Challenges with Government Websites: Ease or Tease of Business?

“Explore the challenges faced by professionals with government websites – from tax discrepancies to MCA incorporation delays. Is the government truly facilitating ease of business or adding to professional frustrations? Dive into the intricacies with S P Babuta & Associates.”

Undoubtedly, the government has made efforts to promote e-commerce, e-payment, and the uploading of various e-forms on government sites. However, if you ask professionals, it has not eased their work. Instead, the non-functionality of government sites has put them in a tight situation. Clients often fail to understand that the site is not working properly, and they end up blaming the professionals for the issues they encounter.

1. Issues with Income Tax Site and Tax Reflection

Recently, the income tax site has experienced several issues. For instance, the 26AS form does not reflect the tax deducted or the advance tax deposited. Surprisingly, the home page of a particular client shows the correct advance tax payment made by them. Why weren’t these discrepancies addressed before implementing the updated site? Does this situation truly embody the concept of ease of doing business?

2. TDS Returns and Data Availability on Traces

TDS returns filed directly on the Income Tax Site are not being reflected on the traces, with an error message stating that the data is not available. This becomes apparent only when professionals attempt to file the returns for their clients. Why aren’t the interconnections between the income tax department and traces thoroughly checked? In the event that the returns need to be filed again, who will bear the penalty? The client often blames the professional, expecting them to shoulder the consequences. Is this truly the ease of doing business?

3. Discrepancies in Advance Tax Payment on Income Tax Portal

The Income Tax portal of an assessee displays the payment of advance tax in the graph, but the 26AS form fails to show the advance tax payment. This inconsistency raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the system.

4. Downloading Issues with AIS and TIS

AIS and TIS downloads are proving to be problematic. In some cases, lucky assessee’s manage to download the forms, but during computation, the system indicates that they are not available. This inconsistency further adds to the frustrations faced by professionals.

5. Challenges with MCA Incorporation Procedure

Let’s address the challenges with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The current situation can be best described as “Nak main dam kar diya is site ne” (This site has ruined everything). During the incorporation procedure, it becomes necessary to extend the time once or twice, leading to unnecessary delays and complications.

6. Functionality Concerns and Timing of Incorporation

What purpose does this procedure serve when it fails to work properly? The incorporation of a company on V3 should have been postponed until the site started functioning smoothly. Otherwise, it only adds to the frustrations and inefficiencies experienced by professionals.

7. Challenges with DSC Association and Communication

The association of Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) is another issue that professionals encounter. Instead of focusing on work, they end up calling each other, asking, “Yaar, site chal rahi hai?” (Hey, is the site working?)

8. GSTIN Information Requirement in Agile Pro

When filling in the Agile Pro, GSTIN is not required. However, the system insists on collecting complete information. This raises questions as to why such details are being collected if the applicant intends to register under GST separately.

9. Testing and Timely Resolution for Compliance Dates

It is crucial to test these systems thoroughly before launching them on the portal. Issues should be identified and resolved promptly, considering that compliance dates are fast approaching. Failing to address these concerns can lead to unnecessary stress and complications for professionals.

In conclusion, the term “ease of business” seems ironic when businesses encounter numerous challenges and frustrations due to the malfunctioning of government sites. It’s high time these issues are addressed to ensure a truly seamless experience for professionals and clients alike.

The term of “ease of business” literally apt in the sense “jab business hi nai hoga to sab ease hi rahenge, haina. “

Sargun Babuta | S P Babuta & Associates