The GoI (Govt. of India) has recommended 2 methods for levy of service tax. Service Providers are free to choose any one method but need to stick to that method of valuation of service tax for the rest of the financial year.
Method 1:
A service tax of 10.3% is to be levied on the spread that a service provider charges on the RBI reference rate. Hence the Taxable Value is valuated as follows: (RBI published interbank rate – Rate of Conversion charged by the bank) * Units of foreign Exchange.
Method 2 :
The method 2 is a slab wise calculation of the INR value of the amount remitted. The slabs prescribed are as follows:
(a) 0.1 per cent. of the gross amount of currency exchanged for an amount up to rupees 100,000, subject to the minimum amount of rupees 25; and
(b) Rs. 100 and 0.05 per cent. of the gross amount of currency exchanged for an amount of rupees exceeding rupees 100,000 and up to rupees 10,00,000; and
(c) Rs. 550 and 0.01 per cent. of the gross amount of currency exchanged for an amount of rupees exceeding 10,00,000, subject to maximum amount of rupees 5000:
In addition education cess @ 3% will be levied on the service tax. The table below summarizes the Method 2 of valuation
With the complexity of implementing the first method, most service providers have chosen to go with the second method. In the second method, the maximum service tax applicable is capped at Rs. 5,150.
Taking Method 2 as the basis for calculation, let’s take three scenarios to assess how to calculate this. The rate of exchange assumed for each of these transactions is 45 (1 USD = Rs. 45)
Scenario 1 : You remit USD 500
Equivalent INR Amount: INR 22,500
Service tax applicable: INR 25.75
Amount you will actually get: INR 22,474.25
Scenario 2 : You remit USD 10,000
Equivalent INR Amount: INR 4, 50,000
Service tax applicable: INR 283.25
Calculation Methodology:
Rs.100 + 0.05 %*( 3, 50,000) = Rs. 100 + Rs. 175 = Rs. 275
With applicable cess: Rs. 283.25
Scenario 3 : You remit USD 10,00,000
Equivalent INR Amount: INR 4, 50, 00, 000
Service tax applicable: INR 5,150