Union finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives at Parliament to present the budget 2012-13, in New Delhi. PTI Photo by Shahbaz Khan
The negative list of services, on which the increased service tax of 12% will not be levied, include admission to
entertainment events, access to amusement facilities and travel by radio taxis and auto rickshaws.
Other important services which will not attract the tax include funeral, burial, mutate services and transport of deceased.
The service tax, according to the budget proposals of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, will be levied on all services which are not mentioned in the negative list.
In order to net about Rs. 1.24 lakh crore from the service tax during 2012-13, the minister has proposed to increase the rate of levy from 10% to 12%.
In addition to existing services which are subject to the service tax, the negative list clarified that the tax will be levied on travel by first class and in air conditioned rail coaches, transport of goods by a transportation and courier agencies.
As regards education, the service tax will not be levied on school, university education and approved vocational courses. The coaching classes and training institutions, however, will continue to be subject to the service tax.
In order to bring as many services as possible in the net, the government has come out with a very wide definition of service. With some exception, it has been defined service as "any activity carried out by a person for consideration".
The services sector account for about 59% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).