Education sector is one of the most important sectors in the Indian Economy in terms of the quantum of finances involved. Taxation on educational institutions has always been a matter of various issues and disputes. I am summarizing below the provisions under the Service Tax Laws as applicable to Educational Institutions as amended by Finance Bill 2013.
There are 2 types of tax provisions in terms of educational institutions under the service tax laws.
There are different provisions for above 2 cases. In this article I will try to summarize the provisions relating to Services Provided by the Educational Institutions.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Generally educational institutions collects charges and fees under different heads from the students and other persons. Broadly these heads can be illustrated as below.
I am examining the applicability of service tax on such charges under various provisions of service tax law.
DEFINITION OF SERVICE
In the Finance Act 2012, for the first time term “service” has been defined in the act :
[Section 65b(44)]
“Service means any ACTIVITY carried out by a person for another for CONSIDERATION, and includes a DECLARED SERVICE, but shall not include;
(a) An activity which constitutes MERELY,
(i) A transfer of title in GOODS or IMMOVABLE PROPERTY, by way of sale, gift or in any other manner; or
(ii) Such transfer, delivery or supply of any goods which is deemed to be sale within the meaning of clause (29A) of article 366 of the Constitution, or
(iii) A transaction in money or ACTIONABLE CLAIM
(b) A provision of service by an employee to the employer in the course of or in relation to his employment.
(c) Fees taken in any court or tribunal established under any law for the time being in force.
The educational services provided by educational institutions clearly fall within the ambit of definition of Service. For detailed analysis of Definition of Service, you can refer to my earlier article by following this link (Click Here)
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN THE NEGATIVE LIST
Negative list of service tax signifies the services on which Service Tax is not Chargeable.
As per Section 66D clause (L), which governs the Negative List, following entry appears;
(i) Pre-school education and education upto higher secondary school or equivalent.
(ii) Education as a part of curriculum for obtaining a qualification recognized by any law for the time being in force.
(iii) Education as a part of an approved vocational education course.
Definition Of Education
The term “Education” has not been defined in the Service Tax Laws. So, we should go by the dictionary meaning and general meaning of this term.
As per www.dictionary.com the word “Education” means:
1. The act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoningand judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
2. The act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession.
3. A degree, level, or kind of schooling: a university education.
4. The result produced by instruction, training, or study: to show one’s education.
5. The science or art of teaching; pedagogics.
Thus, the term Education is a term of wide range and it should be understood in a wide manner.
ANALYSIS OF CLAUSE (L) IN NEGATIVE LIST – SEC. 66D
Clause (L) of Negative List
Implication
In above clauses, clause (i) and (ii) are more or less self explanatory but clause (iii) covers approved vocational education course which requires further analysis as below.
Meaning of Approved Vocational Education Course
Definition before Enactment of Finance Bill 2013
Definition after enactment of Finance Bill 2013
Now if we go through the charges collected by educational institutions, such fees which is charged in respect of educational services as specified in clause (l) of negative list will not be charged to service tax. Going by the wider meaning of “education” charges relating to Admission Fees, Tuition Fees, Examination Fees, Computer Fees and Digital Classroom Fees falls into the negative list and are not subject to charge of service tax.
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN THE EXEMPTION LIST
Service Tax notification No. 25/2012 dated 20-06-2012 as amended by Service Tax Notification No. 03/2013 dated 01-03-2013 covers all the exemption available under the Service Tax Provisions. Point numbers. 4, 8, 9, 18, 19, 23 and 35 in said notification covers the exemptions relevant to Educational Institutions in respect of services provided by them.
I am trying to summarize all the exemptions available to Educational Institutions as Service Providers under these respective points.
POINT NO. 4 OF MEGA EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION
Services by an entity registered under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act
By way of Charitable Activities
Relevant Definitions
“Charitable Activities”
Clause (k) of Definitions part of mega exemption notification defines this term “Charitable Activities” as follows. (As amended on 01-03-2013)
“Charitable Activities” means activities relating to –
(i) public health by way of –
(a) care or counseling of
(i) terminally ill persons or persons with severe physical or mental disability
(ii) persons afflicted with HIV or AIDS, or
(iii) persons addicted to a dependence-forming substance such as narcotics drugs or alcohol; or
(b) public awareness of preventive health, family planning or prevention of HIV infection;
(ii) advancement of religion or spirituality;
(iii) advancement of educational programmes or skill development relating to,-
(a) abandoned, orphaned or homeless children;
(b) physically or mentally abused and traumatized persons;
(d) persons over the age of 65 years residing in a rural area;
Important Points :
POINT NO. 8 OF MEGA EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION
Training or Coaching
Arts, Culture or Sports
Important Points
POINT NO. 18 OF MEGA EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION
Hotel, inn, guest house, club, campsite or other commercial places
Residential or lodging purpose
Having declared tariff
of a unit of accommodation
below ruppes one thousand per day
Meaning Of Relevant Terms
Section 65B(41) of the Finance Act defines “Renting” as
“renting” means allowing, permitting or granting access, entry, occupation, use or any such facility, wholly or partly, in an immovable property, with or without the transfer of possession or control of the said immovable property and includes letting, leasing, licensing or other similar arrangements in respect of immovable property.
