COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI BANK N. A.

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A “65**** (105) “taxable service” means any service provided or to be provided- -------- ------- B “(zzzw) to any person, by any other person, in relation to credit card, debit card, charge card or other payment card service, in any manner;” Credit card service was thus separately included as a taxable service. At the same time, “service” was defined, through Section 65B C (44) (which begins with the expression, “for the purposes of this chapter”). The definition of service is as follows: “(44) “service” means any activity carried out by a person for another for consideration, and includes a declared service, but shall not include— D (a) an activity which constitutes merely,— (i) a transfer of title in goods or immovable property, by way of sale, gift or in any other manner; or E (ii) such transfer, delivery or supply of any goods which is deemed to be a sale within the meaning of clause (29A) of article 366 of the Constitution; or (iii) a transaction in money or actionable claim; F (b) a provision of service by an employee to the employer in the course of or in relation to his employment;” Section 65B (7) – defines “assessee” to mean “a person liable G to pay tax and includes his agent” and Section 65B (37) defines “person” as follows: “(37) “person” includes,— (i) an individual,

H (ii) a Hindu Undivided Family,

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(iii) a company, A (iv) a society, (v) A limited liability partnership, (vi) a firm, (vii) an association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, (viii) Government, (ix) a local authority, or (x) every artificial juridical person, not falling within any of the preceding sub- clauses;” “Declared services” are defined under Section 65B (22) to mean “any activity carried out by a person for another person for consideration and declared as such under Section 66E”. A service, therefore, to fall within the category of “declared services”, has to satisfy two basic conditions conjunctively: a. it must be an activity by one person to another for consideration b. it must be specified (i.e. declared) under Sec. 66E E

7. Long ago, in Govind Saran Ganga Saran v. Commissioner of Sales Tax20, this court held that the taxing statute identifies the subject of levy, or the taxing event;it then indicates the person on whom the levy is imposed - and who has to pay the tax; the third is the rate of the impost; and the last, is “the measure or value to which the rate will be applied for computing the tax liability.”21 It was observed F that:

20 1985 Supp SCC 205 21 Similarly, in Commissioner of Income Tax v B.C. Srinivasa Setty (1981) 2 SCC 460 this court highlighted that G “the charging section and the computation provisions together constitute an integrated code. When there is a case to which the computation provisions cannot apply at all, it is evident that such a case was not intended to fall within the charging section. Otherwise, one would be driven to conclude that while a certain income seems to fall within the charging section there is no scheme of computation for quantifying it.” H

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A “If those components are not clearly and definitely ascertainable, it is difficult to say that the levy exists in point of law. Any uncertainty or vagueness in the legislative scheme defining any of those components of the levy will be fatal to its validity.” B The various components that make up the levy of an indirect tax, such as excise duty, were described succinctly by this court in its nine- judge decision in Mafatlal Industries Ltd v. Union of India22: “116. The levy under the Excise Act is an indirect tax (duty). A duty of excise is levied on the manufacture or production of goods. Ordinarily, it is levied on the manufacturer or producer of goods. (Since the levy is in relation to or in connection with the manufacture or production of goods, it may be levied even at a point later than manufacture or production of the goods.) The duty levied will form part of the total cost of the manufacturer or producer. The levy being a component of the price for which the goods are sold, is ordinarily passed on to the customer. It is a matter of common knowledge that every prudent businessman will adjust his affairs in his best interests and pass on the duty levied or leviable on the commodity to the consumer. That is the presumption in law.” E In the context of service tax, this court had observed in Association of Leasing and Financial Service Companies v. Union of India23 that: “38…Today with technological advancement there is a very thin line which divides a “sale” from “service”. That, applying the principle of equivalence, there is no difference between production or manufacture of saleable goods and production of marketable/saleable services in the form of an activity undertaken by the service provider for consideration, which correspondingly stands consumed by the service receiver. It is this principle of equivalence which is inbuilt into the concept of service tax under the Finance Act, 1994.”

22 (1997) 5 SCC 536 23 H (2011) 2 SCC 352

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 519 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

The principle that the levy, under the Finance Act, is an indirect A tax, is brought home by Section 8324 which make certain provisions of the Central Excise Act applicable to the Finance Act, 1994. Section 12B of the latter Act, raises a presumption that the duty has been passed on to the buyer of goods (in this case, the customer or service recipient). 25 Scheme of the Act B

8. Service tax provisions under the Act are based, on the following scheme. Firstly, Section 65 defines and provides for taxable services. Section 66 is the charging provision: “66. Charge of service tax – There shall be levied a tax C (hereinafter referred to as the service tax) at the rate of twelve per cent. of the value of taxable services referred to in sub- clauses (a), (d), (e), (f), (g,) (h), (i), (j),(k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), (q), (r), (s), (t), (u), (v), (w), (x), (y), (z), (za), (zb), (zc), (zh), (zi), (zj), (zk),(zl), (zm), (zn), (zo), (zq), (zr), (zs), (zt), D (zu), (zv), (zw), (zx), (zy), (zz), (zza), (zzb), (zzc), (zzd), (zze), (zzf), (zzg), (zzh), (zzi), (zzk), (zzl), (zzm), (zzn), (zzo), (zzp), (zzq), (zzr), (zzs), (zzt), (zzu), (zzv), (zzw), (zzx), (zzy), (zzz), (zzza), (zzzb), (zzzc), (zzzd), (zzze), (zzzf), (zzzg,) (zzzh), (zzzi), (zzzj), (zzzk), (zzzl), (zzzm), (zzzn), (zzzo), (zzzp), (zzzq), (zzzr), (zzzs), (zzzt), (zzzu), (zzzv), (zzzw), (zzzx),(zzzy), (zzzz), (zzzza), E (zzzzb), (zzzzc), 2[(zzzzd), (zzzze), (zzzzf), (zzzzg), (zzzzh), (zzzzi), 3[(zzzzj), (zzzzk), (zzzzl), 4[(zzzzm), (zzzzn), (zzzzo), (zzzzp),(zzzzq) (zzzzr) (zzzzs) (zzzzt) 5[,(zzzzu), (zzzzv) (zzzzv) and (zzzzw)] of clause (105) of section 65 and collected in such manner as may be prescribed.” F

24 “SECTION 83. Application of certain provisions of Act 1 of 1944.— The provisions of the following sections of the Central Excise Act, 1944, as in force from time to time, shall apply, so far as may be, in relation to service tax as they apply in relation to a duty of excise :- sub-section (2A) of section 5A, sub-section(2) of section 9A, 9AA, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 11B, 11BB, 11C, 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, 14, 15, 15A, 15B, 31, 32, 32A to G 32P, 33A, 35EE, 34A, 35F, 35FF, to 35O (both inclusive), 35Q, 35R, 36, 36A, 36B, 37A, 37B, 37C, 37D, 38A and 40.” 25 “SECTION 12B. Presumption that the incidence of duty has been passed on to the buyer. — Every person who has paid the duty of excise on any goods under this Act shall, unless the contrary is proved by him, be deemed to have passed on the full incidence of such duty to the buyer of such goods.” H

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A On and from 01.07.2012, under Section 66-B, the tax was levied in the following manner: “66-B. Charge of service tax.— There shall be levied a tax (hereinafter referred to as the service tax) at the rate of [fourteen per cent] 26 on the value of all services, other than B those services specified in the negative list, provided or agreed to be provided in the taxable territory by one person to another and collected in such manner as may be prescribed.” Section 67 provides for the principles for determination of value of taxable service which is to be subjected to service tax. From 18.04.2006 C (w.e.f. 01.05.2006) this section reads as follows: “67. Valuation of taxable services for charging service tax (1) Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, service tax chargeable on any taxable service with reference to its value shall,- D (i) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration in money, be the gross amount charged by the service provider for such service provided or to be provided by him; (ii) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration not wholly or partly consisting of money, be E such amount in money, with the addition of service tax charged, is equivalent to the consideration; (iii) in a case where the provision of service is for a consideration which is not ascertainable, be the amount as may be determined in the prescribed manner. F (2) Where the gross amount charged by a service provider, for the service provided or to be provided is inclusive of service tax payable, the value of such taxable service shall be such amount as, with the addition of tax payable, is equal to the gross amount charged. G (3) The gross amount charged for the taxable service shall include any amount received towards the taxable service before, during or after provision of such service.

26 Substituted for “twelve per cent” by Finance Act, 2015 (20 of 2015), dt. 14.05.2014, H w.e.f. 01.06.2015 vide Noti. No. 14/2015-ST, dt. 19.05.2015.

