(7)The person liable for paying the service tax in relation [of booking of tickets for travel by air] [Substituted (w.e.f. 1.07.2012) by Notification No.36/2012-Service Tax dated 20/06/2012.] provided by an air travel agent, shall have the option, to pay an amount calculated at the rate of [0.6%] [Substituted (w.e.f. 01.05.2006) for '0.5' by Notification No. 17/2006-ST, dated 25.04.2006.] of the basic fare in the case of domestic bookings, and at the rate of [1.2%] [Substituted (w.e.f. 01.05.2006) for '1.0' by Notification No. 17/2006-ST, dated 25.04.2006.] of the basic fare in the case of international bookings, of passage for travel by air, during any calendar month or quarter, as the case may be, towards the discharge of his service tax liability instead of paying service tax [at the rate of specified in [Section 66B] [Inserted by Notification No. 11/2004-ST, dated 10.09.2004.] of Chapter V of the Act] and the option, once exercised, shall apply uniformly in respect of all the bookings of passage for travel by air made by him and shall not be changed during a financial year under any circumstances.Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expression "basic fare" means that part of the air fare on which commission is normally paid to the air travel agent by the airline.
