Domestic Services GST Rates and SAC Code 9998: A Complete Guide

Travelling, whether national or international, is a basic experience for many people. While most passengers carefully plan their travel program, they often ignore extra costs associated with services offered by travel agencies and tour operators, especially goods and services tax (GST).

In order to regulate the taxation of travel-related services, the GST council has introduced specific prices under separate Service Account code (SAC). Such a relevant code is SAC code 9998, which covers travel and related support services.

Understanding this code is necessary for companies that offer travel services, as the used GST speed applied depends on the type of service and the vendor's role. This blog aims to clarify the process and the biggest difference between the requirements for GST -Sami, travel agencies and tour operators.

Explanation of a Travel Agent

A travel agent organizes travel for clients (individuals, groups, corporations) on behalf of suppliers (hotels, airlines, vehicle rentals, cruise lines, Pullmans, travel insurance, package tours). His commitment is to ease the course of holiday planning for their consumers and to provide consultancy services and complete travel packages.

An agent can be self-employed, work for a sovereign travel agency, or be a member of a travel agency group. Agents frequently collect a 10 to 15% commission from lodgings, transportation companies, and benefits for handling trip bookings.

Comparison B/W Tour Operators and Travel Agents

Tour operator	Tour Agent
A tour operator is a person/company that conducts vacations and vacation packages.	A travel agent is a reputable broker or agency that sells vacation packages; the travel agent is an intermediary.
The tour operator creates the services.	Travel agencies buy holiday packages from tour operators and sell them to tourists.
A tour operator ensures that a tourist enjoys the vacation package they have reserved.	A travel agent deals with clients who choose which vacation to take, and if not.

Threshold limit of GST registration for Tour Operators and Travel Agents:

Arunachal Pradesh	Assam	Himachal Pradesh
Jammu & Kashmir	Manipur	Meghalaya
Mizoram	Nagaland	Sikkim
Tripura	Uttarakhand

Every tour operator with a turnover exceeding Rs. 20 lakhs in the prior financial year should have the GST registration. The supreme turnover is Rs. 10 lakhs for distinct categories or states.

Tour Operators in States:

1. They should register for GST and file a GST reappearance if their annual turnover is more than Rs 10 lakh.

2. The turnover limit is not functional every time. For instance, when an individual is performing an interstate taxable supply, an individual as an operator or else furnishes the goods or services or both levied to taxes on behalf of another taxable discrete like an air travel agency should receive GST registration in India.

The Source of Supply Location

E.g., when a hotel or cruise pays the agent

1. If the hotel or cruise is positioned in India, its point of sale shall be at the location of the hotel or cruise.

2. A manager's POS will signify an agent's location if the hotel or vacation is situated outside of India.

GST Rate Applies to Travel Agents

Explanation	SAC	GST
"1. Facilitate booking of flights, hotels, and travel-related services on behalf of clients. 2. Organize and sell complete travel packages including transport, lodging, and sightseeing. 3. Provide on-ground support, guidance, and help to travelers during their journey. 4. Handle reservations for travel, hotels, and related services as per customer requirements."	9998	5%
A foreign visitor receives services from a tour operator for a trip entirely undertaken outside of India.	9985	Nil
Sale of Tour Packages	998552	5%
Rent-a-Cab Service	9967	5%
Air Ticket Booking Services by Agents	998551	18%
Service Charge Paid on Travel-Related Like Visa, Passport, etc	998555	18%
Commission of Rail Travel Agents	9967	18%
Other Renting Services	998559	18%
Hotel Booking or Cruise by Agent	998552	2%-18% with ITC or 5% without

Travel agents need to levy 18% GST on their directive, but when the agent furnishes the air transportation services, the GST is levied under Rule 32 of the VGST Rule 2017. Under CGST Rule 32(3), the value of the amenities yielded by an air travel agency in association with the holding of airline tickets will be decided at the rate of tax.

Conclusion

The explanation mentioned earlier signifies that all the amenities provided to the customers via the travel agents are obliged to pay taxes under the GST taxation system. This is because you might plan your upcoming vacation budget and must guarantee that you include the GST that your travel agent levies you for the facilities they furnish.

FAQs

1. What is the GST rate for manpower services?

Any manpower services, such as drivers, data entry operators, supplementary clerical staff, security services, and housekeeping services, complete to a person (whether or not a business), attract GST at 18%.

2. Who can charge 18% GST?

For a restaurant with AC or a liquor license, 18% GST is valid. For restaurants within five-star hotels, the GST rate was customary at 28%, and at that time, all Indian restaurants in India could benefit from the input tax credit.

3. Who can charge 18% GST?

For a restaurant with AC or a whisky license, 18% GST is applicable. For restaurants within five-star hotels, the GST rate was set at 28%, and at that time, all Indian restaurants in India could take advantage of the input tax credit.

4. Is ITC available on Manpower services?

Held that the Applicant is eligible to avail ITC on bond staffing services received under Section 16(1) of the CGST Act, subject to the accomplishment of conditions specified in the said section.

5. Can one SAC code have multiple GST rates?

Under the GST regime, services considered under the SAC code are subject to five different tax rates: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. Consequently, if a service is not recorded on the SAC code or lacks a specific SAC code, it is subject to an 18% GST rate.