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 521 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), A the value shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed Explanation.-For the purposes of this section,- 4[(a) “consideration” includes- B (i) any amount that is payable for the taxable services provided or to be provided; (ii) any reimbursable expenditure or cost incurred by the service provider and charged, in the course of providing or agreeing to provide a taxable service, except in such circumstances, and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed; (iii) any amount retained by the lottery distributor or selling agent from gross sale amount of lottery ticket in addition to the fee or commission, if any, or, as the case may be, the discount received, that is to say, the difference in the face value of lottery ticket and the price at which the distributor or selling agent gets such ticket.] 3[***] (c) “gross amount charged” includes payment by cheque, credit card, deduction from account and any form of payment by issue of credit notes or debit notes and 2[book adjustment, and any amount credited or debited, as the case may be, to any account, whether called “Suspense account” or by any other name, in the books of account of a person liable to pay service tax, where the transaction of taxable service is with any associated enterprise.] Section 68 reads as follows: “68. Payment of service tax.—(1) Every person providing taxable service to any person shall pay service tax at the rate specified in Section 66-B in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), in respect of such taxable services as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, the service tax H

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A thereon shall be paid by such person and in such manner as may be prescribed at the rate specified in Section 66-B and all the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to such person as if he is the person liable for paying the service tax in relation to such service: B Provided that the Central Government may notify the service and the extent of service tax which shall be payable by such person and the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to such person to the extent so specified and the remaining part of the service tax shall be paid by the service provider.”

C 9. What is noteworthy is that the charge (under Section 66) is on the “value of the taxable service referred….and collected in such manner as may be prescribed”. Clearly, the levy is on the value of taxable service, and, more pointedly, the rate of tax is to be collected in such manner as may be prescribed.For the purposes of the present case, the value of the taxable service is the one enumerated in Section D 65 (105) (zzzw). Description of the credit card transaction

10. The history of the legislation, the position in law, both before and after the 2006 amendments, have all been elaborately- and, accurately, discussed by Justice Joseph. I concur with the factual narration. For the E sake of completeness of this separate judgment, however, I would – under pain of charge of repetition, describe the underlying transaction. The characters, for a credit card transaction are set out below: a. The cardholder – is the holder of the credit card

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 523 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

e. The card association – the association providing a platform A for the credit card transaction and settlement of dues (such as Visa, MasterCard or RuPay)

11. The transaction flow - involved typically, when a credit card is used (swiped) for procuring goods or services, is described below: (i) The cardholder purchases goods/services from the ME B worth 100 and makes payment by credit/debit card. The ME receives the consideration for the goods/services from the acquiring bank. However, the acquiring bank deducts their fee (known as the ‘Merchant Discount Rate’ or “MDR”) and remits the net proceeds to the ME ( 94.3). C (ii) The acquiring bank in turn receives the consideration for goods/services from the issuing bank. The issuing bank retains its share of MDR (known in banking idiom as “interchange income”) and remits the net proceeds ( 98/-) to the acquiring bank. D (iii) The remittance from the issuing bank to the acquiring bank takes place through card associations. The acquiring bank’s share of the MDR is 3. (iv) The service tax on the entire MDR amount ( 5) signifies 0.7, which is remitted to the tax authorities. E (v) The card-holder remits the gross consideration for the services ( 100) to the issuing bank within the agreed grace period days upon receipt of credit card statement. For debit card transactions, the amount is directly debited from the customer’s account by the issuing bank. F

12. In sum, for transaction that costs the customer 100/- (towards the goods they purchase or services they avail of) the total MDR is 5, out of which the issuing bank’s share is 2 (interchange income) - which is retained by it. The balance MDR ( 3) is the acquiring bank’s consideration for its role in the transaction. G

13. The issue which this court has to decide is whether the service of settlement of an “amount transacted”, on behalf of the holder of a credit card – which involves several components, or elements of a unified service, are to be taxed as a whole or, in addition to the taxation of the entire transaction, a separate part of that service, i.e., by the issuing H

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A bank, in the form of authorization of credit – to be released to the provider of goods or services – is also separately to be valued and subjected to levy. CEGAT’s rulings in Standard Chartered Bank and ABN Amro

14. A decision of the larger bench of CEGAT - Standard B Chartered Bank & Ors. v. CST, Mumbai-I & Ors.28 interpreted the question of service tax levy, for credit card services. This ruling was necessitated because another decision about the amended definition of credit card services, in its application for the pre-amended i.e., pre-2006 era was doubted. The previous decision, so doubted, was ABN Amro C Bank v. Collector of Central Excise29 (hereafter “ABN-I”). In ABN-I, the tribunal observed and held as follows: “17.4. Interchange receipt was scrutinized by Revenue and show cause notice was issued making clear in para 1 of the show cause notice that the Appellant bank was engaged in providing credit card service and services “in relation” thereto was provided for the period from 01.06.02 to 31.04.06 and consideration was received for providing such services. Although, the receipts were routed through Master Card by the acquiring bank in the form of interchange fee, that became measure of taxation for levy of service tax in terms of provisions contained in Section 65(72)(zm) read with Section 65(10) of 65(12) of the Act as the case may be. 17.5. In the defence reply filed by Appellant bank on 30.12.08, it was pleaded that “Merchant Establishment” from whom the Appellant received interchange fee through the acquiring bank cannot be equated to be Customs of ABN Bank. The Appellant did not rule out its activity of issuing credit card and getting the payment “in relation to” such cards facility provided to its customer and receipt of consideration from “acquiring bank” in terms of MasterCard policy. When the statement recorded as aforesaid was not discarded and modus operandi of the Appellant demonstrated that the Appellant bank had issued credit cards and use of such card by the card holder, customer earned share of interchange fees for 28 2015[40] S.T.R.104 (Tri. - Del) 29 H 2011 (187) ECR181 (Tri.-Delhi)

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 525 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

the Appellant, there arose incidence of tax. Therefore, taxing A gross value of taxable service so provided was rightly taxable in adjudication. 17.6. It may be stated that the object of interpretation of a statute is to discover the intention of the Parliament as expressed in the Act. The dominant purpose in construing a B statute is to ascertain the intention of the legislature as expressed in the statute, considering it as a whole and in its context. The charging section using the term “in relation to” extended its wing to embrace all connected and related services touching object of issue of credit card facility. Express statutory grant has taken within its fold all that is required to C do, so as to make that grant effective. Accordingly, the charging section brought the service of credit card facility provided and its connected and related activities to fold of taxation. ************** **************** D

18. Findings made by this order as aforesaid arise on the basis of law in force at the material time and out of material facts as well as cogent evidence on record. Statement recorded in the course of investigation provides full proof of providing of taxable service by the Appellant. At no stage or point of time, the chain of evidence bringing the transactions of the customer till that is settled, was de-linked. The Appellant bank failed to discard the evidence of Revenue on record without leading any cogent evidence to the contrary. The Appellant bank had contractual obligation to the credit cardholders for the transactions to be made using the credit card who were issued such cards by the Appellant. Law being concerned with taxable events and when material facts and cogent evidence on record including attendant circumstances demonstrated such event, Appellant’s contention that it got its share from “acquiring bank” has no difference to law since the statement recorded from Vice President brought the Appellant to the net of service tax as a card issuing bank providing taxable credit card service. Adjudication cess therefore be held to be justified and the Appellant is liable to service tax for the taxable service provided.” H

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A The three-member bench of the CEGAT in Standard Chartered was constituted to resolve whether the ruling in ABN-I was correct. It would be useful to first set out the four questions which the tribunal was required to consider and answer: - “3. The order dated 16-08-2013 referred the following questions of law: i) Whether the introduction of the new, comprehensive definition of “credit card, debit card, charge card or other payment care service” vide Section 65(33a) read with Section 65(105) (zzzw) by the Finance Act, 2006, is substantive and seeks to levy all the transactions covered by use of Credit/ Debit/Charge Card or is in continuation of the levy under Section 65(10) or (12), as the case may be, as held in ABN Amro decision in so far as credit card services are concerned? ii) Whether the sub-clause (iii) in the definition of taxable service viz. “credit card, debit card, charge card of other payment card service” in Section 65(33a) can be said to be applicable retrospectively, i.e., from 16 July 2001 when section 65(72)(zm) became effective? iii) Can ‘merchants/merchant establishments’ be considered E ‘customer’ as envisaged in Section 65(72)(zm) of the Finance Act, 1994 as it stood prior to 1-5-2006? iv) Whether Merchant Establishment Discount can be said to be ‘received in relation to’ credit card services when in fact in a particular transaction, the Acquiring bank receiving ME F Discount may not have issued that particular credit card at all?” The tribunal observed that the context of the reference was that: “5. A Division Bench of CESTAT in ABN Amro Bank v Union of India 2011 STR 529 (Tri-Del) concluded that the charging section (insofar as credit card services in BOFS brought the service of credit card facility provided and its connected and related activities to fold of taxation (para 17.6)”

15. Here, it would be noteworthy to point out that the tribunal- in Standard Chartered (supra) did not have to decide any dispute which required the application of the post amended definition, i.e. Section 65

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 527 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

(33a). It was merely expounding the law in the context and background of the amendment, and more specifically its role in the interpretation of pre-amended definition i.e., credit card services as part of the banking and financial services under section 65 (10) of the Act. The tribunal considered several decisions both on the issue of service tax as well as the levy of tax on interchange fee. The tribunal considered decisions of the tax regimes in the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and United States and noticed that the definition in those legislations on the one hand, as compared with the levy under the Act, on the other was not quite the same. Relevant parts of the tribunal’s discussion are extracted below: “************* *********** C

