The government on Friday said service tax evaders have deprived the exchequer of over Rs 9,872 crore during April-December period of 2012-13.
“The service tax evaders have deprived the country’s coffers of about Rs 9,872.25 crore during the period April to December, 2012 as per the investigations conducted so far...,” Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
During the period, 4,133 cases were detected and over Rs 1,969 crore has been realised from the defaulters, he said.
The Minister further said the government is making “all out efforts” to detect the service tax evaders and take action against them.
Conducting surveys by the field officers, extensive publicity regarding the liability of service tax and booking cases against defaulters were among the steps taken by the government to check evasion of the duty.
In addition, the Revenue Department is obtaining information from other government agencies and departments regarding various service providers and persons liable to pay tax.
Replying to another query, Mr. Palanimanickam said the Finance Ministry is examining the issue of expanding the list of indigenously manufactured items allowed to be sold through duty free shops located in arrival and departure sides of airports without the payment of excise duty.
The ministry has received representations from trade bodies to allow such sales at international airports.
