Commercial Taxes Department (CTD) is using the e-governance system known as VATsoft with the software support from NIC Goa. Using VATsoft, the CTD is effectively maintaining the documents of the VAT dealers so that the department can provide better services to the dealers as and when dealers request. This also helps both the parties to build mutual trust and confidence in carrying out their activities.

To further improve the faith and confidence between the business community and the department, the department has proposed to build a web-based system for e-filing of documents by the dealers. Most of them have welcomed this move and expressed their willingness to make use of this facility to submit the documents.

In this context, CTD has requested NIC to develop an e-filing system for VAT related activities. After going through the requirements, NIC has developed the system, called as the 'VAT-eFS -VAT e-Filing System'.

This manual is meant for use by VAT dealers of Goa. Users of the VAT e-filing system should have working knowledge of computers and well versed with the maintenance of different kinds of registers under the VAT Act.

The purpose of this document is to provide an interface between the dealers and the VAT e-filing system. It will help them to understand the usage of the e-filing system to electronic filing of VAT documents to CTD. This manual also explains the workflow involved in carrying out electronic submission of the VAT documents by the dealers to CTD.

About National Informatics Centre (NIC)

National Informatics Centre (NIC), Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communication & IT, Government of India, is a premier organization in the field of Technology and provides state-of-the-art solutions to the information management, dissemination, e-Governance and decision support requirements of the Government and corporate sector. NICNET, with its Nationwide Network of state-of-the-art technology, computers, communication equipments and expert IT specialists, is well rooted and functioning at all Districts, State/ Union Territory Capitals and Central Government and helping information exchange of vital nature. With its Master Earth Station at New Delhi, micro earth station nodes have been established in all the State Capitals, District Head Quarters and select commercial centers.

The broad range of services being provided by NIC includes system study, design, coding, testing, training, implementation, software maintenance and hand holding support. NIC has designed and developed a number of e-governance systems for the Government of Goa, which includes VATsoft for Commercial Taxes, Treasury for Directorate of Accounts, Municipal Administration software for all Municiplaities / City Corporation, Dharani for Land Records, Vaahan and Saarathi for Transport offices, CIPA for police stations, Court system, FMS for Secretariat and Government Departments, websites, etc.

VAT-eFS : VAT e-Filing System

Commercial Taxes Department is happy to introduce VAT e-filing system for the VAT dealers of Goa. E-filing is an internet/web based system, where in the dealers can submit important documents of VAT to CTD.

In this system, dealers can submit the details of purchase invoices, sale invoices and CST statutory forms. They can also view various documents/records maintained by the department. The dealers have a provision to enter directly the document or upload the files from their system.

Benefits to the dealer.

Entering and submitting the VAT documents through VAT e-filing system will benefit the dealers. The CTD will be able to process the request for issue of fresh CST statutory forms faster when the dealers submit the utilization & receipt reports of CST statutory forms on e-filing system. In respect of submission of purchase and sale invoices, the system validates the TINs of both the seller and the buyer from the departmental dealer master and tells about the invalid TIN's of purchaser/seller. This avoids unnecessary queries from the Departmental officers while conducting audit and inspection.

The system will also display details of pending documents/payments of a dealer so that the dealer can take appropriate steps to avoid penalty and interest. Proper and in-time submission of documents through VAT e-filing system would avoid taking up audit and inspection work by the department in most cases.
This system helps the department to check the records of the dealers without asking them repeatedly to produce it before the officers of the department. The e-filing system has been designed and developed in such a way that it helps the dealers to view their records maintained and processed by the department.

I. How to get access to the website?

1. Dealer, who wishes to avail the facility of online e-filing, shall apply for creation of user ID and the password by filing the form online by pressing the button " create account". Once the form is filled correctly in all respect, the same shall be submitted by pressing "save” button.
2. The respective Commercial Tax Department Officials will verify the information provided by the dealer and approve for creation of new username and password.
3. The new username and password will be created sent to the dealer by post.
4. On receipt of username and password the dealer will be able to login to the online e-filing system. At fist instant of login it is mandatory that the dealer shall to change the password compulsorily.

II. Dealer module.
1) Once the dealer logs in to the website, the following options are available for entry, update, verify and submit.

a. Online filing of Returns
b. Sales Invoices
c. Purchase Invoices
d. Export Invoices
e. "Statutory Forms" Request
f. "Statutory Forms" utilization
g. MIS reports and other utilities.

a) Online filing of Returns
"Filling of Returns" link provides the option for filing of online Returns (VAT/CST -Original/revised/Corrected/Final) for the Quarter. The dealer is able to view all the Returns filed by him till date and also can enter the Returns information for the periods for which the returns are not filed through the link provided under "Vat returns to be filed"

b) Sales Invoices
The Sales invoices can be entered through "Entry and Update' link provided under 'Sales Invoices' link of 'Invoice Details'. The sales invoice of the particular period can be entered by clicking on 'New Entry' button. This allows to enter the seller details and the invoice amount and other details. The entry can then be saved and Submitted through 'Submit' link. The details can be uploaded in excel format through 'Excel File (Sale Inv)" link. The options to edit and delete the sales invoices entered are also available.

c) Purchase Invoices
The Purchase invoices can be entered through 'Entry and Update' link provided under 'Purchase Invoices' link of 'Invoice Details'. The purchase invoice of the particular period can
be entered by clicking on 'New Entry' button. This allows to enter the buyer details and the invoice amount and other details. The entry can then be saved and Submitted through 'Submit' link. The details can also be uploaded in excel sheets through 'Excel File (Purchase Inv)" link. The options to edit and delete the purchase invoices entered are also available.

d) Export Invoices
The Export invoices can be entered through 'Entry and Update' link provided under 'Export Invoices' link of invoice Details'. The export invoice of the particular period can be entered by clicking on 'New Entry' button. This allows to enter the carrier name, invoice amount and other details. The entry can then be saved and Submitted through 'Submit' link. The details can also be uploaded in excel sheets through 'Excel File (Export Inv)' link. The options to edit and delete the export invoices entered are also available.

e) Statutory Forms
  Whenever the dealer wants Statutory Form (C, El, E2, F and H) for the interstate trading, the dealer has to request the same through the link provided under "Online CST forms". Once it is applied on-line (with all invoice details), the designated officer will approve the same and statutory form will be generated for the same. 

f) About MIS.
  There is an option of taking "Acknowledgement and Detailed" Reports related to Purchase invoices, Sales invoices. Export invoices and all SF forms can be viewed for the particular period or invoice date wise through the links provided under "Detailed" option under the Report Section. Invoice reports provide the information related to all the invoices filed by the dealer or date wise records for the entered period. The information obtained contains buyer/Seller/Carrier details, invoice value, amount, invoice date, etc. 

2) There is online help is provided which self explanatory. The same available in downloadable file format for hardcopy reference.

Note: The VATSoft e-filing website will be launched soon and the website URL will be intimated to dealers for access.