provided to a developer or units of Special Economic Zone by any service provider for the purposes of development, operation and maintenance of Special Economic Zone, or for setting up Special Economic Zone unit or for manufacture of goods by the Special Economic Zone unit, from the whole of the service tax leviable thereon under section 66 of the said Act subject to the following conditions, namely:-

(i) the developer or unit of a Special Economic Zone has been granted permission or authorisation by the Development Commissioner to develop, operate and maintain or establish the unit in the Special Economic Zone;

(ii) the said taxable service has been authorised to be rendered by the service provider, by a Committee headed by Chief Commissioner of Central Excise having jurisdiction over the said Special Economic Zone;

(iii) the developer or unit of a Special Economic Zone, shall maintain proper account of receipt and utilisation of said taxable services, and submit quarterly statement to the Commissioner of Central Excise, having jurisdiction over the concerned Special Economic Zone, in such form, as may be specified by him from time to time.

Explanation – For the purposes of this notification "Special Economic Zone" means the Special Economic Zone as notified by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Ajay Kumar Prasad
Director[CX]

F.No.137/19/2002-CX.4