In the series and sequence of interdependent transactions that occur in the use of credit cards, acquiring banks generate reports for merchant settlement which are also forwarded to issuing banks through the card association network. There after issuing banks settle the amounts payable to acquiring banks after retaining an interchange fee, which is shared with the card association. The continuity and regularity of such commercial intercourse between acquiring and issuing banks, in our considered view leads to the position of acquiring banks being customers of issuing banks. Issuing and acquiring banks are recognised participants in the nuanced business of credit card transactions. The interdependent and seamless but distinct transactions that occur between the ME, an acquiring bank and an issuing bank therefore fall to be considered as a customary relationship amongst these parties. We are fortified in this conclusion by the circumstance that the Act specifies that the provider of credit card services is identified as a banking company, a financial institution including a non-banking financial company or any other body corporate or a commercial concern as well. In the circumstances, confining the expression “a customer”, to an individual or an entity which has a savings or a current account with a bank, is textually inappropriate. Further, banking companies, in the current scenario of expanding commercial transactions undertake a variety of activities which were not conceived as H

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A part of ancient or traditional banking activities. It would therefore be appropriate to conclude (in the context of BOFS), that a customer of a bank includes any person or entity having a continuum of relationship or transactional intercourse with a banking company, within the ambit of activities pursued by the later as a part of its authorised business. This is the interpretation we are persuaded to in the context of the definition and enumeration of BOFS as a taxable service. This is not to say that other statutes may not expand or restrict the scope of the expression, customer of a bank. We accordingly conclude that in the context of credit card services in BOFS, as the taxable service is defined and enumerated, acquiring bank and the ME could be considered to be a customer of the issuing bank and an acquiring bank, respectively. WHETHER INTERCHANGE FEE AND ME DISCOUNT FORM D PART OF THE TAXABLE VALUE OF BOFS:

20. Whether interchange fee or ME discount amount to consideration received for rendition of credit card services depends on whether services provided by an acquiring bank to the ME and those provided by an issuing bank to the acquiring bank fall within the ambit of services provided in relation to credit card services. Relying on the Board Circular dated 09.07.2001, RBI Notification dated 12.05.2001 and RBI master circular on credit card operation of banks (referred to in the previous para), assessees contend that irrespective of whether ME or an acquiring bank is a customer of an acquiring bank and the issuing bank respectively, services provided by a bank other than to its card holder fall outside the ambit of services provided in relation to credit card services. G ------ The several decisions, of EEC Courts and of the Court of Appeal notice and recognise existence of distinct contractual arrangements between an issuing bank and a card holder; the ME and an acquiring bank; an acquiring bank and the issuing bank; and between issuing and acquiring banks and

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 529 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

another entity which provides services such as netting - off services, as seen in the facts of FDR Limited. The existence of such distinct agreements and the legal consequences thereof were however considered in the context of the relevant legislation/norms, whether VAT legislation or Directives of EEC Council. B In the context of BOFS, in our considered view, these decisions provide if at all, guidance to this limited extent (and that is also the reality of the factual matrix), that reciprocal rights and obligations between an issuing bank and its card holder; between the ME and the acquiring bank; between acquiring and issuing banks; or between banks and the card association are predicated upon distinct contractual arrangements. The fact that services flow between these several players, which are sequential and interdependent for effectuation of credit card transactions, is indisputable. The problematic is however in identifying which among the such distinct but sequential and interdependent transactions amount to services provided in relation to credit card services, in the context of the definition and enumeration of BOFS, in relevant provisions of the Act. SCOPE OF SERVICES PROVIDED IN RELATION TO CREDIT E CARD SERVICES:

21. Under the Act and during the period in issue any service provided or to be provided, by a banking company, a financial institution including a non-banking financial company or any other body corporate to a customer, in relation to credit card F services, is the taxable service we are concerned with. On a textual and grammatical construction, the integers of the taxable service are: (a) The provider should be a banking company etc. and the recipient a customer of the provider; and G (b) The taxable rendition should be any service in relation to credit card services. On a grammatical construction of the relevant provisions, since services provided by an acquiring bank to the ME and an issuing bank to the acquiring bank are as essential to H

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A conclusion of transactions employing credit cards as are the services provided by an issuing bank to the card holder i.e. in issuing the credit card and the integral credit facility, it could be contended, as has been, that an acquiring bank and an issuing bank receive taxable consideration by way of ME discount and interchange fee. B Assessees however contend that services provided by an acquiring bank to the ME and those provided by an issuing bank to the acquiring bank are not credit card services but are bill discounting or settlement of payments services, in contra-distinction to services provided by an issuing bank to C the card holder, which alone fall within the ambit of the taxable service, since the issuing bank extends credit facility to the card holder. To buttress this line of interpretation assessees refer to the definition of card services w.e.f. 01.05.2006.

22. As noticed earlier, card services were introduced w.e.f. D 01.05.2006, defined in Section 65(33a). Section 65(105)(zzzw), the enumerative provision states that services provided to any person (not merely a customer), by any other person in relation to credit card, debit card, charge card or other payment card service in any manner is a taxable service E (emphasis added). Clause (33a)(i) defines an “issuing bank” as a banking company, financial institution including a non- banking financial company or any other person (instead of, any other body corporate), which issues such a card to a card holder. Sub-clauses (ii) to (vii) of this provision enumerate categories of services which fall within the scope of the taxable service. Sub-clause (ii) enumerates receipt and processing of applications, transfer of embossing data to issuing bank’s personalisation agency, automated teller machine personal identification number generation, renewal or replacement of card, change of address, enhancement of credit limit, payment updation and statement generation. Sub-clause (iii) enumerates services provided by any person including an issuing bank or an acquiring bank, to any other person in relation to settlements of any amount transacted through such card. The explanation under sub-clause (iii) defines an acquiring bank as one which makes payments to any person H

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who accepts such card. Sub-clause (iv) enumerates services provided in relation to joint promotional cards, affinity cards or co-branded cards. Sub-clause (v) enumerates services provided in relation to promotion and marketing of goods and services through such card. Sub-clause (vi) enumerates services provided to an issuing bank or the holder of such card, for making use of automated teller machines of the provider. Sub-clause (vii) enumerates services provided by the owner of trademarks or brand name to the issuing bank under an agreement for the use of the trade mark or brand name and other services in relation to such card, whether or not such owner is a club or association and the issuing bank is a member of such club or association. The explanation to this sub-clause (vii) states that for the purposes of this sub- clause, an issuing bank and the owner of credit card and brand name shall be treated as separate persons. From the detailed specification of varieties of services defined as falling under card services, it is apparent that w.e.f. 01.05.2006 three significant changes are introduced, in contrast with the scope and definition of credit card services under BOFS. Finance Act, 2006 also deleted “credit card services” from the scope of BOFS in Section 65(12). E The changes introduced w.e.f. 01.05.2006 are: (a) Card services include debit card, charge card or other payment card, apart from credit card; (b) The scope of the service provider is expanded. The service provider is now “any other person” as well; F (c) The identity of the service recipient also stands expanded in sub-clause (zzzw); (d) Any service provided by any person in relation to credit card, debit card, charge card or other payment card, in any manner, is now the taxable service; G (e) The nature and variety of services included within the ambit of card services is now specifically enumerated, notwithstanding use of “includes” prefixed in clause (33a) and a comprehensive clause “in any manner” in Section 65(105)(zzzw); and H

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A (f) Services enumerated in sub-clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (vi) and (vii) could well be conceived as those provided in relation to credit card services as well. ******************** *****************

26. On the basis of the above broad principles guiding interpretation including of taxing statutes we now proceed to analyse the ambit of credit card services in BOFS, the taxable service in issue. The identification of which of the transactions among the several transactions that occur during the use of a credit card, fall within the definition and enumeration of credit card services, appears to be a facially nebulous and substantially interpretive problematic issue.

27. On a literal construction of the relevant provisions it appears at first blush that any service provided to a customer by a banking company etc. in relation to credit card services, is a taxable service. Acceptance of this construction would lead to infinite expansion of the taxable event. Not only would credit facilities provided by an issuing bank to its card holder fall within the scope of this service but services such as receipt and processing of credit card applications; transferring of embossing data to the issuing bank’s personalisation agency; teller machine personal identification number generation; renewal or replacement of a credit card; change of address; payment updation and statement generation; settlement of amounts transacted through credit card; services provided by the owner of trade marks or bank name to an issuing bank for use of the trade mark or brand name; and a host of other services which are interspersed in the sequence of transactions occurring on the use of a credit card, would all be services provided in relation to credit card services. These services are expressly enumerated in sub-clauses (ii), (iii), (vi) and (vii) of Section 65(33a), w.e.f. 01.05.2006. On Revenue’s G interpretation, these services are subsumed within credit card services on account of the “in relation to” phrase. Wherever an issuing bank hives of some of its activities in relation to credit card operations, such as receipt and processing of credit card applications and the like and these services are provided by a outside agency, these would nevertheless fall within the ambit of BOFS, though not statutorily so identified and

