ACES IS FARCE - Central Excise Officer
ACE frustration is visible in the electronic corridors of all Central Excise Offices – ACE confusion and a total apathy from some officers who are convinced that ACES is not going to work at least this month and they can get hard copy return with attendant “returns”. After a couple of years, assessees are going to be penalised for not filing the April 2010 electronically. Why? Because the Department was not equipped to accept them! Adjudicating Authorities will pass orders that the penal provisions under the law do not exempt the assessee from penalty, just because the Department's systems were not working. CAG will also express concern over the revenue loss in its audit report and may write “there are nearly 1 ,00,000 assessee who were required to filed e –returns failing which they are liable to pay penalty of Rs 5,000/- each for each return not filed electronically. The non-levy of penalty resulted in revenue loss of Rs 600 crores in 2010-11. The Ministry's reply is waited”.