Service Tax - Returns - CBEC Acts – Last Date extended - Notification Today
DDT 1711 - 12.10.2011, asked, Service Tax - Impossible to File Electronic Returns – Will CBEC Act? We mentioned that it is impossible to file the return in the present format and the assessees are a worried lot. We have been getting frantic calls from anxious assessees and consultants and professional return filers.
TIOL called up a Commissioner whose office has been a pioneering champion in the cause of e-filing. He refused to talk to us and wanted us to talk to his Additional Commissioner – obviously, the Commissioner was too busy and had no time for such impossible things like e-filing and attendant hassles. We tried to contact him the previous day also and the Commissioner was in a meeting and so we could not get to talk to him. We called up a Superintendent and asked him how to show the details of the tax as per the POT Rules. He said such things cannot be discussed over the phone and he wanted us to come to his office. Many Commissioners were directing the assessees to file electronic returns and threatening action if they don't, but nobody had a clue as to how to fill up the form.
TIOL called up the Chairman of the CBEC – he was terribly busy with too many meetings and other official assignments. Still he found time to talk to us and informed us that the last date for filing the returns was being extended up to 26 th December and the notification was ready and would be issued today.
It is heartening that the Board has listened to the woes of the assessees and reacted favourably, though they should have looked into this issue in April 2011. We are indeed grateful to the Board – and so are thousands of return filers.