1. Dear Hazel,
According to the para 5.9.5 of the Taxation of Services: An Education Guide
What are “Online information and database access or retrieval services”?
“Online information and database access or retrieval services” are services in relation to online
information and database access or retrieval or both, in electronic form through computer
network, in any manner. Thus, these services are essentially delivered over the internet or an
electronic network which relies on the internet or similar network for their provision. The other
important feature of these services is that they are completely automated, and require minimal
human intervention.
Examples of such services are:-
i) online information generated automatically by software from specific data input by
the customer, such as web-based services providing trade statistics, legal and
financial data, matrimonial services, social networking sites;
ii) digitized content of books and other electronic publications, subscription of online
newspapers and journals, online news, flight information and weather reports;
iii) Web-based services providing access or download of digital content.
The following services will not be treated as “online information and database access or
retrieval services”:-
i) Sale or purchase of goods, articles etc over the internet;
ii) Telecommunication services provided over the internet, including fax, telephony,
audio conferencing, and videoconferencing;
iii) A service which is rendered over the internet, such as an architectural drawing, or
management consultancy through e-mail;
iv) Repair of software, or of hardware, through the internet, from a remote location;
v) Internet backbone services and internet access services.
Therefore, in our opinion, you are governed by Place of Provision of Services and do not fall under the category of online data retrieval services.
Regards
YAGAY and SUN
(Management, Business and Indirect Tax Consultants)