The Central Board of Excise and Customs has allowed online filing of Service Tax Returns-ST-3 from April 2003.

Initially, this facility has been extended to only select class or group of service tax providers for services falling under following categories:

1. Telegraph Services (TGH)

2. Telephone Services (TSU)

3. Life Insurance Services (LIS)

4. Insurance Auxiliary Services (IAX)

5. General Insurance Business (GIB)

6. Stock Brokers (STB)

7. Advertising Agencies (ADV)

8. Courier Services (COU)

9. Banking & Financial (BFN)

10. Custom House Agent (CHA) 

Service Tax Returns can be filed online at http://servicetaxefiling.nic.in OR http://164.100.17.29/home2.htm

The last date for filing the returns is October 25, 2003.

Points to Remember: 

i. Taxpayer must have the 15 digit STP Code (PAN based or Temp No) and using the same in their challans from September 2002 to March 2003. Those who don't have it, can obtain it from the Local Central Excise Office. 

ii. For online filing of Returns an application has to be filed at the Local Central Excise Office to obtain user ID and password. 

For further details and assistance, contact the Local Central Excise & Service Tax Office. 

For detailed instructions visit: www.cbec.gov.in

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