The Finance Ministry has once again extended the due date for filing of half yearly service tax returns for the period April-September 2011.

Service tax assesses can now submit returns for this period till January 20 this year, as against the earlier due date of January 6.

This has been done as assessees are facing problems in electronic filing of returns due to various reasons, according to the Revenue Department.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs had in late December extended the due date from December 26 to January 6, citing the same reasons.

krsrivats@thehindu.co.in

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