<h1>Finance Bill 2013 simplifies service tax registration penalties, capping at Rs. 10,000 u/s 77(a).</h1> The Finance Bill, 2013 proposes changes to the penalty for failing to take service tax registration. Previously, under Section 77(a), the penalty could extend to Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 200 per day of non-compliance, whichever was higher. The new proposal caps the penalty at a maximum of Rs. 10,000 for such registration defaults, simplifying the penalty structure and potentially reducing the financial burden on those failing to register for service tax in a timely manner.