Revised ST-3 Form will be available in ACES Soon - In case of delay, Last date to file return will be Extended: CBEC
YESTERDAY, DDT informed about the new ST-3 form. The last date to file the return in the revised format for the period 1-7-2012 to 30-9-2012 is 25-3-2013.
Electronic version vs Print Version : CBEC clarifies that the paper version had to be notified for legality. It must however be borne in mind that in terms of rule 7(3) of the Service Tax Rules 1994, all returns have to be filed electronically. The electronic version, to be completed by the assessee, may therefore differ in certain aspects from the paper version. For example, for certain fields, drop down menus from which an option has to be chosen, will be there in the electronic version but not in the paper version. Similarly, provisions in the electronic version to add rows or validate entries cannot be appropriately indicated in the paper version .
In case of delay : CBEC also clarifies that the revised Form ST-3 is expected to be available on ACES by the first week of March. However in the event of any delay, the last date will be suitably extended and adequate time given so that no inconvenience is caused to the assessees. The assessees are advised to access the ACES website wherein updates will be given .
The previous return was to be filed for the period April to June 2012, but some assessees had filed their returns for the full half year period - that is - April to September 2012 and ACES had allowed this filing due to some snag. But this return for the full half-year period was later rejected and the assessees were asked to file revised returns for the quarter April-June 2012. And they all face adjudication proceedings for delayed filing of returns!
The Board further clarifies that the objective behind revising the ST-3 form has been to retain the existing structure, which both the assessees and the departmental officers are familiar with, while making some changes required after 1-7-2012. Assessees are expected to fill in service wise data as before, for effective use of the data available consequent to the restoration of accounting codes. In the interregnum, the assessee might not be able to do so, as duty payment was not required to be service wise .
While recognizing this difficulty, Board has requested the assessees to provide service wise data, to the extent possible, for this period also.
Don't wait till 25th March to file your return - Please do it as soon as ACES allows you - and do keep an eye on the ACES website on a daily basis - you don't know when they will be ready!
CBEC Instruction in F. No. 137/98/2006-CX-4 ( Part-I), Dated: February 22, 2013