[LIS-Forum] Fwd: LIBRARIES & THE TAX PROBLEMS: SIGN THE PETITION TO FM

[Ishwar Goudar]

Dear Professionals,

We have too short time to approach the FM before the budget is approved and
becomes a sort of law, making it difficult for  libraries and other stake
holders to acquire or sell e-resources even for academic and research
purpose due to service tax and TDS.  Let the Government differentiate
between a software and scholarly e-content.  Please read the forwarded mail
of Prof. Koganurmath and sign the petition immediately (
www.ipetitions.com/petition/indian-library-association) and strengthen ILA
and other Associations in convincing the FM appropriately. PLEASE FORWARD
THIS MAIL TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL FRIENDS, SO THAT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS
SIGNING THE PETITION GROWS FAST.

Regards,

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dr. I.R.N. Goudar
- Visiting Professor Cum Library Adviser
  Bangalore University Library, Gnana Bharathi Campus
  BANGALORE - 560056, India
- Ex. Visiting Professor Cum Library Adviser, UoM, Mysore
- Ex. Scientist 'G' and Head, ICAST, NAL, Bangalore
- Ex. Dy Librarian, IITM, Chennai
- Ex. Scientist (Information), IICT, Hyderabad
- Fulbright Scholar, Univ. of Michigan and Columbia Univ, USA (1995-96)
- British Council Scholar (1982-83)
  E-mail: goudarishwar at gmail.com
  Tel: 080-23215510
  Mob: 91+9611165781 (If not reachable pl try land line)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Prof.Muttayya Koganuramath <muttayya53 at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 3:35 PM
Subject: LIBRARIES & THE TAX PROBLEMS: A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, INDIAN
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
To: lis-forum at ncsi.iisc.ernet.in


Dear Librarians

The new Government is laying special emphasis on libraries in education by
proclaiming its intent of establishing national e-Library in line with its
election manifesto.  Indian Library Association (ILA) is participating in
the innovative and best practices of the Government's policy, especially in
the filed of Library and Information services.  ILA aims at enriching the
knowledge society of the country towards an inclusive education and
analyzing the role of the Government in the development and implementation
of national education and library policies.

It is heartening to know that our new Hon'ble Prime Minister is a great
friend of e-libraries. During his visit to Bhutan he proudly announced that
India would extend its support and expertise in setting up an e-Library for
Bhutan with an aid funding of Rs.2 crore.   But, the first budget of the
new Government has a few unpleasant surprises for the Libraries, which will
prove to be counter-productive in the collection development for
e-libraries.

There are two serious tax burdens, which will adversely affect the
development of e-libraries in the country.   These are:

1.       It is believed that libraries will have to deduct tax at source
(TDS) when they make payment for purchase of e-books/e-journals as they may
be considered as software/electronic data.   This has come into effect
since July 2012.  Publishers, particularly the foreign ones, are resisting
the deduction, as it will be both financial and operational nuisance for
them.  Also there is no clarity on whether the law considers
e-books/e-journals as equivalent to software.  The Library profession needs
to insist on the Government for policy clarification on this matter and
request for exemption of e-resources of educational nature from TDS
deduction.

2.       While subscription to online e-resources were exempted from
service tax by the previous Government through a general exemption of
educational services to schools and colleges under the category "Auxiliary
Educational Services" in the negative list, the current Government has
withdrawn this exemption.  This means, all purchases/subscriptions of
e-books/e-journals will come under the additional burden of service tax,
which will be about 12.5%.

ILA is submitting a petition to Shri Arun Jaitley, Hon'ble Finance
Minister, drawing his kind attention to the need for exempting
e-books/e-journals from the above tax burdens and further requesting him to
issue a policy clarification that e-content should not be treated as
software under the law and should be freed from all tax burdens like the
printed books and journals have been accorded tax-free status.  A copy of
the petition is posted on this site as a letter of appeal from the
profession (through ILA) to the Finance Minister. (
www.ipetitions.com/petition/indian-library-association)  Please visit this
site and sign this petition.  ILA President is seeking an appointment with
the Finance Minister and the HRD Minister to submit this petition next week.
We have to move fast well before the budget is passed in the
parliament.   Please
act fast and join ILA in this cause by signing the petition at
www.ipetitions.com/petition/indian-library-association.

*Prof.(Mrs.) Ashu Shokeen*
*President, Indian Library Association *
*Dept. of Library & Information Science*
*Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra*
Email : shokeen_ashu at rediffmail.com

*AND *

*Prof.  Muttayya Koganuramath*
*(Former President, ILA)*
*Centre for Library & Information Science,*
*Central University of Gujarat,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Mobile: 09033070481
Email: muttayya53 at gmail.com

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