Ours is service oriented company, we have not paid our service tax since May'10, due to that we are not able to file our st3 (halfyearly return) can any one suggest what is the penalty we need to pay along with our dues
26 October 2010
The interest @ 13% p.a and penalty 200 per day or 2% of the such tax per month whichever is higher till the day of actual payment. (Sec 75 and 76)
26 October 2010
Returns Every assessee has to submit half yearly return in form ST-3 in triplicate within 25 days of the end of the half-year. ‘Half year’ means 1st April to 30th September and 1st October to 31st March of financial year. The return should be accompanied by TR-6/GAR-7 challans, evidencing payment of duty. Details in respect of each service are to be provided separately. However, service tax payment details and Cenvat credit details are common and combined. There is no column to show excess amount paid, if any. Presumably, this will have to be intimated by a separate letter and/or given in the ST-3 form as a ‘remark’ or ‘note’. Last date for filing return is a bank holiday - If last day of payment and filing return is a public holiday, tax can be paid and return can be submitted on next working day - CBE&C circular No. 63/12/2003-ST dated 14-10-2003. Revised return - Rule 7B of Service Tax Rules has been inserted w.e.f. 1-3-2007 to allow an assessee to rectify mistakes and file revised return within 90 days from the date of filing of the original return. Rule 9(11) of Cenvat Credit Rules (inserted w.e.f. 1-3-2007) allows an assessee to rectify mistakes and file revised return within 60 days from the date of filing of original return. This provision applies only to service providers and not to manufacturers. What is to be done if mistake comes to notice after 90 days? – There is no provision for submission of revised return after 90 days. In such cases, if assessee finds that he has made some mistake, he should pay the amount by GAR-7 challan and inform department suitably. If he has paid excess amount by mistake, he is required to file refund claim. He cannot adjust excess payment on his own, except in cases where it has been specifically permitted. If he has not taken Cenvat credit of certain inputs, input services or capital goods, he can avail it in subsequent period, since there is no time limit for availing Cenvat credit. This will be reflected in his return for that subsequent period, as in normal course. Electronic filing of return - Department has introduced e-filing of service tax return on experimental basis from April, 2003. It is optional. The procedure has been described in CBE&C circular No. 52/1/2003-ST dated 11-3-2003. Guidelines are also issued in question answer form on CBE&C website. The facility is available to all service providers. Late fee and penalty for filing late return - Section 70(1), as amended by Finance Act, 2007 w.e.f. 11-5-2007, makes provision for late filing of return with late fee which can be upto Rs 2,000. Late fee payable will be prescribed by Central Government by issuing a notification. The late fee payable is as follows – (a) Delay Upto 15 days – Rs 500 (b) Beyond 15 days and upto 30 days – Rs 1,000 (b) Delay beyond 30 days – Rs 1,000 plus Rs 100 per day of delay beyond 30 days, from 31st day maximum Rs 2,000- rule 7C inserted w.e.f. 12-5-2007. Department is required to accept late return even if late fee is not paid – In case of returns filed late, the appropriate late fees should be paid at the time of filing the return, without waiting for any communication or notice from the department. Mere non-submission of evidence of payment of late fee along with the return is, however, not a ground for refusal to allow filing of the return – para 6.4 of CBE&C Circular No. 97/8/2007-ST dated 23-8-2007.