Starting April 1, tickets to museum, zoo to turn cheaper, air travel expensive

New Delhi: Entry tickets to museums, zoo and tiger reserves would become cheaper, while business class air travel, investment in MFs and chit funds would become expensive with some of the service tax proposals announced in the Budget coming into effect from April 1.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had came out with a host of proposals last month to rationalise service tax, which is levied at an effective rate of 12.36 per cent. These also include raising the rate to 14 per cent, but that will come into effect from a date to be notified later by the government after the passage of the Finance Bill by Parliament.

However, the proposals, which will come into effect from April 1, 2015 include tax exemption granted to services like admission to a museum, zoo, national park, wild life sanctuary and a tiger reserve.

Similarly, life insurance scheme Varishtha Pension Bima Yojna, ambulance service, retail packing of fruits and vegetables, too will not attract service tax levy. On the other hand, air travel will become expensive as service tax will now be levied on 60 per cent of the value of the ticket as against 40 per cent presently.

"At present, Service Tax is payable on 40 per cent of the value of air transport of passenger for economy as well as higher classes e.g. business class. "The abatement for classes other than economy is being reduced and service tax would be payable on 60 per cent of the value of such higher classes", said the memorandum to the Finance Bill, adding that the proposal will come into effect from April 1, 2015.