Tax Management India. Com
Law and Practice  :  Digital eBook
Research is most exciting & rewarding
  TMI - Tax Management India. Com
Follow us:
  Facebook   Twitter   Linkedin   Telegram
Tax Updates - TMI e-Newsletters

Home e-Newsletters Index Year 2014 January Day 8 - Wednesday

TMI e-Newsletters FAQ
You need to Subscribe a package.

Newsletter: Where Service Meets Reader Approval.

TMI Tax Updates - e-Newsletter
January 8, 2014

Case Laws in this Newsletter:

Income Tax Customs Service Tax Central Excise CST, VAT & Sales Tax Indian Laws



Articles

1. FORMS/RETURNS TO BE SUBMITTED/FILED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF FINANCE ACT, 1994

   By: DR.MARIAPPAN GOVINDARAJAN

Summary: The Finance Act, 1994 mandates the submission of various forms and returns related to service tax. Key forms include ST-1 for registration, ST-3 for half-yearly returns, and ST-4 to ST-7 for appeals. Additional forms cover provisional tax payments (ST-3A), refund applications (Form R, Form A), and advance rulings (AAR ST-1). The Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES) requires forms VCES-1 to VCES-3. Export-related forms include Form A-1 to A-4 and EXP-1 to EXP-4. Specific forms are designated for SEZ units, dispute resolution, and settlement applications. These forms ensure compliance and facilitate various tax-related processes.

2. Clarification on availing excise duty exemption on substantial expansion by existing unit in J&K

   By: Bimal jain

Summary: The Central Board of Excise & Customs clarified that an existing unit in Jammu & Kashmir, which has previously availed excise duty exemptions under Notifications No. 56/2002-CE and 57/2002-CE through substantial expansion, can again avail such exemptions under Notification No. 1/2010-CE for a second substantial expansion, provided it meets the specified conditions. A query was raised regarding whether two units within the same premises manufacturing different products under the 56/2002 notification would be considered the same or different for exemption purposes. Further clarification on the term "substantial expansion" was requested.


News

1. India And Korea Share A Common Vision Towards Building An Equitable And Just Politico-Economic International Order: FM

Summary: India and Korea aim to build a fair international politico-economic order, strengthening their strategic partnership based on historical ties and shared democratic values. During the 4th India-Korea Finance Ministerial Meeting, discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, and financial sectors. India highlighted its economic resilience and reforms to attract investment, while both countries agreed on boosting bilateral trade through agreements like the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. They also discussed improving public procurement systems, financial management, and taxation cooperation. Future collaborations include infrastructure development and joint research initiatives, with plans for the next ministerial meeting in Korea.

2. Rules Regarding the Salaries, Allowances, etc. of the Chairperson and Other Members of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal Notified

Summary: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has announced the 2014 rules regarding the salaries and allowances for the Chairperson and other members of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, under the Companies Act 2013. The Chairperson will receive a fixed monthly salary of Rs. 90,000, along with allowances similar to those of an officer in the Cabinet Secretary's Scale. Judicial or Technical Members will have a fixed salary of Rs. 80,000, with allowances akin to an officer in the Apex Scale. These rules follow the 2013 notification concerning the National Company Law Tribunal's salary structure.

3. RBI’s Financial Literacy Material for Bankers Now in Regional Languages

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released financial literacy materials, including a guide, diary, and 16 posters, in Bengali, Kannada, Telugu, and Urdu for use by banks and stakeholders. Previously, similar materials were made available in Hindi and English. Banks are instructed to utilize these resources during financial literacy camps according to RBI guidelines. They can obtain printed materials through the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) of their respective states. Financial literacy materials in Assamese, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, and Tamil will be available soon.

4. RBI Working Paper Series 1: Regulation Must keep Pace with Changing Dynamics of Commodities Market

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India's Working Paper investigates the impact of financialisation, global liquidity, and fundamental factors on global commodity price inflation. It highlights that both speculative trading and emerging market demand contribute to price inflation. The study finds private liquidity to be inflationary, unlike official liquidity, due to central banks' interventions post-2008 financial crisis. The paper emphasizes the need for evolving regulations in commodity futures markets, beyond just OTC market reforms. It also suggests monitoring global private liquidity and enhancing supply-side responses to address inflationary pressures. The research uses a Vector Auto Regression framework to analyze these dynamics.

