HC takes note of GST Notice to Lawyers in respect of Service Tax

The Allahabad high court‘s Lucknow bench has expressed severe concern with the CGST and excise departments for sending notices to advocates for paying service tax and levy tax, despite the fact that advocates’ services are excluded from these taxes. The bench has instructed the commissioner of GST to issue a clear directive to the GST commissionerate in Lucknow to ensure that no notice related service tax/GST payment be issued to attorneys.

The judgement was issued by a vacation bench comprising Justices Alok Mathur and Jyotsna Sharma on the plea filed by attorney Pankaj Khare. The petitioner, a practising counsel, had challenged the decision of deputy commissioner, CGST & Central Excise Div. Lucknow – 1, Lucknow, assessing him for service tax and levying tax and interest totaling Rs.3.32 lakh.