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 533 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

expressed. The scope of credit card services and BOFS would therefore be perpetually nebulous and its contours indeterminate, assessees contend. Assessees also urge that acceptance of Revenue’s interpretation would lead to perpetual ambiguity in ascertaining the range and variety of transactions falling within the ambit of credit card services and such interpretation should therefore be avoided on the principle of doubtful and ambiguous taxation and inchoate specification of the taxable event in a fiscal legislation. ************* **************

38. While services provided by an issuing bank to an acquiring bank and an acquiring bank to the ME are intermediary, ancillary and interdependent integers for effective use of credit cards, we are persuaded to the conclusion that these services though interdependent are distinct and are not intended to be covered within the purview of credit card services prior to 01.05.2006, notwithstanding the phrase “in relation to” D employed in the enumerative provision. We are so persuaded since a contrary interpretation which accords unrestricted scope, locus and amplitude to credit card services would result in introducing a serious element of textual ambiguity, indeterminacy and inchoatness to the scope of the taxable E event in BOFS. The formidable precedential authority adverted to in paragraph 23 and decisions in Naveen Chemicals and in Indian National Shipowners Association as well, posit adoption of an interprative principle which leads to clear and definite identification of the taxable event, to avoid doubtful taxation.39. In Collector of Central Excise, F Guntur v. Andhra Sugar MANU/SC/0079/1988 : (1989) SUPP (1) SCC 144 the Apex Court pointed out that it is a well settled principle that the meaning ascribed by the authority issuing a notification is a good guide and a contemporaneous exposition of the position of law. K.P. Varghese v. I.T.O. G Ernakulam MANU/SC/0300/1981 : (1981) 4 SCC 173, reiterated the established principle that the plain meaning of a statute cannot be relied upon where it results in absurdity, injustice or uncertainty (emphasis) and in such circumstances, the Court must construe the text having regard to the object and purpose which the legislature had in view in enacting H

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A the provision, the context in which it occurs and with a view to suppress the mischief sought to be remedied by the legislation. Contemporaneous administrative exposition of the meaning of the statutory text in the speech by the Minister introducing the bill for enactment of the legislation in question is considered a legitimate aid to construction of a statute when B the text is grammatically or contextually ambiguous. It is also a settled principle that a subsequent legislation on the same subject may in certain circumstances serve as a Parliamentary exposition of the former provision - vide Precedents referred to in paragraph 29 (supra).

C 40. On the basis of the principles and guidance derived from aforementioned authority we are compelled to the conclusion that in the context of BOFS, credit card services cover only such services as are provided by an issuing bank to a card holder. This conclusion is fortified by the clarification issued in Board circular dated 09.07.2001, RBI circular dated 12.12.2003, RBI master circular and the express and specific statutory explication of several services which Parliament has specified to be included in card services, incorporated in the definition of card services, for the subsequent period w.e.f. 01.05.2006, in Section 65(33a). Credit card services is included in card services and stands deleted from BOFS, w.e.f. 01.05.2006. To interpret the several services specifically enumerated in Section 65(33a) and other services like those provided by credit information companies or telephone or internet network providers, which equally contribute to and are essential for effectuation of credit card transactions as also comprehended within BOFS, would lead to perpetual uncertainty and non-temporal inflation of the scope of credit card services in BOFS. Such interpretation must clearly be avoided, is the mandate of established interpretive principles.

G ************* ************** The following is clear from Section 65(33a) read with Section 65(105)(zzzw) of the Act. (a) The scope of service tax levy is extended to services provided in respect of other cards such as debit card, charge card or other payment card, apart from credit card;

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 535 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

(b) The several and intervening services which occur in the use of cards are enumerated in sub-clauses (i) to (vii) of the definition, clearly conveying the intention to cover these expressly enumerated services as taxable events under the provisions; (c) In Section 65(105)(zzzw) while retaining the phrase “in relation to”, the phrase “in any manner” is added. The precision and clarity of the detailed drafting methodology employed in the Finance Act, 2006, compels the inference that Parliament not only expressed the intention to expand the scope of the taxable service to cover services provided “in relation to” other cards as well but has further and expressly expanded the reach of taxation to services which otherwise may not indisputedly fall within the ambit of card services. Section 65(33a) thus excised ambiguity, uncertainty and inchoateness in the statutory text.

45. For the aforesaid reasons and analyses, we are of the considered view that paragraph 2.2 of the Board circular dated 09.07.2001 accurately captures the scope of credit card services under BOFS during the period 16.07.2001 to 30.04.2006 i.e. as meaning a service where the customer is provided credit facility for purchase of goods and services; whereby cash advances are also permitted upto specified limits; where for rendition of the service, the service provider collects joining fee, additional card fee, annual fee etc; and all these charges, including interest charges for the service rendered, form part of the value of the taxable service, in BOFS.” F

The conclusions recorded by the tribunal, in Standard Chartered (supra), are extracted below: “47. CONCLUSIONS: We answer the reference dated 16.08.2013 as under: G (a) On point No. (i) in the order of reference, we hold that introduction of a comprehensive definition of “credit card, debit card, charge card or other payment service” in Section 65(33a) read with Section 65(105)(zzzw), by the Finance Act, 2006 is a substantive legislative exertion which enacts levy H

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A on the several transactions enumerated in sub-clauses (i) to (vii) specified in the definition set out in Section 65(33a); and all these transactions are neither impliedly covered nor inherently subsumed within the purview of credit card services defined in Section 65(10) or (12) as part of the BOFS; B (b) On point No. (ii) we hold that sub-clause (iii) in Section 65(33a) is neither intended nor expressed to have a retroactive reach i.e. w.e.f. 16.07.2001. Services enumerated in these sub- clauses are not implicit in the scope of credit card services; (c) On point No. (iii) of the reference, we hold that a Merchant/ C Merchant Establishment is “a customer” in the context of credit card services enumerated in Section 65(72)(zm), subsequently Section 65(105)(zm) and a fortiori an acquiring bank is “a customer” of an issuing bank. (d) On point No. (iv), we hold that ME discount, by whatever name called, representing amounts retained by an acquiring bank from out of amounts recovered by such bank for settlement of payments to the ME does not amount to consideration received “in relation to” credit card services.”

16. The next decision of note is that of ABN Amro Bank (presently known as Royal Bank of Scotland) v. Commissioner of Central Excise30 (hereafter referred to as “ABN-II”) which was on the question of whether interchange fee could be subjected to levy of service tax for a period post 2006. In fact, the precise period in question in the ABN-II was May, 2006 to February, 2008. The tribunal analysed the amended definition and concluded that ABN Amro Bank was not engaged in any activity for the settlement of amounts transacted; that it was not a settlement agency and therefore acted only as an issuing bank. On this brief analysis of the definition clause, and its understanding in ABN Amro- II,the CESATconcluded that interchange fee could not be subjected to separate taxation as a service falling under Section 65 (33a) (iii). G Facts relating to the present appeals

17. The respondent, Citibank CA received four show cause notices, issued by the appellant (hereafter “the revenue”) alleging non-payment

30 H 2018 TIOL-2018-CESTAT.

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 537 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

of service tax, for various periods, both after 2006, as well as after 2012. A The details of the show cause notices, are set out below in tabular form:

18. For the sake of completeness, extracts of the two show cause notices are reproduced below: Show Cause Notice 1. “2. During the course of audit of accounts of the assessee conducted by Service tax Internal Audit Group of Service tax D Commissionerate, Chennai, it was noticed that the assessee was issuing Credit Cards to its customer; that Credit Card transactions typically involve two banks – an issuing bank - and an acquiring bank; that issuing bank issues credit cards to its customers; that acquiring banks contract merchant establishments to accept credit card payment for the goods or services sold to the customers and to facilitate such transaction, the acquiring banks provide the required infrastructure like Card Swiping Terminal (Point of Sale Machines), payment gateway etc.; that assessee’s Credit Card customers are using Point of Sale (POS) machines installed by acquiring bank in various merchant establishments service establishments that the acquiring banks make payments to the merchant establishments/service establishments and charge them a pre-contracted rate known as Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to facilitate the Credit card transaction; that acquiring banks submit the transactions settled by merchant establishments to the assessee (Issuing Bank) through Card Association and in-turn the assessee makes payments to the acquiring banks through Card Association; that Card Association (Master Card, Visa and Diners Club International) H

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A acts as a bridge between the assessee (issuing bank) and acquiring banks; that card Association provides the required network and Platform to the issuing banks and acquiring banks for facilitating the cards transactions; that normally acquiring bank submits transactions (settled by merchants) to the Card Association in a standard file format for onward B submission to the assessee (issuing bank); that the standard file format contains details like card number, acquirer reference number, transaction amount, interchange fee, date of transaction’, nature of merchant business etc., that based on the transaction details received from the Card Association, C the assessee (issuing bank) bills the customer for gross amount and pays the gross amount less interchange fee (which is credited by the banks) by remitting the Same acquiring through the Card Association; that assessee (issuing bank) normally receives the gross amount from their customers based on the monthly billing statement with a due-date by which the D payment needs to be made by the customer; In this regard it appears that the interchange fee is nothing but a share of the MDR earned by the assessee and forms part of their service income in relation to Credit Card or other payment card services. E xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx

4. On being pointed out by audit, the assessee vide letter dated 12.04.2013 stated that the gross amount of consideration received for taxable service under the taxing entry of “Credit Card Services”, has already been subjected to service tax, in the hands of acquiring bank; that the interchange fee received by the issuing bank is just a share of the MDR received from acquiring bank; that issuing bank is not rendering any service to acquiring bank and hence no service tax is applicable on the proportionate share of MDR received by issuing bank in the form of interchange; that taxing the interchange as share of MDR, in the Hands of issuing banks would amount to double taxation as the gross MDR has already been subjected to service tax; that since service tax was paid on the entire MDR, their liability, if any should be adjusted accordingly. They also enclosed (1) a Note on Credit card transactions and applicability of Service tax and (2) an excel sheet showing

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 539 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

the workings of the Interchange earning and details of MDR. A However, on their own accord, the assessee paid an amount of Rs. 15,00,00,000/- towards Service tax vide Challan No. 11046 dated 28.03.2013.

