Service Tax Return – ACES Does Recognise 100 Crores!
DAY before yesterday, some Netizens informed us that they were not able to file their electronic returns because the ACES does not accept more than nine digits – that is the maximum amount that can be shown in the electronic return is 99,99,99,999. If your turnover is over 100 Crores, you are simply out of ACES and electronic filing, because the ACES does not know a figure of 100 Crores and above! DDT contacted several Service Tax officers and they all wanted to know who the assessee with a hundred Crores was. Many of the officers were not aware of the problem and some who were, had no clue as to what could be the possible solution.
The Netizens who informed us were keen that we do not give much publicity to it as they would happily file manual returns citing this reason and all concerned including Service Tax officers would be happy.
Yesterday DDT spoke to Hare Ram, ADG, Systems in Chennai. Even before I could explain the problem, he informed me that the problem has been rectified and the assessees can now test it – he said it works online and offline. There should be no problem on offline because that is a document in my computer and that will not have any restrictions on the number of digits. Anyway he assures that the problem has been solved. The Netizen who informed me did not dare to test it – he had already filed his return manually.
Now does a similar problem exist in the ER-1 return for excise and has this issue been addressed?
Anyway what is worth noting is that a problem which has been brought to the notice of the Directorate of Systems, has been rectified within a day and the ADG is totally aware of the issue. Our Electronic Expert tells me that it is not a big job and hardly takes a minute to correct. True, it may take only a minute to correct, but it can take ages to take a decision to make a correction as we find with many of our notifications.
From his talk, the ADG appeared to me like a refined customer relations executive of a consumer product company. He was very polite and he genuinely wanted feedback. He said he welcomes complaints, of any tenor and would try to solve the problems. He said that many problems are due to broadband connections, the assessee's computer, etc,. And the Department would be blamed for all these over which he had no control. But he was still ready to address all issues to ensure that the client is satisfied. He said that all complaints received either through emails or telephone calls are recorded and solutions found.
Here was a Commissioner talking of Computers, network, broadband, clients and solving problems. Not everything is lost in the Department – there is still hope. Only we need more such officers.
Now, if you have any complaint about ACES, please lodge a complaint and most probably the problem will be solved.
Incidentally the DG, Systems should do something immediately to make the ACES more easily accessible. A Systems Officer tells us that there is no complaint from any assessee in Jhumri Taliya, but there are complaints from assessees in Chennai or Delhi. This may be a connectivity problem, but it is a problem and you have to solve it.