Rendering it more simple and hassle free and to avoid evasion of service tax payments on grounds of petty reasons cited by the eligible taxpayers, ACES or Automation of Central Excise and Service Tax facility has been extended by the Dept of Revenue. The not-so-new and one-stop platform enables online filing of service tax and also allows eligible taxpayers to know the various rulings and compliance norms in relation to service tax payment.

Entities or Individuals liable to pay service tax in India

All service providers registered under Service Tax Act have the liability to pay service tax. Additionally, in some cases receivers of services are liable to pay the tax on behalf of service providers. So, enlisted individuals or entities categories whose extended service in value exceeds Rs. 10 lac have liability to discharge service tax payment liability. The list includes an individual, HUF, society, firm, LLP, AOP, BOI, a local authority and government.

Procedure of Online Service Tax filing through ACES

After determining your eligibility to pay service tax, you need to register with the authorities and obtain service tax registration number. Payment made in lieu of the service tax has also to be shown by filing service tax return on a regular basis.

On obtaining the registration number follow the below mentioned steps to file your service tax electronically :

Register with ACES : To initiate online service tax filing process online, you can register on the ACES site https://www.aces.gov.in/ post obtaining service tax number. The platform will generate a user name and password for you to file the service tax return.

Use designated Form ST-3 to file service tax return : The designated form ST-3 needs to be used for filing the service tax return which is to be filed on an half-yearly basis. Additionally, excel download facility can also be used for filing the return. While making use of this facility, the return needs to be corrected for errors and validated. Any errors are highlighted for correction before final uploading on the website.

ACES facilitates claim of refund : Service tax refunds can also be claimed using the ACES platform.

Modification of service tax return is possible within 3 months of submission: Any modification in service tax return can be effected in not more than 3 months or 90 days. As post this period, return goes for assessment. However, to the relief of the taxpayer, a revised service tax return can be submitted.

Tax payment : Challan prescribed by the ACES should be used for service tax payment. To effect the payment, banks provide taxpayers with both the offline and online channels.

So, the government of India portal makes your service tax related task much simpler.

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