5. RBI Reference Rate for US $ and Euro

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India set the reference rate for the US dollar at Rs.62.2430 and for the Euro at Rs.84.8185 on January 8, 2014. The previous day's rates were Rs.62.3790 for the US dollar and Rs.84.9720 for the Euro. The exchange rate for the British Pound was Rs.102.1719, down from Rs.102.2454, and for 100 Japanese Yen, it was Rs.59.34, down from Rs.59.71. The Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to Rupee rate will be determined based on these reference rates.

6. RBI releases Report of the Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Business and Low Income Households

Summary: The Reserve Bank of India has released a report from the Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Business and Low Income Households for public feedback. Key recommendations include a universal bank account for all Indians over eighteen, a differentiated banking system with relaxed entry norms, and an adjusted priority sector lending target of 50%. The report suggests regulatory convergence between banks and NBFCs, a State Finance Regulatory Commission, and specific regulations for small businesses. Public comments are invited by January 24, 2014.


Notifications

Central Excise

1. 01/2014-CX - dated 8-1-2014 - CE (NT)

CENVAT Credit (First Amendment) Rules, 2014.

Summary: The CENVAT Credit (First Amendment) Rules, 2014, effective from January 8, 2014, amend the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004. Key changes include the removal of an explanation following the proviso to sub-rule (5B) in Rule 3 and the insertion of additional words in sub-rule (5C) regarding CENVAT credit on input services. Two new explanations are added: one specifies the payment deadline for amounts payable under sub-rules (5), (5A), (5B), and (5C), and the other outlines the recovery process if the manufacturer or service provider fails to make the required payments.


Circulars / Instructions / Orders

FEMA

1. Press Note No. 1 (2014 Series) - dated 8-1-2014

Review of the existing policy on Foreign Direct Investment in the Pharmaceuticals Sector.

Summary: The Government of India reviewed its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in the pharmaceuticals sector, maintaining the existing framework. Under this policy, 100% FDI is permitted in greenfield projects automatically, while brownfield investments require government approval. The review introduced a stipulation that 'non-compete' clauses in brownfield projects are generally disallowed unless approved by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board under special circumstances. This decision is effective immediately, as communicated by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion.


Highlights / Catch Notes

    Income Tax

  • Section 53A: Vendor/Landlord Loses Rights If Construction Exceeds 30-Month Period Plus 6-Month Grace.

    Case-Laws - AT : When time is essence of the contract, and the time schedule is 30 months to complete construction with additional grace period of 6 months, it cannot be said that such a contract confers any rights on the vendor/landlord to seek redressal under Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act - AT

  • Disallowance u/s 40(a)(ia): JV for government contracts not a subcontract with its constituents u/s 194C.

    Case-Laws - AT : Disallowance u/s 40(a)(ia) - TDS u/s 194C - There is no sub-contract between JV and the constituents and since the JV has been formed only to procure contract works from the Government and the contract is being executed by the constituent partners in their sharing ratio 60:40 as per the terms of JV, it cannot be said that the JV is a contractor and its constituents are sub-contractors - AT

  • Poultry Feed Industry Recognized as Manufacturing u/s 80IB(4) of Income Tax Act, Not Non-Manufacturing.

    Case-Laws - AT : Once the Central Govt. accepted in principle that poultry feed is an eligible industry u/s 80IB(4); then the very same industry cannot be considered as non manufacturing industry under sub sections (3) and (5) of Sec 801B - AT

  • Court Rules Unexplained Cash Credit Valid; Large Withdrawal Assumptions Without Evidence Deemed Incorrect.

