New Delhi: In a bid to promote cashless economy, government has decided to waive service tax on debit and credit card transactions of up to Rs 2,000 amid cash crunch following the withdrawal of old Rs 500 and 1,000 banknotes.
The government has decided to “exempt services by an acquiring bank to any person in relation to the settlement of an amount up to Rs 2,000 in a single transaction through credit, debit card or other payment card service”, sources said.
ALSO READ: ‘Demonetisation a foolish decision’, says RaGa
A notification to this effect will be tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament.
Following demonetisation of old high-value notes, there has been a cash crunch in the country as people have been making a beeline for banks and ATMs to withdraw new currency.
The government has been taking steps to promote cashless or digital transactions to take India towards a less-cash economy.
ALSO READ: Pune to gets its own Metro, centre gives its nod
Recently, the government asked banks to install additional 10 lakh PoS terminals by March 31 in different parts of the country.
The service tax notification of June 2012 will be amended to include exemption on credit and debit cards, the sources added.
As of now, services provided by organisations such as United Nations and other international bodies are exempt from tax.
ALSO READ: England 117-1 against India at lunch on day 1 of 4th Test
A range of other services provided by arbitral tribunals, testing of newly developed drugs, educational institutions, trade unions, general insurance business and sports bodies, among others too are exempt from the levy.
(With PTI inputs)