Finance Minister's statement in Parliament relating to Service Tax

Service Tax
19. As Hon’ble Members are aware, taxation of services has undergone a paradigm shift with the introduction of a Negative List.  This initiative has been widely welcomed.
20. The negative list has been drawn keeping in view the federal nature of the polity.  Some of the States, through the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, have expressed their concerns.   I have decided to address their concerns by making changes in the definition of “service” which will exclude the activities specified in the Constitution as “deemed sale of goods”.  The definition of “works contract” has also been enlarged to include movable properties.
21. Exemption for specified services relating to agriculture in the Negative List has also been extended to agricultural produce enlarging the scope of the entry.
22. There are some other minor changes in the definitions based on the widespread feedbacks and suggestions that we have received from various stakeholders and are specified in the revised draft.