The Department of Revenue has introduced the automation of central excise and service tax (ACES) facility, which enables users to register and pay their service tax online. If you offer a service for a fee, you must check if it is subject to tax. You have to pay service tax at the rate announced by the government, for which you need a service tax registration number. You also have to file service tax returns regularly, showing the tax paid. ACES enables you to access all the compliance requirements at one place.

Registration

You can register online at ACES only after getting a service tax registration number. You will get a user name and password to enable you to file your return.

Return

The service tax return has to be filed twice a year in Form ST-3. This can be done online at ACES, including filing of refund claims. The return can also be filed using the Excel download utility, which shows the format of returns on a spreadsheet.

Revision

The return can be reviewed and modified within 90 days of submission. After that, it moves for assessment and cannot be modified. However, you can file a revised return.
Fee

The payment of the due service tax must be done using the challan system described by ACES. Banks offer service tax challan services to customers, both online and offline.

Points to note

The return filed using Excel in the download utility option must be validated and corrected for errors before submitting it at ACES.

If there are errors, these will be highlighted and available for correction before uploading the returns.

Registered and trained accountants are available to complete the process of filing returns for a fee.