5. The contention of the assessee that they are not rendering any service to the acquiring bank does not appear to be correct. When a credit card holder of the assessee (issuing bank) uses the card at a merchant establishment for making a purchase the account of the merchant establishment is settled directly by the card issuing bank or through an acquiring bank. The fact of issue of Credit card by the assessee as the issuing bank only enables the customer to avail cashless purchase or service from the merchant establishment which is subsequently settled by the acquiring bank and the discount (Interchange fee) so earned is shared with the assessee (card issuing bank). It therefore appears that the assessee have earned service income namely interchange fee in relation to credit card services and the interchange fee earned by the assessee appears to be taxable under Section 65(105) (zzzw) of the Finance Act, 1994 read with Section 65 (33a) ibid; The fact of payment of service tax on the interchange fee by the acquiring bank does not exempt the assessee from the payment of service tax on the consideration received by them towards rendering of service as each person providing service is liable to pay service tax for the services rendered by them. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” Show Cause Notice 2 F “2.0 The issue in brief is that during the course of audit of accounts of the assessee conducted by Service tax Internal Audit Group of Service Tax Commissionerate Chennai, it was noticed that the assessee was issuing Credit Cards to its customers; that credit card transactions typically involve two G Banks- an issuing Bank and an acquiring bank; that issuing bank issues credit cards to its customers; that acquiring bank Contract merchant establishments to accept credit card payment for the goods & services sold to the customers and to facilitate such transactions, the acquiring banks provide the required infrastructure like card swiping terminal (Point H

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A or Sale machines), payment gateway etc.; that assessee’s Credit Card customers are using point of sale POS) machines installed by acquiring banks in various merchant establishments/service establishments; that the acquiring banks make payments to the merchant establishments/service establishments and charge them a pre- Contracted rate known B as Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to facilitate the credit card transaction; that the acquiring banks submit the transaction settled by merchant establishments to the assessee (issuing bank) through card association and in-turn the assessee makes payments to the acquiring banks through Card Association; C that. Card Association (MasterCard, Visa Card and Diners Club International) acts as a bridge between the assessee.(issuing bank) and acquiring banks, that Card Association provides then required network and platform to the issuing banks and acquiring banks for facilitating the cards transactions; that normally acquiring bank submits the transactions (settled by merchants) to the card association in a standard file format for onward submission to the assessee (issuing bank); that the standard file format contains details like card number, acquirer reference transaction number, amount, interchange fee, date of transaction nature of merchant business etc., that based on the transaction details received from the card association, the assessee {issuing bank) bills the customer for gross amount and pays the gross amount less interchange fee (which IS credited by the acquiring banks) by remitting the Same through the card association; that assessee (issuing bank) normally receives the gross amount from their Customers based on the monthly billing statement with a due-date by which the payments needs to be made by the customer; In this regard it appears that the interchange fee is nothing but a share of the MDR earned by the assessee and forms part of their service income in relation to credit card or other payment card services and the interchange fee was collected by them from the acquiring banks for the period from October’ 2007 to June’ 2012 and the Service Tax was not remitted on the same. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx H

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 541 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

5. The contention of the asseseé during the Course of audit of accounts that they are not rendering any service to the acquiring bank does not appear to be correct. When a credit card holder of the assessee (issuing bank) uses the card at a merchant establishment for making a purchase, the account of the merchant establishment is settled directly by the card issuing bank or through an acquiring bank. The fact of issue of credit card by the assessee as the issuing bank only enables the customer to avail cashless purchase or service from the merchant establishment which is subsequently settled by the acquiring bank and the discount (interchange fee) so earned is shared with the assessee (card issuing bank). It therefore appears that the assessee have earned service income namely interchange fee in relation to credit card services and the interchange fee earned by the assessee appears to be taxable as “service” as per Section 65B (44); the fact of the payment of Service tax on the interchange fee by the acquiring. bank does not exempt the assesssee from payment of Service tax on the consideration received by them towards rendering of service as each person providing service is liable to pay service tax for the services rendered by them.” Citibank’s reply, dated 16.09.2013 to the fourth show cause notice, No. 97/2015 reflects its position: E “4.7. The Notice submits that while making payments to the Merchant Establishments for purchases made on credit by the card holders, the Acquiring Bank deducts the Merchant Discount and pays the balance to the Merchant Establishment. In other words, the Merchant Establishment bears fee for collection and receipt of monies towards the price of goods sold or services rendered. The fee (expense) so borne by the Merchant Establishment results in income, of which there are two beneficiaries/ claimants viz the Acquiring Bank and the Issuing Bank i.e. the Noticee). The share of revenue of the issuing Bank is settled by way of retention. The Association debits the account of the issuing Bank (i.e. the Noticee) and disburses the same to the Acquiring Bank. Payment of Association Fee to the Association is made separately by the issuing Bank and the Acquiring Bank. All the entities co- ordinate with each other to support the credit card transaction H

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A between the credit card holder and the Merchant Establishment. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx 4.16 As submitted above, the Notice does not provide any services to the Acquiring Bank, and consequently, there is no B service provider and a service recipient relationship between them. The Notice submits that the Participants i.e. Acquiring Bank and the Notice do not inter se play the role of role of a service provider and service recipient and any amount which may be exchanged by the inter se are not liable to Service C tax. The Acquiring Bank and the Notice as the Issuing Bank do not have any contractual relationship. They are the Participants to the credit card transaction between the credit card holder and the Merchant Establishment and the Interchange Fee is only a portion of the tax paid Merchant Discount which is disbursed to the Notices for such D participation. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx 4.30. In the present facts all activities are undertaken by the Participants to support a transaction where a Merchant E Establishment is able to accept a payment from a credit card holder through the modality of credit cards. The gross amount attributable in relation to such services i.e. Merchant Discount which is made available by the Merchant Establishment to the Acquiring Bank and includes the Interchange Fee which is the share of the Notice. This amount of gross consideration F is in the instant case subjected to Service tax in the hands of the Acquiring Bank. There is only one single transaction in the present facts. The Merchant Discount is the consideration which is received in respect of this transaction. The Merchant discount is further distributed amongst the participants (i.e. G the Issuing Bank and the Acquiring Bank). The consideration received by the participants in this single transaction is offered to tax in the hands of the Acquiring Bank. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx 4.33. It is required to be appreciated that the interchange Fee H is only a proportion of the gross of amount of the Merchant

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 543 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

Discount which has already been subjected to tax in the hands A of the Acquiring Bank. Hence, Service tax cannot be demanded on such interchange Fee. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx 4.35. The Notice submits that the Commissioner has failed to appreciate the fact that the Interchange Fee due to the Issuing B Bank is partial disbursal from the gross amount which has already suffered tax and is not liable to fresh levy of Service tax. This kind of levy would result in double taxation of the same consideration under the same taxing statute.” In this context, the prevailing understanding within the banking industry is also indicative, which can be gleaned from representations sent by the Indian Bank Association to the Central Board of Excise and Customs seeking clarification (which were filed by Citibank). An extract summarising the position: “2. It may kindly be noted that when customers of issuing bank make purchases from a merchant establishment by using credit cards, the transaction passes through a payment cycle through the VISA/MasterCard settlement platform. The acquiring bank deducts a fixed predetermined percentage (generally up to 3%) from the amount paid to the merchant, which is thereafter shared between the parties involved in the transactions. As per the industry practice, instead of discharging service tax liability only on its own share of discount, the ‘acquiring bank’ discharges full-service tax liability on the entire interchange income on the transaction, including that on ‘interchange’ received by the card issuing bank. Thus, service tax is paid on the entire interchange income by the acquiring bank and there is no leakage of revenue.” 31 Interpretation of Section 65(33a) G

19. The pre-existing definition of credit card services [Section 65(12)(ii)] merely mentioned “credit card services” as part of banking and financial services – without elaborating what kind of services were

31 Letter dated 07.10.2010 sent by the Indian Bank Association to the Joint Secretary – TRU, Central Board of Excise and Customs. H

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A comprehended in the definition. The 2006 amendment segregated this, by omitting sub-clause (ii) of Section 65(12) and enacting a new Section 65(33a).

