Sir/Madam,
My client has got voluntarily registered under service tax in 2003 and since then he has not crossed the 10 lakhs limit and has not filed the returns.Now, he got a notice from the department saying that return ST3 has not been filed and asked to file the returns.
Is he required to file the returns?
Yeah...nil return should have been filed even if there is no tax liability. Since it is not done, penalty is applicable as per sec 70(1)
evry one must file return,Who has registeration under Service tax
but the below attached link says that "Persons who are not liable to pay service tax (because of an exemption including turnover based exemption), are not required to file ST-3 return."
please refer to para 6.1
https://www.servicetax.gov.in/circular/st-circular07/st_circ_97-2k7.htm
Refer rule 7C of Service Tax Rules: https://www.servicetax.gov.in/st-rules.htm
Provided also that where the gross amount of service tax payable is nil, the Central Excise officer may, on being satisfied that there is sufficient reason for not filing the return, reduce or waive the penalty.
So it means penalty is applicable.
CAclubindia
