CBEC Notifies the conditions, safeguards and procedures for issue of invoices, preserving records in electronic form and authentication of records and invoices by digital signatures NOTIFICATION No 18/2015 CE (NT) DATED 06.07.2015

CBEC has issued Notification No. 18/2015-Central Excise (N.T.), Dated: July 06, 2015 to provide for details to be maintained and furnished with the department regarding preserving records in electronic form and authentication of records and invoices by digital signature. Earlier a draft notification was put in place for public

comments on the same. The same was provided by SKKA vide its alert no. 01/2015 dated 30.03.2015. The final notification in this regard is self-explanatory and the important points bulleted below:

a.    Class 2 or Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate duly issued by the Certifying Authority in India to be used only.

b.    Intimation to the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise, at least fifteen days in advance to be provided stating- name, email id, office address and designation of the person authorised to use the digital signature certificate; name of the Certifying Authority; date of issue of digital certificate and validity of the digital signature with a copy of the certificate issued by the Certifying Authority along with the complete address of the said Authority.

c.    Separate electronic records for each factory or each service tax registration

d.    Appropriate backup of records in electronic form is maintained and preserved for a period of 5 years immediately after the financial year to which such records pertain.

e.    Details to be furnished in electronic form to Central Excise officer as and when required.

For the copy of the notification please CLICK HERE .