Service tax to be discussed with FM: Bhardwaj

New Delhi, Sept 25 (UNI) Law and Justice Minister H R Bhardwaj today said his Ministry will take up the service tax issue with the Finance Minister for its removal, particularly on rentals accruing out of sub-letting of properties by property owners.

''We will discuss the service tax issue with the Finance Ministry,'' said Mr Bhardwaj on the sidelines of International Tax Conference here.

He said that unnecessary extension of service tax will force the taxpayers to evade its payment and on the contrary sought that tax regime should be honest so that corporates and individuals do not hire services of professional chartered accountants and lawyers for either evasion or avoidance of taxes.

The Minister sympathised with the Finance Minister, pointing out that he is under tremendous pressure to raise revenues to rush money to either disaster management or to meet emergencies, arising out of calamities or through other channels and therefore the Finance Minister wants to impose taxation.

He, however, suggested that harsh structured tax regime is still uncalled for as it will lead to tax evasion and push for criticism and therefore the attempt of the Finance Ministry should be to generate revenues through moderate ways of tax imposition.

UNI