CBEC has exempted the services of Money Transfer Service Operators from 1st Jul-12 to 13th Oct-15. As per the current industry practice, it was not being paid till now. Therefore, they have been exempted till 13th Oct-15 and indirectly, it makes this service taxable from 14th Oct-15. Below is the text of notification:

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Excise and Customs

Notification No. 19/2015-Service Tax

New Delhi, the 14^th October, 2015

22 Asvina 1937 Saka

G.S.R. (E).- Whereas, the Central Government is satisfied that in the period commencing on and from the 1^st day of July, 2012 and ending with the 13^th day of October, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the said period) according to a practice that was generally prevalent, there was  non–levy of service tax on the services provided by an Indian Bank or other entity acting as an agent to the Money Transfer Service Operators (hereinafter referred to as MTSO),  in relation to remittance of foreign currency from outside India to India (hereinafter referred to as the said practice),  and this service was liable to service tax, which was not being paid according to the said practice.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11C of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944) as made applicable to like matters in Service Tax vide section 83 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994), the Central Government hereby directs that the service tax payable under section 66B of the Finance Act, 1994, on the service provided by an Indian Bank or other entity acting as an agent to the MTSO in relation to remittance of foreign currency from outside India to India, in the said period, but for the said practice, shall not be required to be paid.

(Himani Bhayana)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

[F.No. 137/51/2014-Service Tax]