How is ACES working?
A Noida assessee tells us:
Central Excise Noida has been caught un - aware. Here in Noida Range offices, even the basic infrastructure is absent. Some are waiting for the computers and peripherals to be installed, some for the connection (internet or ACES or both).
The elementary step of allotting login ID and password has not been completed (We have not received till now for Excise or service tax).
The range Superintendent lamented that he is not aware who will do what. His immediate boss (the divisional AC/DC) is not aware whom to approach and assessees who want to login to the ACES are not able to enter in to the system.
If immediate steps are not taken then it is certain that the failure will start from Noida (which incidentally is nearest to Delhi, what would happen to the remote areas too far from power (Delhi) or electricity or both).
I wonder, what will happen to those assessees who are definitely going to miss the electronic filing of service tax and excise return on 25th and 10th of April 2010.
I tried to login and found a dumb screen with no option for doing anything.
Give the Department its due:
In sharp contrast to Noida, in dusty Bhiwadi (Jaipur) it is working perfectly since November last year.
We sincerely hope ACES don't make asses out of assessees.