I find restaurant bills often so confusing; I just give up
and pay the amount shown in the bottom line. Which we perhaps shouldn't.
Incidentally, I also resent the inclusion of Service Charges in
restaurant bills, because it assumes that I was satisfied with the service.
Just a matter of principle. Service Charge should be something I leave behind
at my personal discretion.
I recently demanded that the service charge be removed as the
service was non-existent. After a short - very short! - discussion, it was
removed. About Service Tax..... Be aware….this happened at the restaurant.
Let me explain.
We had been to several restaurants recently. I observed that
"service tax" was being misused in the way it was being charged to
customers. Let me give an example.
Food and Beverage = Rs. 1000.00
Service Charges @ 10% = Rs. 100.00
Service Tax @ 4.94% = Rs. 54.34 (on F&B + Service
Charges)
VAT @14.5% = Rs. 145.00
Total = Rs. 1299.34
As per the definition - "Service Tax can be charged ONLY
for the Services provided to the customer".
Now, see what is happening here in the above example. Service
Tax should be charged only on the Service Charge amount i.e. Rs.100 ONLY, and
NOT on the entire amount (1000+100).
In this example, the customer should be charged only Rs 4.94, whereas he has been charged Rs. 49.00 extra.
Where does this money go?
Only the restaurant owner and the chartered accountants who
work for them know. So, I have started asking them the questions - and am surprised
to see the reaction from famous restaurants.
Either they say: "Sir we cannot change the format of the bill - so, we will recalculate and tell you the revised amount. You may pay only that." OR "Sir, you do not need to pay the Service Tax amount itself"!!
I now have 3 to 4 restaurant bills, but for which I have paid
only the service tax on the service charge and NOT on the total amount.
Every bill MUST carry the TIN number and Service Tax Number,
if they charge it. So . . . , I ask for the Service tax number if it is not available
in the receipt that they provide.
As we cannot go to any government official and ask them to
get this right - because of our system.
Please remember - we cannot change any political leader - but we can change ourselves.If we change ourselves - things will change.
Please do share this with every one of your friends and known
people.
Ask for the right tax calculation and Pay only the tax which
is supposed to be paid. Verify every bill and receipt that you make payment on.
