Further to my observations on Service Tax and Speed Post rates charged by India Post on two premium products viz. ‘Local Speed Post’ and ‘One India One Rate’ Speed Post articles, I was shocked to know that still many post offices in India are charging RS. 13/- and Rs. 26/- as Speed Post rates for Local Speed Post and One India One Rate Speed Post articles respectively. Yesterday I visited one post office in Vadodara to book Speed Post articles. I had affixed stamps of Rs. 25/- and Rs. 12/- on two articles, One for Ahmedabad and Vadodara (Local). I was asked to pay Rs. 1 each more for both the articles. While inquiring with concerned authority, I was told that Service Tax has been increased and that’s why rates have increased. I argued that for both the classes a clarification has been issued to charge Rs. 12/- and Rs. 25/- respectively. To my surprise, the postmaster told me that they do not have any information about this!
Here are Examples of Receipts of Speed Post Articles booked at Rs. 13/- and Rs. 26/-.
Local Speed Post Rate Charged RS. 13/-. Service Tax Charged Rs. 2.15 which should be Rs. 1.32 and basic Postage Rate Should be Rs. 10.68.
‘One India One Rate’ - Speed Post Rate Charged RS. 26/-. Service Tax Charged Rs. 3.36 which should be Rs. 2.75 and basic Postage Rate Should be Rs. 22.25.
Once again today I found that in one of the Head Post Offices of Vadodara (Fateganj H. O.) also they are charging Rs. 13/- for Local Speed Post articles and Rs. 26/- for ‘One India One Rate’ articles. Here are examples of receipts. Most interesting this is that here the Service Tax amount is different then above examples.
Local Speed Post Rate Charged RS. 13/-. Here Service Tax Charged Rs. 2.33 which should be Rs. 1.32 and basic Postage Rate Should be Rs. 10.68.
‘One India One Rate’ - Speed Post Rate Charged RS. 26/-. Service Tax Charged Rs. 3.76 which should be Rs. 2.75 and basic Postage Rate Should be Rs. 22.25.
It is not known why the Service tax value differs at different post offices !!!
God knows how many Post Offices in India are still charging Rs. 13/- for Local Speed Post articles and Rs. 26/- for One India One Rate articles (1 - 50 grams weight in all India).
For the Students of Modern Indian Postal History certainly these are very interesting collectible items.
Readers are requested to send information and scans of receipts for study if they come across such anomaly from their places…
- Prashant H. Pandya
2 comments:
I was paying only Rs. 25 for speed post till recently, but Rs. 26 after the increase in service tax / surcharge.
Mr. Kasinath, Please collect few samples of Rs. 13/- and Rs. 26/- and send to me. - Prashant
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