<h1>Voluntary Service Tax Payment with Interest Avoids Penalties; No Notice Issued Under Finance Act, 1994, Section 73(3.</h1> Under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1994, if service tax is paid with interest voluntarily before a show cause notice is issued, no penalty proceedings will be initiated. According to section 73(3), once the tax and interest are paid and the Central Excise Officer is informed, no notice will be served for the amount paid. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) clarified via a circular that such payment concludes all proceedings, and no penalties under sections 76, 77, or 78 will be imposed for late payment, suppression of taxable value, or incorrect filing of returns.