Tax Return Preparer Scheme extended to TDS and Service Tax
THE Government of India have decided to enlarge the scope of the existing Tax Return Preparer (TRP) Scheme and authorize them to prepare and furnish returns of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Service Tax, in addition to income-tax returns. To carry out this decision, the Central Board of Direct Taxes has decided to retrain the TRPs. For this purpose, a retraining course consisting of 15-day self-study followed by classroom training will be organized for TRPs relating to Income Tax and for Service Tax, according to a CBDT Press Release.
The massive ignorance at the highest echelons of the bureaucracy is sometimes paraded with absolute innocence. The CBDT press release states, “The Central Board of Excise & Customs has already amended the Service tax Act to enable TRPs to prepare and file Service Tax returns”.
Obviously, the CBDT official who gave this Press Release is not aware that
1. There is no Service Tax Act.
2. Even if there is one, the CBEC cannot amend an Act.
Elementary? But couldn't they just walk down to the CBEC, just a few feet away and find out what had been done? No, Babus are never on walking terms or talking terms – they will only enter into protracted correspondence with a colleague sitting just next to them.