INDUSTRY BODIES TO BE TAXED

In a move that has stumped the four industry chambers - CII, FICCI, Assocham and PHDCCI - the service tax department has sought details of services offered and the amount of subscription charged by them, to ascertain their liability to pay service tax. Services provided by a club or an association to its members have been brought under the service tax net from June 2005. It has been pointed out that a "club or association" did not include any person or body of persons engaged in activities which were in the nature of a public service, and were of a charitable, religious or political nature.