“Declared Tariff”
Clause (n) of Definitions part of Mega Exemption Notification defines “Declared Tariff” as under
“Declared Tariff” Includes charges for all amenities provided in the unit of accommodation (given on rent for stay) like furniture, air conditioner, refrigerators or any other amenities, but without excluding any discount offered on the published charges for such unit.
Important Points
However, here it is worthwhile to mention the Point No. 9 of the Mega Exemption Notification.
POINT NO. 9 OF MEGA EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION
An Educational Institution
In respect of Education
Exempted from Service Tax
(a) Auxiliary educational services
(b) Renting of immovable property
Important Points
CLAUSE (M) OF NEGATIVE LIST – SECTION 66D
Here, it is also worthwhile to mention the clause (m) of Section 66D which covers negative list under Service Tax.
(m) Services by way of renting of residential dwelling for use as residence.
Thus, the renting of a residential dwelling for use of residence is covered under negative list and is not chargeable to service tax.
By virtue of this point, the charges collected by educational institutions from Staff Quarters will not be chargeable under Service Tax.
POINT NO. 19 OF MEGA EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION
Services Provided in relation to
Serving of Food or Beverages
A Restaurant, eating joint or a mess
Other than those having
The facility of air-conditioning or
Central air heating in
any part of establishment
At any time during the year.
Important Points
POINT NO. 23 OF MEGA EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION
Transport of Passengers,
With or without accompanied belongings
(i) Air embarking from or terminating in an airport located in the state of Arunanchal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, or Tripura or a Bagdogra located in West Bengal.
(ii) A contract carriage for the transportation of passengers, excluding tourism, conducted tour, charter or hire; or
Meaning Of Relevant Terms
“Contract Carriage”
Clause (m) of Definitions part of mega exemption notification defines “Contract Carriage” as
“Contract Carriage” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (7) of section 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988)
“Contract Carriage”
As per Section 2(7) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
Contract Carriage means a motor vehicle which
Carries a passenger or passengers
for hire or reward
and is engaged under a contract,
whether express or implied,
for the use of such vehicle as a whole
for the carriage of passengers
entered into by a person with a holder of a permit in relation to such vehicle
or any other person authorized by him
in this behalf on a fixed or an agreed rate or sum –
(a) On a time basis, whether or not with reference to any route or distance; or
(b) From one point to another
And in either case,
without stopping to pick up or set down passengers not included in the contract
anywhere during the journey and includes
(i) A maxi cab, and
(ii) A motor cab notwithstanding that separate fares are charged for its passengers;
Important Points
Generally, the transport facilities provided by educational institutions satisfies all the above conditions and they generally fall into the definition of “Contract Carriage”. Thus by virtue of this point, the transport facility provided by educational institutions to its students and staff will be exempt.
However, there is a fine exception here.
If we again look at the clause (ii) of point no. 23 of mega exemption notification, there is a exclusion in the point which is highlighted below.
Clause (ii) : A contract carriage for the transportation of passengers, excluding tourism, conducted tour, charter or hire;
It means that Contract carriage used for tourism, conducted tour, charter or hire cannot claim the benefit of exemption under this point, and they will have to pay service tax on such receipts.
Normally, there are cases, where an education institution takes its students for tour under tour packages using the services of Contract Carriage, and charges separately for such tour from the students. In my view, the Educational Institutions cannot claim the exemption from service tax on such charges received from students under this point no. 23.
POINT NO. 35 OF MEGA EXEMPTION NOTIFICATION
Services of Public Libraries
By way of lending of books, publications,
knowledge enhancing content or material
Important Points
CLAUSE (E) OF NEGATIVE LIST – SECTION 66D
Clause (e) of Section 66D – which is Negative List is as under
(e) Trading of Goods
I have tried to compile the provisions of Negative List and Mega Exemption Notification which are relevant to Educational Institutions considering the services which are generally provided by them. If there is an omission about any kind of service which is provided by such institutions, please let me know, I will try to update it in this article.
Amit Mundhra, FCA
Author is a member of ICAI and can be reached at [email protected]
Disclaimer: The views express here in above are based on author’s interpretation of law, which may differ from case to case and person to person. Views expressed above are neither intended nor liable to be used as professional advice or a legal opinion in any manner. The author or publisher is not responsible for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work or for any error or omission to any person.
