Yoga Services is exempted from Service Tax

There’s good news on the tax front for yoga gurus who carry on their activities via charitable trusts.Income of such trusts from yoga-related activities will now not be subject to service tax.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has in a notification dated October 21 specifically added yoga as one of the activities in the definition of ‘charitable activities’. Prior to this amendment, charitable activities were confined to activities related to the advance of religion or spirituality. “While it was possible to argue that yoga also includes aspects of religion and spirituality, the amended definition provides more clarity,” says Sunil Gabhawalla, indirect tax expert.