20. A plain reading of Section 65 (33a) reveals that seven distinct heads of credit card services are now comprehended within the broad description of “credit card services”. Each category – falling in sub- clause (i) to (vii) deals with a specific, enumerated service. The controlling expression “credit card, debit card, charge card or other payment card services includes any services provided” broadens the coverage of this species of service, in contrast with the pre-existing law. This inclusion – by specific enumeration of “debit card, charge card or other payment card service” is an expanded class of card service. However, the further use of the term “includes” even while broadening (by enumeration of specific sub-categories) “credit card services” –also has the effect of limiting the coverage under Section 65(33)(a) to only the seven enumerated categories. This is apparent from the fact that after sub-clause (vii), there is no residuary provision authorising similar treatment to non-enumerated activities i.e., those not falling within sub-clauses (i) to (vii). In other words, the use of the expression “includes” while broadening – by specific enumeration of seven categories of card services – also limits the inclusive nature to those categories, and no more. E

21. The second incontrovertible feature is that each enumerated category falling within a sub-clause refers only to one kind of service. Thus, by sub-clause (i), the service referred to is the issuing of a card to a card holder; and by sub-clause (ii), the service of receipt, processing of applications, transfer of embossing data to the issuing bank’s personal agency, ATM, PIN number generation, renewal or replacement of cards, change of address etc., - essentially forming separate and ancillary services to the issuing card. This service largely involves one business entity providing service to another. By sub-clause (iii) - which this case is concerned with - the service involved is by any person, [i.e., the issuing bank as defined in sub-clause (i)] and an acquiring bank, to any other person in relation to settlement of any amount transacted through “such card”. The emphasis here: apart from other related issues, is with the service of settlement of any “amount transacted” through the card. It is significant to notice that the reference to the service provider “by any person” is broad and comprehends all categories of persons and H

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 545 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

entities mentioned in sub-clause (i) (bank, financial institution, etc.) having regard to the definition of “person” [in Section 65B (37)]. Such being the case, the reference to issuing bank would fall within the broad description of “any person”. In any case, having defined “issuing bank” widely, per sub-clause (i), Parliament need not have referred to “any person, including issuing bank”; the meaning would have been the same if sub-clause (iii) had referred only to an “issuing bank” in place of “any person”. However, having regard to the essential nature of a credit card transaction, the inclusion is not directed as much to an issuing bank as to the specific reference to “an acquiring bank”. That term is not defined elsewhere except in this sub-clause, and by the explanation wherein the acquiring bank is defined as a bank, company, financial institution, etc. who makes the payment to any person, who accepts such cards.

22. Crucially, then, only in Section 65(33a) (iii) does service by anypersoninclude service by the issuing bank and the acquiring bank. The use of the conjunctive “and” [in Section 65 (33a) (iii)] is to be contrasted with the other sub-clauses- Parliament used the disjunctive “or” in all other sub-clauses. The clear intention for this difference was that service providers could be business entities providing more than one service under one sub-clause [such as sub-clauses (ii), (iv), (vi) and (vii)]. The use of the conjunctive “and” in clause (iii) therefore, is telling and consequently, in my opinion should receive literal interpretation. I, E therefore, disagree with the judgment of K.M. Joseph, J on this aspect.

23. There can be no debate that indisputably, Parliament, has to be attributed with full knowledge of the nature of credit card business models, where the primary objective of the entities that provide service, is to ensure payment for the underlying transaction between the card holder and the provider of goods or services. Parliament would also know that there are three business entities whose joint or concurrent functioning is essential for settlement of each credit card transaction. The three business entities are the issuing bank, the acquiring bank and the network [such as Visa, Mastercard, or RuPay, etc., which has been kept out of the definition under Section 65(33a)]. These are crucial factors and consequently I am of the opinion that the conjunctive “and” should be read literally and be given the meaning conjunctively rather than disjunctively. The result, therefore, is that when a person (i.e., the issuing bank), and an acquiring bank, provide service to another person, in relation H

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A to settlement of any credit card transaction, that service, by such person, and the acquiring bank, amounts to a “credit card service”- per Section 65 (33a). The unified nature of the service, to another (be it the card holder or the merchant, who are participants in the primary transaction and therefore beneficiaries) is the subject matter of sub-clause (iii) of Section 65 (33a). I am fortified in this conclusion also in the use of the term “or” in sub-clauses (iv), (vi) and (vii) which define services capable of being provided to another business entity or service provider, and not a customer.

24. This court has, in several instances, dealt with what should be the approach, when reading the expression “and”, commending a literal interpretation, rather than one, resulting in its being construed as a disjunctive “or”. In Hyderabad Asbestos Cement Products & Anr. v. Union of India32, this Court considered Rule 56-A of Central Excise Rules. The Court dealt with interpretation of conjunctive and disjunctive “and”, “or”. Proviso to Rule 56-A uses the conjunctive word “and”. The D provision permitted the Collector to allow a credit of the duty already paid on such material or component parts or finished product, as the case may be. Crucially, the proviso read as follows: “Provided that no credit of duty shall be allowed in respect of any material or component parts used in the manufacture of finished excisable goods— E (i) if such finished excisable goods produced by the manufacturer are exempt from the whole of the duty of excise leviable thereon or are chargeable to nil rate of duty, and (ii) unless— F (a) duty has been paid for such material or component parts under the same item or sub-item as the finished excisable goods; or (b) remission or adjustment of duty paid for such material or component parts has been specifically sanctioned by the Central Government:” G This court held that the language was forthright; so “and” had to be read conjunctively. Long ago, it was held in Green v Premier Glynrhonwy Slate Co.33 that

32 (2000) 1 SCC 426 H 33 (1928) 1 KB 561, p. 568

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“You do sometimes read ‘or’ as ‘and’ in a statute. But you do not do it unless you are obliged because ‘or ’ does not generally mean ‘and’ and ‘and’ does not generally mean ‘or’.” In R v Oxfordshire County Council and Others, Ex Parte Sunningwell Parish Council 34 , Section 22(1) of the Commons Registration Act 1965 contains a three-part definition of a town or village green, usually called classes (a), (b) and (c). They were: ”[a] land which has been allotted by or under any Act for the exercise or recreation of the inhabitants of any locality or [b] on which the inhabitants of any locality have a customary right to indulge in lawful sports and pastimes or [c] on which the inhabitants of any locality have indulged in such sports and pastimes as of right for not less than 20 years.” An argument was made that the requirement of having indulged in sports and pastimes, for 20 years, was disjunctive and not conjunctive. The House of Lords rejected this argument, and held that: D “The first point concerned the nature of the activities on the glebe. They showed that it had been used for solitary or family pastimes (walking, toboganning, family games) but not for anything which could properly be called a sport. Miss Cameron said that this was insufficient for two reasons. First, E because the definition spoke of “sports and pastimes” and therefore, as a matter of language, pastimes were not enough. There had to be at least one sport. Secondly, because the “sports and pastimes” in class c had to be the same sports and pastimes as those in respect of which there could have been customary rights under class b and this meant that there had to be some communal element about them, such as playing cricket, shooting at butts or dancing round the maypole. I do not accept either of these arguments. As a matter of language, I think that “sports and pastimes” is not two classes of activities but a single composite class which uses two words in order to avoid arguments over whether an activity is a sport or a pastime. The law constantly uses pairs of words in this way. As long as the activity can properly be called a sport or a pastime, it falls within the composite class.” 34 1999 (3)All ER 385 H

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A In Sahara India (Firm), Lucknow v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Central-& Ors35 a similar question arose regarding Section 142 (2A) of the Income Tax Act: “A bare perusal of the provisions of Sub-section (2A) of the Act would show that the opinion of the Assessing Officer that B it is necessary to get the accounts of assessee audited by an Accountant has to be formed only by having regard to: (i) the nature and complexity of the accounts of the assessee; and (ii) the interests of the revenue. The word “and” signifies conjunction and not disjunction. In other words, the twin conditions of “nature and complexity of the accounts” and C “the interests of the revenue” are the prerequisites for exercise of power under Section 142(2A) of the Act.”

