Service tax exempt on transport of essential items

According to the notification issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), the list of exempted goods includes - edible oil seeds and edible oils; food grains (cereals and pulses) and flour, petroleum and petroleum products and Hank yarn made wholly from cotton.

"The central government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, exempts the taxable service provided to any person in relation to the transport of goods, through rail, national waterway, inland water and coastal shipping, from the whole of service tax leviable thereon," the  notification said.

The list of exempted goods also includes raw jute and jute textile, seeds for food crops and fruits and vegetables, seeds for cattle feed, jute seeds, medicine/pharmaceutical products, relief materials meant for victims of natural or other disasters, defence or military equipments.