Aggregate value rule: combined turnover across services and premises determines small service provider exemption; co-owners assessed individually.
Exemption is applied to the aggregate value of all taxable services provided from all premises by a provider, and eligibility is determined by aggregating previous year turnover across all premises; where premises are co-owned, each co-owner may claim the exemption separately if, on individual assessment, their aggregate taxable services fall within the threshold.

Reverse charge excludes recipients from small service provider exemption when they are liable to pay service tax.
The Small service provider exemption does not extend to persons liable to pay service tax as service recipients under the Reverse Charge Mechanism; values of taxable services for which tax is payable by such person under sub-section (2) of section 68 read with the Service Tax Rules are excluded from the notification's exemption.

Option to decline small-provider exemption allows service providers to pay service tax and claim CENVAT credit from that date.
Service providers may elect during a financial year to forego the small-provider value-based exemption and pay service tax, but the election is irrevocable for that financial year. Upon electing to pay service tax, the provider may avail CENVAT credit only for inputs or input services received on or after the date service tax payments commence and used for taxable services for which service tax is payable.

Brand name usage and service tax exemption: services under own brand remain eligible; exclusion covers use of another's brand.
Exemption for small service providers applies when services are provided under the provider's own brand name or trade name; the notification excludes only taxable services provided under a brand or trade name of another person, whether registered or not.