Service tax not applicable on Google AdWords:
Due to a recent change in Indian tax regulations, the service tax rate for advertising services supplied by Google India Private Limited will change.
The rate will be reduced from the current rate of 12.36% to 0% (zero percent). Given that Education Cess and Secondary & Higher Education Cess are calculated as a percentage of the service tax, we will also no longer charge these taxes. This change will take effect for all AdWords invoices dated on or after July 1, 2012.
Please note that Google cannot advise you on tax matters and recommend that you contact your tax adviser for any questions regarding this change.
The tax exemption details (negative list) can be found in the Finance Act,
2012 (Clause 143). In particular, the 17 services that comprise the negative list can be found at Section 66D. The sale of advertising space or time slots is included under (G) Section 66D. Notification No 19/2012-Service Tax appoints the 1st day of July, 2012 as the date from which the provisions of clauses (C), (F), (G) and (I) of the Finance Act, 2012 (Act No 23 of 2012) shall come into effect.
