DGS & DM exhorts field formations for 100% usage of ACES
THE Director General of Systems and Data Management wrote a letter to all the Chief Commissioners of Central Excise / Service Tax Zones exhorting them to ensure 100% usage of ACES by the end of this year since automation in Central Excise and Service Tax is an important pre-requisite for successful transition to GST regime.
Since the number of assessees using ACES will increase manifold with effect from 1st April, 2010 due to reduction in threshold limit of duty for e-payment and e-filing of return, particularly in Service Tax (being the month for filing half-yearly ST 3 returns), the DGS & DM has requested that all Commissioners shall take necessary steps to ensure smooth working of ACES.
With the mandatory e-filing, many existing assessees, whose e-mail IDs are not in the database, may now approach the departmental officers to incorporate their email IDs to get TPIN mails and register with ACES. The Commissioners should, therefore, ensure that the Range Superintendents, who are given the power in ACES to incorporate email IDs of assessees and resend TPIN e-mails are fully conversant with the process. In case of any problem or clarification, they can approach the ACES service desk by phone or e-mail.
Further, to make it easy for the Dealers to file returns in ACES, an XML scheme has been hosted on the ACES website. All Commissioners are advised to bring it to the notice of the staff and the dealers. By using this scheme the assessees can generate an up-loadable form of return directly form their own database without the need to make fresh data entry. It is informed that the DGS & DM is in the process of publishing similar scheme for ER 2 and ER 1 returns by the end of March, 2010.
It appears that only LTUs at Bengaluru and Chennai consistently maintained a 100% e-filing record and some other Commissionerates are actively pursuing this path of automation with renewed vigour.