Dear Professionals, This is a great news for not only to LIS community but entire stake holders of E-Journals including Academicians, Scientists and even publishers. The exact link to this press release is: http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1517139 There were two components of Tax: 1. GST: We had pay this amount over and above the cost of e-Journals. While we could negotiate with publishers to bear this cost, we didn't have anyway of avoiding it. This announcement is a great relief for Libraries, who were already suffering from budget cuts, increased demand for more e-journals, etc However the following issues still remains to be sorted out or need to be attended by GST Council. - This recommendation mentions only educational institutions giving degree by Law. What about Libraries attached to Research Institutes, Industries, etc - It mentions only about E-Journals. What about E-Books and other kind of e-resources? There would be some confusion about Bibliographic database. It all depends on how they interpret the word e-journals. - We should give representations to GST Council covering all these issues. 2. TDS - Tax deduction at source. Neither this was a burden for Libraries nor to publishers. We need to deduct 10% on the invoice amount by publishers. They can get them reimbursed or get adjusted in their tax the amount from their respective governments as per the Double Taxation Treaty between India and concerned country. In fact this rate was different for different countries and now it is uniformly 10%, as per information I have. Some publishers don't agree for this and try to add this amount to our invoices, OR inflate it to include this amount, OR will say that they would adjust the TDS amount in the next years invoice. For the last few years many Libraries/Institutions have ignored this Tax rule knowingly or unknowingly and made payment of entire invoice amount without TDS. This is a grave mistake on our part. Tax department can take action on our institutions. So let us stick on to this rule. I request all of you give your views and steps to be taken in this matter through Lis-forum. Use kindly reply to all enabling the chain to continue. Regards, Goudar "Access E-Resources for Academic and Research Excellence" *- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -* Dr. I.R.N. Goudar - Adjunct Professor, Mangalore University - Ex. Visiting Professor Cum Library Adviser Bangalore University Library, BANGALORE - 560056 - 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@gmail.com Mob: 91+9611165781 On Fri, Jan 19, 2018 at 9:53 AM, Deepali V wrote:

Dear All,

Recommendations made on GST Rate changes on services by the 25th GST Council Meeting dated 18-January-2018 19:40 IST

*27. To exempt subscription of online educational journals/periodicals by educational institutions who provide degree recognized by any law from GST.*

PFA Press Relesae attached. Source : http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1517141

Gazette Notification awaited.

Good day ahead.

-- Thanks & Regards D V Kuberkar Head, Digital Library TATA Memorial Hospital Dr. E. Borges Marg, Parel, Mumbai - 400 012 Email ; kuberkardv@tmc.gov.in

Tel : 91 - 22 - 24177257 Mobile : 9819687486

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