Dr. Sanjiv Agarwal
Vide Notification No. 5/2015-ST dated 1.3.2015, Rule 4C has been inserted in Service Tax Rules, 1994 whereby a provision for issuing digitally signed invoices has been introduced. New Rule 4C provides as under –
“4C. Authentication by digital signature-
(1) Any invoice, bill or challan issued under rule 4A or consignment note issued under rule 4B may be authenticated by means of a digital signature.
(2) The Board may, by notification, specify the conditions, safeguards and procedure to be followed by any person issuing digitally signed invoices.”
Accordingly, following changes will take place –
(a) Any invoice, bill or challan issued under Rule 4A can be issued electronically.
(b) Consignment note under Rule 4B can be issued electronically.
(c) Such electronically issued invoices, consignment note etc shall have to be authenticated by means of a digital signature.
(d) CBEC shall specify the conditions, safeguards and procedure for compliance by any person issuing digitally signed invoices.
(e) CBEC shall specify the Conditions, safeguards and procedure for compliance by any person issuing digitally signed invoices.
(f) This may include procedure for verification of digitally signed invoices / documents.
CBEC will issue necessary Notification / Circular for prescribing Conditions, safeguards and procedure in due course.
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Author Bio
Everything will be specified by CBEC. Then what is the use of issuing the notification on 01-03-2015. CBEC should issue the notification with complete guidelines on a specified date so as to make this thing workable on immediate basis.