25. Justice Joseph in his judgment, relies on the contractual arrangements in question, to conclude that “legally they are separate services as the nature of service rendered by the issuing bank is different from the service rendered by acquiring bank”. In my opinion, the existence or otherwise of a contractual relationship is per se not determinative when a settlement of payment in relation to a credit card is involved. I say so because there is no contractual relationship between the acquiring bank and a card holder who might choose to use the device which is given to a merchant establishment by acquiring bank. Likewise, the merchant establishment need not have any pre-existing contractual relationship with the issuing bank. Neither the merchant establishment nor the card holder has any pre-existing relationship with the network provider whose role has been kept out of the definition clause. The network service provider (VISA, Master Card, RuPay, etc.) in fact provides the platform for the completion of the transaction. The nature of the network’s database, the software provided by it and the entire platform forms the entire basis of the credit card system, enabling smooth cashless settlement of the primary transaction – purchase of service or goods by the card holder from the merchant. The entire focus of the Section 65 (33a) – as well as Section 65 (105) (zzzw) which refers to taxable service in respect of credit card service – is settlement of any transaction. It cannot be construed as settlement of more than one transaction by one swipe. In other words, if Parliament had intended that the transaction for the purchase of goods or services permitted dissection of one whole 35 H (2008) 14 SCC 1519

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 549 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

transaction into two - one provided by the issuing bank and the other by the acquiring bank, it would have made that intention explicit appropriately, such as for instance, by using words, like “as the case may be”. The absence of such manifest intention in Section 65 (33a) on the one hand, and the use of the conjunctive “and” in Section 65 (33a) (iii), clearly manifesting the intention that the issuing bank (a “person”) and an acquiring bank jointly provide the service, on the other - persuades me to hold that a dissection of one single transaction involving the purchase and sale of goods and services, is unwarranted. Therefore, with respect, I do not agree with Joseph, J’s view that Parliament contemplated that apart from an acquiring bank, any other person including an issuing bank, may render a separate service. Equally, the reasoning that activities of a bank – which may be the same one that issues a card and is also an acquiring bank in a transaction – are legally separate services because the nature of service (based on their respective contractual frameworks) rendered by the issuing bank is different from that of the service rendered by the acquiring bank, with respect, would not be accurate. Similarly, I D do not agree with the reasons given by Justice Joseph (i.e., that interchange fee does not fall within the service contemplated (i) between issuing bank and card holder; and (ii) it is not a gift) as to why interchange fee is a separate service either.

26. There are several problems with segregating the components of “service” by the issuing bank and service by the acquiring bank, under E Section 65 (33a) (iii); they are elaborated as follows: (a) In the event of segregation of the issuing bank’s component, the service element would no longer be a credit card service, but providing pure advance or credit of one kind, to the customer by the issuing bank which then falls within the broad description of banking and financial services [Section 65 (12)]. (b) The segregation would ignore the reality of the business transaction which is the collection of a single MDR which includes two components i.e. the acquiring bank’s fee, and the issuing bank’s charge/fee. The revenue admits that the MDR comprises both these fees. In these circumstances there is no warrant for discriminating the component which is retained by the issuing bank in the form of interchange fee, by saying that the issuing bank has to pay service tax H

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A on that as a separate element of its fee. The other anomaly would be that the data service provided by the card association (enabling use of software which facilitates instantaneous verification of the customer’s credentials, authentication of the transaction and the authorization of payment) is not required to undergo a separate treatment, as is now insisted upon in the case of the segregated transaction with the issuing bank. (c) There are predominantly only two contractual arrangements (as entered into by the card association) which involve interaction of simultaneous or sequential occurrence of four sub-transactions, i.e. (i) the swiping of the card by the card holder at the merchant establishment (which does not include any pre-existing contractual agreement, but evidences the finalisation of a promise of a contract); (ii) followed by release by the acquiring bank to the merchant establishment of the consideration (which is backed by a pre-existing contractual agreement by which the POS machine is kept with the merchant establishment); (iii) the authentication of the customer’s credit by the issuing bank (which has no relationship with the acquiring bank or the merchant establishment, but does so only with the card holder); and E (iv) the facilitation of the entire transaction by the card association (which has no contractual relationship with the card holder or the merchant establishment, but does so only with the acquiring bank and issuing bank). (d) If these are the different stages/ limbs/components of the transactions as may be variously described, wherein some are backed by pre-existing contractual agreements, while others are not – the singling out of one such service, i.e. the credit provided to the cardholder by the authentication of the transaction by the issuing bank, for separate treatment by insisting that it should once again be subjected to levy on a literal construction of sub-clauses (33a) and (105) (zzzw), would not be logical. If the revenue were to in fact insist this to be the correct interpretation, it should logically and in the same breath, also insist that the acquiring bank file separate returns for the amounts it receives and the amount H

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 551 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

it collects and transmits to the network, in the same manner separately, as is insisted upon in relation to the component of service rendered by the issuing bank, which forms a part of the whole service that is provided in this case.

27. I agree with the reasoning of Justice Joseph, that the amount received by the issuing bank, as interchange income or fee, is not towards interest. However, as previously discussed, I do not agree with the conclusion, that the issuing bank provides a separate service. The role of the issuing bank in the service provided by the acquiring bank to the merchant establishment is part of a single unified service falling under clause (iii) of Section 65 (33a) and it cannot be broken up into its components and classified as separate services for classification. This C is a well-accepted principle of classification. The relevant clause of Section 65 (33a) is reproduced below: “(iii) by any person, including an issuing bank and an acquiring bank, to any other person in relation to settlement of any amount transacted through such card. D

Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-clause, “acquiring bank” means any banking company, financial institution including nonbanking financial company or any other person, who makes the payment to any person who accepts such card;” E There is, in reality, one unified service provided by the acquiring bank to the merchant establishment for which gross value of consideration is the merchant discount rate (MDR). This single MDR includes the interchange fee. Therefore, the issuing bank’s service is subsumed into the service of the acquiring bank to make it a unified service to the merchant establishment. Evidently a merchant establishment does not F have any contractual liability to pay inter-change fee to the issuing bank.

28. By way of analogy, a reading of Section 65A which stipulates how classification of taxable services shall be determined, including when it is classifiable under two or more sub-clauses of Section 65 (105), is indicative: G “65-A. Classification of taxable services.—(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, classification of taxable services shall be determined according to the terms of the sub-clauses of clause (105) of Section 65; H

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A (2) When for any reason, a taxable service is, prima facie, classifiable under two or more sub-clauses of clause (105) of Section 65, classification shall be effected as follows:— (a) the sub-clause which provides the most specific description shall be preferred to sub-clauses providing a more general description; (b) composite services consisting of a combination of different services which cannot be classified in the manner specified in clause (a), shall be classified as if they consisted of a service which gives them their essential character, insofar as this criterion is applicable; […]” It would also be useful to notice that the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBE&C) clarified by a circular36 regarding service tax levy on goods transport by road service that composite service cannot be broken up into its components. The circular inter alia, states that: “3.Issue :GTA provides service to a person in relation to transportation of goods by road in a goods carriage. The service provided is a single composite service which may include various intermediary and ancillary services such as loading/unloading, packing/unpacking, transshipment, temporary warehousing. For the service provided, GTA issues a consignment note and the invoice issued by the GTA for providing the said service includes the value of intermediary and ancillary services. In such a case, whether the intermediary or ancillary activities is to be treated as part of GTA service and the abatement should be extended to the charges for such intermediary or ancillary service? Clarification: GTA provides a service in relation to transportation of goods by road which is a single composite service. GTA also issues consignment note. The composite service may include various intermediate and ancillary services provided in relation to the principal service of the road transport of goods. Such intermediate and ancillary services may include services like loading/unloading, packing/

36 H Circular No. 104/7/2008-S.T., dated 6-8-2008

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 553 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

unpacking, transshipment, temporary warehousing etc., which are provided in the course of transportation by road. These services are not provided as independent activities but are the means for successful provision of the principal service, namely, the transportation of goods by road. The contention that a single composite service should not be broken into its components and classified as separate services is a well- accepted principle of classification. As clarified earlier vide F. No. 334/4/2006-TRU, dated 28-2-2006 (para 3.2 and 3.3) [2006 (4) S.T.R. C30] and F. No. 334/1/2008-TRU, dated 29- 2-2008 (para 3.2 and 3.3) [2008 (9) S.T.R. C61], a composite service, even if it consists of more than one service, should be treated as a single service based on the main or principal service and accordingly classified. While taking a view, both the form and substance of the transaction are to be taken into account. The guiding principle is to identify the essential features of the transaction. The method of invoicing does not alter the single composite nature of the service and classification in such cases is based on essential character by applying the principle of classification enumerated in section 65A. Thus, if any ancillary/ intermediate service is provided in relation to transportation of goods, and the charges, if any, for such services are included in the invoice issued by the GTA, and not by any other person, such service would form part of GTA service and, therefore, the abatement of 75% would be available on it. 4.Issue 2 :GTA providing service in relation to transportation of goods by road in a goods carriage also undertakes packing as an integral part of the service provided. It may be clarified whether in such cases service provided is to be classified under GTA service. Clarification: Cargo handling service [Section 65(105)(zr)] means loading, unloading, packing or unpacking of cargo and includes the service of packing together with transportation of cargo with or without loading, unloading and unpacking. Transportation is not the essential character of cargo handling service but only incidental to the cargo handling service. Where service is provided by a person who H

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A is registered as GTA service provider and issues consignment note for transportation of goods by road in a goods carriage and the amount charged for the service provided is inclusive of packing, then the service shall be treated as GTA service and not cargo handling service. B 5.Issue 3 :Whether time sensitive transportation of goods by road in a goods carriage by a GTA shall be classified under courier service and not GTA service? Clarification :On this issue, it is clarified that so long as, (a) the entire transportation of goods is by road; and (b) the person transporting the goods issues a consignment note, it would be classified as ‘GTA Service’.” The above circular supports the view that a composite service cannot be broken up into components and classified as separate services.

