PoT to determine rate of tax

In the Union Budget, the rate of service tax has been increased from 10.3% to 12.36%. Can you please tell me from when this new rate is effective? If I have provided services in March 2012, but make the bill for the same in April 2012 and the payment is also received in April, then what is the rate of service tax that I need to charge? Will it be 10.3% or 12.36%?
—Namrata Doshi
The rate of service tax has been increased from April 1, 2012. The new rate of 12.36% is effective from the same date. The rate of service tax to be charged now has to be determined keeping in mind the Point of Taxation Rules 2011 (PoT rules). I am enumerating various situations which may arise, and the applicable rate of service tax in those situations based on the PoT rules.

The writer is with M Sheth & Co, a chartered accountancy firm in Mumbai, and can be reached at mshethco@yahoo.co.in