Govt likely to setup a new intelligence unit to check service tax evasion

08 Apr 2013 Evaluate

Worried over the growing cases of service tax evasion, the Finance Ministry is likely to setup Directorate of Anti Evasion to check service tax evasion. According to an official statement by the finance ministry, the number of services under service tax has increased significantly and there is a need to strengthen anti-evasion activities in service tax to ensure proper compliance from service tax assesses’. The proposed intelligence unit to check the menace and stop leakage of revenue is to be set on the lines of two other intelligence agencies - Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI). 

The finance ministry is on the view that the intelligence agencies such as DGCEI and DRI have been actively catching service tax, excise and customs duty evaders, but, a separate directorate may help in ensuring strict check on service tax evasion. The Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC) has detected service tax evasion of Rs 9,800 crore during April-December period of FY13 against Rs 5,000-6,000 crore in the same period of previous fiscal.

Earlier this year, the Government had given a stern warning to excise, customs and service tax evaders to either pay dues on time or face penal action which could include arrest, prosecution and property attachment. Following this, the Government has realised Rs 10,453 crore service tax during February, up by 44 percent compared to collections in the previous month. The service tax collection during April-February of FY13 was Rs 1.13 lakh crore. As per the revised estimate, the Government aims to collect Rs 4.69 lakh crore in FY13 from indirect taxes, comprising customs, excise and service tax.

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