Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

16-March-2012 13:55 IST

One Page Common Return for Central Excise and Service Tax Proposed

As a measure of harmonization between Central Excise and Service Tax, the Government has made a number of alignments. This was announced by the Finance Minister ShriPranab Mukherjee while presenting the Union Budget 2012-13 in LokSabha today. These include a common simplified registration form and a common return for Central Excise and Service Tax, to be named EST-1. This common return will comprise only one page, which will be a significant reduction from the 15 pages of the two returns at present.

DSM/MG/RS/16

Common return for indirect taxes simplifies filing and harmonises Central Excise and Service Tax compliance. A procedural harmonisation consolidates registration and return filing for Central Excise and Service Tax: a common simplified registration form will replace separate registrations, and a one page consolidated return, designated EST 1, will replace the existing multi page returns to streamline reporting and reduce taxpayer compliance burden.