Board extends payment of Service Tax in Maharashtra to 20th August

By Vijay Kumar

In view of the unprecedented rains in Maharashtra and Gujarat and considering representations from trade associations, Board has decided not to insist on payment of Service Tax for July by 5th of August 2005. Again Board is on a secret mission. DDT understands that the Member, Service Tax has written to the Chief Commissioners of Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Ahemdabad and Vadodara advising them to take a lenient view and not to impose penalties for delayed payment of Service Tax for July 2005. The Member’s letter does not say anything about interest. But why again a secret letter? Why can’t the Board tell the world that it reacts positively to natural calamities and why can’t they issue a circular or notification stipulating that the tax for July can be paid by August 25th? In any case most of the records must have been washed off and the Board can only fish in murky waters. Incidentally what about excise duty? If Service Tax payment can be delayed why not excise duty? But that is under the jurisdiction of another Member.

Any way, DDT congratulates the Member, Service Tax for his kind (though secret) gesture. When the Board gives a concession to the assessee, why can’t the Board make it known to the assessee instead of communicating it only to the field officers? Is the Board aware of a piece of legislation called the Right to Information Act?

An expert in the field told me today that the officers in the Board are all good people, but the fear of the unknown is keeping them in a secretive mode. What if their instructions are wrong?

Transparency, Honoured officers, gives you a chance for correction. Those who criticise you are not your enemies; they are your friends and well wishers.