    Case-Laws - AT : Unexplained cash credit - To presume huge withdrawal was spent by the assessee in the absence of any evidence of its utilization would be a wrong presumption - deposit of cash accepted as duly explained - AT

  • Assessing Officer's Inconsistent Capital Gains Approach: LTCG Loss Disallowed, CIT(A) Fails to Address Issue.

    Case-Laws - AT : Disallowance of Long Term Capital Loss – AO cannot accept the sale price for purpose of computation of STCG and reject for computation of LTCG - CIT(A) is silent on this divergence/ inconsistency - AT

  • Customs

  • High Court Rules Additional Month Wait for Palm Oil Goods Release Not Unreasonable in Customs Detention Case.

    Case-Laws - HC : Detention of goods - Import of palm oil - when the appellant could wait for a period of three months there is no difficulty for it to wait for another one month and so - HC

  • Dispute Over Assessable Value of Imports: Department's Failure to Consider Royalty Impact on Pricing Raises Concerns.

    Case-Laws - AT : Determination of assessable value of the goods imported - No effort was made by the Department to ascertain enhancement of royalty/licence fees by reducing the price of the imported items - AT

  • Service Tax

  • Service Tax Paid with Interest Pre-Show Cause Notice; No Penalty u/ss 76, 77, or 78 Imposed.

    Case-Laws - AT : Penalty under Section 76, 77 or 78 - respondents got themselves registered with the Revenue suo motu and paid the service tax along with interest before the issue of the show cause notice - no penalty - AT

  • Cenvat Credit Denied: Dismantling a Plant Not an Input Service Due to Lack of Tangible Output.

    Case-Laws - AT : Disallowance of Cenvat credit - dismantling of plant by no stretch of imagination can be held to be input service. Normally input gives rise to tangible output without ending in no output. - AT

  • Pasteurization of milk is classified as manufacturing, exempting it from service tax under business auxiliary services.

    Case-Laws - AT : Business auxiliary services - Pasteurisation of milk - prima facie process of pasteurisation is a manufacturing activity not liable to service tax - AT


Case Laws:

  • Income Tax

  • 2014 (1) TMI 351
  • 2014 (1) TMI 350
  • 2014 (1) TMI 349
  • 2014 (1) TMI 348
  • 2014 (1) TMI 347
  • 2014 (1) TMI 346
  • 2014 (1) TMI 345
  • 2014 (1) TMI 344
  • 2014 (1) TMI 343
  • 2014 (1) TMI 342
  • 2014 (1) TMI 341
  • 2014 (1) TMI 340
  • 2014 (1) TMI 339
  • 2014 (1) TMI 338
  • 2014 (1) TMI 337
  • 2014 (1) TMI 336
  • 2014 (1) TMI 335
  • 2014 (1) TMI 334
  • 2014 (1) TMI 333
  • 2014 (1) TMI 332
  • 2014 (1) TMI 331
  • 2014 (1) TMI 330
  • Customs

  • 2014 (1) TMI 369
  • 2014 (1) TMI 368
  • 2014 (1) TMI 367
  • 2014 (1) TMI 366
  • Service Tax

  • 2014 (1) TMI 363
  • 2014 (1) TMI 362
  • 2014 (1) TMI 361
  • 2014 (1) TMI 360
  • 2014 (1) TMI 359
  • 2014 (1) TMI 358
  • 2014 (1) TMI 357
  • 2014 (1) TMI 356
  • 2014 (1) TMI 355
  • 2014 (1) TMI 354
  • 2014 (1) TMI 353
  • 2014 (1) TMI 352
  • Central Excise

  • 2014 (1) TMI 329
  • 2014 (1) TMI 328
  • 2014 (1) TMI 327
  • 2014 (1) TMI 326
  • 2014 (1) TMI 325
  • 2014 (1) TMI 324
  • 2014 (1) TMI 323
  • 2014 (1) TMI 322
  • 2014 (1) TMI 321
  • 2014 (1) TMI 320
  • CST, VAT & Sales Tax

  • 2014 (1) TMI 364
  • Indian Laws

  • 2014 (1) TMI 365
 

Quick Updates:Latest Updates