All offices handling service tax will remain open tomorrow as well as the day after (Sunday) to avoid last minute for rush those who want to avail the benefit of one time service tax amnesty scheme.

The last date for filing declaration under Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES) is on or before December 31, 2013.

"In order to enable trade and industry to file declarations well in time before December 31, 2013, and also to avoid last minute rush, all the offices handling Service Tax shall remain open on December 28 and 29 (Saturday and Sunday respectively)," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

The government had launched the VCES to give an opportunity to service tax defaulters to pay dues and come clean.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been meeting industry bodies to encourage assessees to take advantage of the tax amnesty scheme to avoid punishment.

According to government estimates, out of 17 lakh registered service tax payers, only 7 lakh are paying the levy.

The service tax is levied at 12 per cent (plus 3 per cent surcharge) on all services expect those which are in the negative list. (Business Standard)