29. The facts of the present case, in my opinion closely reflect the situation envisioned by the CBEC. The service provided by the acquiring bank is similar to the composite service provided by a GTA. The service element provided by an issuing bank is an integral part which gets subsumed in the single unified service provided by the acquiring bank to a merchant establishment. The principle enunciated by CBEC (in the circular) that even if a composite service, consists of more than one service, should nevertheless be treated as a single service based on the main or principal service and accordingly classified, is also applicable in the case of service provided by the acquiring bank and issuing bank. The latter’s role is subsumed into the service of the acquiring bank for which the gross consideration is received from the merchant establishment. The service element provided by the issuing bank in the credit card transaction at the merchant establishment is therefore not subject to service tax as it is incorporated in the service by the acquiring bank- as one service provided to the merchant establishment and the gross consideration (MDR) received by the acquiring bank includes the interchange fee shared with the issuing bank, by the acquiring bank. This is identical to the position in GTA service which was clarified by the Board in the above referred circular. This view is also supported by the newly enacted Section 66F (3) (b) which is effective from 1 July 2012, which states that naturally bundled services should be treated as provision of single service. The CBEC’s circulars are binding on the revenue. H Therefore, interchange fee earned by the issuing bank which forms an

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 555 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

integral part of serviceof the acquiring bank to the merchant A establishment, cannot be subjected to service tax. A credit card transaction- towards settlement of payment of a transaction, in sum, is an indestructible integrated service, whose constituent parts are inseparable from each other.

30. For the reasons outlined above, I am unable to agree with B Joseph, J’s reasoning that Citibank had to independently file returns, in respect of the transaction by which interchange fees were collected. Sections 67 and 68

31. As noted earlier, the charge (under Section 66) is on the “value of the taxable service referred….and collected in such manner as may be prescribed”. Valuation is in terms of the provision of Section 67, and Section 68 provides who has to pay service tax. Section 67 (1) enacts that the measure of tax levied, shall be on the consideration paid for the service, and provides for three contingencies. Section 67 (2) states that where the gross amount charged by a service provider, for the service provided includes service tax payable, the value of the taxable service shall be “such amount as with the addition of tax payable, is equal to the gross amount charged”. Section 67 (3) says that the “gross amount charged for the taxable service shall include any amount received towards the taxable service before, during or after provision of such service.” Section 67 (4) – which is subject to the previous sub-sections enacts that “the value shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed.” The Service Tax (Determination of Value) Rules, 2006 was framed by the revenue, to assist the task of determining the value of services, to be taxed. Rule 2 (d) (i) defines what is provider of service. Rule 5 prescribes as follows: F “Rule 5- Inclusion in or exclusion from value of certain expenditure or costs (1) Where any expenditure or costs are incurred by the service provider in the course of providing taxable service, all such expenditure or costs shall be treated as consideration for the G taxable service provided or to be provided and shall be included in the value for the purpose of charging service tax on the said service. Explanation. - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that for the value of the telecommunication service shall be H

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A the gross amount paid by the person to whom telecommunication service is actually provided. (2) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (1), the expenditure or costs incurred by the service provider as a pure agent of the recipient of service, shall be excluded from the value of B the taxable service if all the following conditions are satisfied, namely:- (i) the service provider acts as a pure agent of the recipient of service when he makes payment to third party for the goods or services procured C (ii) the recipient of service receives and uses the goods or services so procured by the service provider in his capacity as pure agent of the recipient of service; (iii) the recipient of service is liable to make payment to the third party; (iv) the recipient of service authorises the service provider to make payment on his behalf; D (v) the recipient of service knows that the goods and services for which payment has been made by the service provider shall be provided by the third party; (vi) the payment made by the service provider on behalf of the recipient of service has been separately indicated in the E invoice issued by the service provider to the recipient of service; (vii) the service provider recovers from the recipient of service only such amount as has been paid by him to the third party; and F (viii) the goods or services procured by the service provider from the third party as a pure agent of the recipient of service are in addition to the services he provides on his own account. Explanation1.–For the purposes of sub- rule (2), “pure agent” means a person who– (a) enters into a contractual agreement with the recipient of service to act as his pure agent to incur expenditure or costs in the course of providing taxable service; (b) neither intends to hold nor holds any title to the goods or services so procured or provided as pure agent of the recipient of service;

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 557 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

(c) does not use such goods or services so procured; and A (d) receives only the actual amount incurred to procure such goods or services. Explanation2.– For the removal of doubts it is clarified that the value of the taxable service is the total amount of consideration consisting of all components of the taxable B service and it is immaterial that the details of individual components of the total consideration is indicated separately in the invoice. Illustration 1.– X contracts with Y, a real estate agent to sell his house and thereupon Y gives an advertisement in television. C Y billed X including charges for Television advertisement and paid service tax on the total consideration billed. In such a case, consideration for the service provided is what X pays to Y. Y does not act as an agent behalf of X when obtaining the television advertisement even if the cost of television D advertisement is mentioned separately in the invoice issued by X. Advertising service is an input service for the estate agent in order to enable or facilitate him to perform his services as an estate agent Illustration 2.– In the course of providing a taxable service, E a service provider incurs costs such as traveling expenses, postage, telephone, etc., and may indicate these items separately on the invoice issued to the recipient of service. In such a case, the service provider is not acting as an agent of the recipient of service but procures such inputs or input service on his own account for providing the taxable service. F Such expenses do not become reimbursable expenditure merely because they are indicated separately in the invoice issued by the service provider to the recipient of service. Illustration 3.– A contracts with B, an architect for building a house. During the course of providing the taxable service, B G incurs expenses such as telephone charges, air travel tickets, hotel accommodation, etc., to enable him to effectively perform the provision of services to A. In such a case, in whatever form B recovers such expenditure from A, whether as a separately itemised expense or as part of an inclusive overall H

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A fee, service tax is payable on the total amount charged by B. Value of the taxable service for charging service tax is what pays to B. Illustration 4. – Company X provides a taxable service of rent-a-cab by providing chauffeur driven cars for overseas visitors. The chauffeur is given a lump sum amount to cover his food and overnight accommodation and any other incidental expenses such as parking fees by the Company X during the tour. At the end of the tour, the chauffeur returns the balance of the amount with a statement of his expenses and the relevant bills. Company X charges these amounts from the recipients of service. The cost incurred by the chauffeur and billed to the recipient of service constitutes part of gross amount charged for the provision of services by the company X.” It is evident, from a reading of Rule 5 (1) that all costs and expenditure incurred, for providing the service, are included in the calculation of “gross amount”. Further, per Explanation (2), “the value of the taxable service is the total amount of consideration consisting of all components of the taxable service.”

32. A co-joint reading of Section 67 and Rule 5 therefore establishes that the value of the entire service to the recipient is the basis of the service tax. Such being the case, if one accepts that the “gross amount” is the entire MDR – inclusive of the interchange fee, there is no mechanism, whereby the latter, i.e. the interchange fee can be brought into the tax net once again.

F 33. Section 68, no doubt, enacts that a person providing a taxable service shall pay service tax at the rate prescribed in Section 66B and in the manner prescribed by the rules, and in accordance with the returns filed as may be prescribed under the rules. However, that is not the determinative point – it is the charging provision, i.e. Section 65, which speaks of the levy being upon the value of the service. Therefore, I respectfully disagree with Justice Joseph’s opinion that “every person providing taxable service to any person shall pay service tax at the rate...” which is based on the reasoning that because they are two different entities, they are each separately liable to pay service tax under Section 68 (despite settling the same transaction between the card holder and merchant establishment).

COMMISSIONER OF GST AND CENTRAL EXCISE v. M/s CITI 559 BANK N. A. [S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.]

34. This court, in its ruling in Union of India v. Inter-Continental A Consultants & Technocrats37 observed in this context, as follows: “24. Section 66 of the Act is the charging section which reads as under: “66. Charge of service tax.— (1) There shall be levied a tax (hereinafter referred to as the service tax) @ 12% of the value of taxable services referred to in sub-clauses … of Section 65 and collected in such manner as may be prescribed.”

25. Obviously, this Section refers to service tax i.e. in respect of those services which are taxable and specifically referred to in various sub-clauses of Section 65. Further, it also specifically mentions that the service tax will be @ 12% of the “value of taxable services”. Thus, service tax is reference to the value of service. As a necessary corollary, it is the value of the services which are actually rendered, the value whereof is to be ascertained for the purpose of calculating the service tax payable thereupon. D

26. In this hue, the expression “such” occurring in Section 67 of the Act assumes importance. In other words, valuation of taxable services for charging service tax, the authorities are to find what is the gross amount charged for providing “such” taxable services. As a fortiori, any other amount which is calculated not for providing such taxable service cannot be a part of that valuation as that amount is not calculated for providing such “taxable service”. That according to us is the plain meaning which is to be attached to Section 67 (unamended i.e. prior to 1-5-2006) or after its amendment, with effect from 1-5-2006. Once this interpretation is to be given to Section 67, it hardly needs to be emphasised that Rule 5 of the Rules went much beyond the mandate of Section

67. We, therefore, find that the High Court was right in interpreting Sections 66 and 67 to say that in the valuation of taxable service, the value of taxable service shall be the gross amount charged by the service provider “for such service” and the valuation of tax service cannot be anything more or less than the consideration paid as quid pro qua for rendering such a service. 37 (2018) 4 SCC 669 H

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