Sri lanka: Service Tax - Be alert!

 

SERVICE TAX - VERY INFORMATIVE                            About Service Tax..... How the restaurants loot your money ... Be aware This happened at the restaurant. Let me explain.  We had been to several restaurants recently. I observed that  "service tax" has been mis-used and charged to the customers like you and me.  Let me give an example.  Food and Beverage =            Rs. 1000.00 Service  Charges @ 10% =    Rs.   100.00    (10% on the Food and beverage amount) Service Tax @ 4.94% =         Rs.     54.34    (4.94% on F&B + Service Charges) VAT @14.5% =                      Rs.   145.00 Total =                                    Rs. 1299.34  As per the definition - "Service Tax can be charged only for the services provided to the customer".  Now, see what is happening here in the above said  example.  Service Tax should be charged only on the Service Charges amount i.e Rs.100 and not on the entire amount (1000+100).  In this example, the customer should be charged only Rs 4.94, whereas he has been charged Rs. 49.00 extra.  Where does this money go? Only the restaurant owner and the chartered accountants who work for them know  So, I have started asking them the questions - and surprised to see the  reactions from the famous restaurants. Either they say: Sir we cannot change the format of the bill - so , we will recalculate and  tell you the revised amount. You may pay only that.  Sir, you do not need to pay the Service Tax amount itself. I now have 3 to 4 restaurant bills, for which I have paid only the service tax - on the service charges and not on the total amount. Every bill must carry the TIN number and Service Tax  Number, if they charge it. So, I ask for the Service tax number if it is  not available in the receipt that they provide.  We cannot go to any  government official and ask them to get this right - because of our  system.  Please remember - we cannot change any political leader - but we  can change ourselves. If we change ourselves - things will change.  Please do share this with every one of your friends and known people.  Ask for the right tax calculation and pay only the tax which is supposed to be paid. Verify every bill and receipt that you make payment on.