The Service Tax Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES) has been brought into effect from 10.05.2013 to encourage voluntary compliance and broaden the service tax base by waiver of interest, penalty and any other consequences to a stop filer, non-filer or non-registrant or any other service provider who is eligible to make declaration under the Scheme on making a true declaration by 31st December, 2013, of his tax dues for the period from October 2007 to December 2012 and paying at least 50% of the declared tax dues on or before the 31st December, 2013. Remaining tax dues shall be paid on or before 30th June, 2014 without interest. Any tax dues remaining unpaid on 30th June, 2014 shall be paid by 31st December, 2014 alongwith interest for the period of delay after 30th June, 2014. Since the scheme envisages payment in two instalments, the first of which should be by 31.12.2013, it is too early to estimate the success of the scheme.

The scheme is being publicized centrally in the electronic and print media. Field formations have been instructed to increase awareness about the scheme in their jurisdiction by holding meetings with trade associations, opening Help Desks and asking designated authorities to assist assessees who seek clarifications under this scheme.

This was stated by Minister of State for Finance, Shri J.D. Seelam in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Voluntary compliance scheme for service tax encourages declarants by waiving penalties and interest subject to staged payment. The scheme allows eligible service providers who failed to file, register or remit service tax for October 2007-December 2012 to make a true declaration and receive waiver of interest, penalty and other consequences if they meet staged payment conditions: an initial payment by the first deadline and the balance by a later deadline without interest, with interest applying only to amounts unpaid after the later deadline.