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Circular No.204/2/2017-Service Tax

F.No.354/42/2016-TRU
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Tax Research Unit)
*****
Dated- 16
th
February, 2017
To,
Principal Chief Commissioners of Customs and Central Excise(All)
Principal Chief Commissioners of Central Excise & Service Tax (All)
Principal Director Generals of Goods and Service Tax/System/CEI
Director General of Audit/Tax Payer Services,
Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs and Central Excise (All)
Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Central Excise and Service Tax (All)
Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Service Tax (All)
Principal Commissioners/Commissioners LTU/Central excise/Service Tax (Audit)

Sub:- Applicability of service tax on the services by way of transportation of goods
by a vessel from a place outside India to the customs station in India w.r.t.
goods intended for transhipment to any country outside India - reg.

Madam/Sir,
Representations seeking clarification on levy of service tax on the services by way
of transportation of goods by a vessel from a place outside India to the customs station in
India with respect to goods intended for transshipment to any country outside India.

2. In this regard, it is mentioned that the goods landing at Indian ports which are
destined for any other country are allowed to be transshipped through Indian territory
without payment of Customs duty in India. This is subject to the condition that such
goods imported into a customs station are mentioned in the import manifest or the import
report, as the case may be, as for transhipment to any place outside India. [Section 54(2)
of the Customs Act, 1962]. Further, Goods Imported (Conditions of Transhipment)
Regulations, 1995 have been prescribed for the procedure to be followed for
transhipment of such goods.

3. It is pertinent to mention that as per the charging Section 66B of the Finance Act,
1994, service tax is leviable on services provided or agreed to be provided in the taxable
territory. Whether a service is provided or agreed to be provided in the taxable territory or

not, is determined as per Section 66C of the Finance Act, 1994 and the Place of Provision
of Services Rules, 2012 made thereunder. In terms of the applicable rule 10 of the Place
of Provision of Services Rules, 2012, the place of provision of services of transportation
of goods by air/sea, other than by mail or courier, is the destination of the goods.

4. Thus, with respect to goods imported into a customs station in India intended for
transhipment to any country outside India, the destination of goods is not a place in
taxable territory in India but a country other than India if the same is mentioned in the
import manifest or the import report as the case may be and the goods are transhipped in
accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and rules made there under.
Hence, with respect to such goods, services by way of transportation of goods by a vessel
from a place outside India to the customs station in India are not taxable in India as the
destination of such goods is a country other than India.

5. All concerned are requested to acknowledge the receipt of this circular.

7. Trade Notice/Public Notice to be issued. Difficulty if any, in the implementation
of the circular should be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version would follow.

Yours faithfully,



(Dr. Abhishek Chandra Gupta)
Technical Officer (TRU)