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2016 (3) TMI 355 - AAR - Service TaxTaxability of services - Classification - naturally bundled services or not - place of provision of services (POP Rules) - intermediary service or not - GoDaddy India Web Services Private Limited to provide support services in an integrated manner to assist GoDaddy US develop its brand in India, carry on its operations efficiently and serve customers in India - Held that:- the various support services proposed to be provided by the Applicant to GoDaddy US are a "bundle of Services" being naturally bundled in the ordinary course of business and accordingly is a single service, being business support service, in terms of Section 66F of the Finance Act. Applicability of POP Rules - proposed service to be provided by the applicant to GoDaddy US is business support service and not intermediary service in terms of Rule 2 (f) of POPS. - It is observed that said proposed service does not fall under any of the Rules of POPS but for Rule 3. Rule 3 of POPS inter-alia envisages that the place of provision of a service shall be the location of the recipient of service. The place of provision of business support service provided by the applicant, is outside India in terms of Rule 3 of the Place of Provision of Service Rules, 2012. - the services to be provided by the applicant to GoDaddy US would fall to be classified under Rule 3 of the Place of Provision of Services Rules, 2012 qualify as export of taxable services in terms of Rule 6A of the Service Tax Rules, 1994 (inserted vide Notification No. 36/2012-S.T. dated 20.6.2012) and therefore remain non-taxable for purpose of payment of service tax under the Finance Act. Further, applicant is not concerned in respect of services provided by GoDaddy US to Indian Customers, which relates to domain name registration, transfer services, web hosting services, designing services etc., In case, applicant was providing service to Indian Customers, he would have received "consideration" from Indian Customers. Fact is that no remuneration/consideration is received by the applicant from Indian Customers. Applicant is to only receive from GoDaddy US, a fee equal to the operating cost incurred by the applicant plus mark up of 13% on such costs. It is noticed that applicant is to receive said fees from GoDaddy US, even in respect of Indian Customers, who directly remit service charges to GoDaddy US through International Credit Card, wherein applicant is not in the picture. This fact further shows that the applicant is not providing any service to Indian Customs. GoDaddy US have used said services provided by the applicant as per the draft Service Agreement. Further, applicant would charge a fee equal to the operating costs incurred by the applicant plus a mark-up of 13% on such costs, which would be received by the applicant from GoDaddy US in US Dollars. The benefit of services provided by applicant accrues to GoDaddy US outside India. Activity is not liable to service tax - Decided in favor of applicant.
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