After introducing a one-page Saral form for income-tax payers, the revenue department is set to provide a similar facility for paying excise duties.

The department has finalised the form that will replace the existing five-page form filled by manufacturers to file their tax returns every month. The move will further simplify the tax regime.

The one-page computer-friendly form will not require any annexures to be provided by the manufacturers. The indirect tax department will generate its data bank on revenue trends and other data based on these returns.

Government officials said if they suspected a fall in revenue due to misdeclaration, the department would seek more details from the assesses. The scheme will be kicked off in the next fortnight.

In the new form, excise tax assesses will have to provide only broad details about their businesses, including the value of production, commodity classifications and tax paid under the relevant sections. He will also mention whether he is eligible for any exemptions under the excise tax.

The revenue department will dispense with queries on revenue implications as well as questions to elicit more information about the commodities being produced.

Officials said this would reduce the harassment faced by assesses as they would not be required to produce pages of data, which were of marginal use. At present, manufacturers have little option but to provide the information sought by the department.

The income-tax department has introduced a simple returns form, Naya Saral, for all salaried workers.

The form also dispenses with almost every attachment except the certificate of tax deduction at source from the employer.