Chartered accountants, cost accountants, company secretaries have been exempted from services tax for certain services related to representation of clients before any statutory authority.

All other services rendered by them would attract 12 per cent service tax, according to an official release here.

The decision has been taken following representations from these professionals requesting the governemnt to exempt these services as simliar services provided by other professionals like lawyers are exmepted from the levy.

At present 96 services are under the services tax net after the Budget 2006-07 expanded the coverage of the levy to 15 new services.