What should be done, if an assessee rendering both taxable & exempted services, but the inputs & input services are common ?

Separate accounts are to be maintained for the receipt, consumption and inventory of input and input service meant for providing taxable output service and for use in the exempted services. Credit should be taken only on that quantity of input /input services which are used for the service on which Service Tax is payable. (Ref. Rule 6 of Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004)

If separate accounts are not maintained, the provider of output service shall pay an amount equal to eight percent of value of exempted services or pay an amount equivalent to the CENVAT credit attributable to input/input services used in, or in relation to provision of exempted services subject to the conditions specified in sub-rule (3A) ibid. (Ref. Rule 6(3 & 3A) of Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 read with Not.No.10/2008CE (NT) dt. 01.03.2008.)

However, in terms of Rule 6(5) of Cenvat Credit Rules 2004, even though no separate accounts are maintained in respect of services listed in Appendix 5, CENVAT credit shall be allowed unless such services are exclusively used in or in relation to the manufacture of exempted goods or providing exempted services.