Scheme for Certified Filing Centres (CFCs) to be operated by

CMA KNVV Sri Vidya - Sri Kanth (C.A.Final (New) ICWAI FINAL (New))   (11269 Points)

01 July 2009  

Scheme for Certified Filing Centres (CFCs) to be operated by ICAI & its Members & Firms to facilitate e-filing of documents under ACES e-Governance Programme of the Directorate General of Systems (Customs & Central Excise)
1st July 2009
I am happy to inform that the Directorate General of Systems (Customs & Central Excise) has agreed to introduce a scheme for Certified Filing Centres (CFCs) for Automated Customs, Excise and Service Tax (ACES) e-Governance programme for eFiling similar to MCA-21 project. In this regard I had a meeting with Director General of Systems on 30th June 2009 where It has been principally decided to set up Facilitation Centres/ Physical Front Offices at various locations throughout the country as a part of the Project to facilitate e-filing by professionals/ company representatives. 
The Director General of Systems (Customs & Central Excise) has informed that they will be rolling out the system in phased manner starting from July 2009. The activities would cover online registration, eFiling of returns, formats of various returns, online refunds and upto appeals. 
The Directorate General of Systems feels that the facilities for e-filing should be made available with a greater out-reach so as to ensure that the stakeholders do not face any difficulties in this process of transition. 
The Director General during the meeting assured me to provide an opportunity for the ICAI & its Regional Councils/ Branches, individual practicing members and firms of professionals to create and set-up the required facilities for this purpose. 
Date of launch of the scheme
Will be announced shortly. 
Certified Filing Center:
A Certified Filing Center (CFC) for ACES e-filing is a facility, other than the Physical Front Offices or Facilitation Centres set-up by the Directorate General of Systems (Customs & Central Excise), to be set-up and operated by an appropriately qualified private individual, firm or body corporate under the ACES e-Governance Programme, from where the actual electronic filing of documents by companies may be enabled along with associated facilitation.
Eligibility and Qualifications:
A Certified Filing Centre (CFC) is a facility set-up and operated by The Institute Chartered Accountants of India through its Regional Councils/ Branches subject to the relevant Acts governing the Institute, or
Any of the following professional from the Institute:
  • Member of the Institute
  • Experience of at least two years in practice
  • Should not have been guilty of professional misconduct during the last three years or membership should not have been removed from the register of Members of the institute at any time.
  • Should meet the technical eligibility criteria for operation of the CFC Scheme as indicated below.
  • Firms consisting of professionals drawn from members of the Institute referred to above, or
  • Any Body Corporate owned or managed by the Professionals, holding certificate of practice, from members of the Institute referred to above.
Technical Eligibility Criteria (Infrastructure requirements):
In order to be eligible for a Certified Filing Centre, the intending party has to provide office Space measuring a minimum of 200 sq. ft. exclusively dedicated to the CFC and equipped with at least two counter seats for service and 4-5 waiting seats, computer, printing & scanning facilities with Internet & Telephone lines and software as prescribed by Directorate General of Systems. 
Further details of the scheme & the procedure for registration as Certified Filing Centre will be announced shortly. They are currently under finalization with the Directorate General of Systems (Customs & Central Excise).
CA. Uttam Prakash Agarwal

President (ICAI)