Now traders in Theni district can pay value added tax (VAT) online through State bank of India's website. Before this, they paid taxes at the offices of Department of Commercial Taxes or bank branches after filing e-returns.

According to a recent press release, this facility could soon be extended to Indian bank, Indian Overseas bank and Bank of Baroda.

Officials of the department of commercial taxes say that online payment is an easy process and can be availed by the dealers themselves. They say that it would bring more transparency in the system.

The department has already introduced e-filing of returns under which 1.5 lakh dealers have been e-filing their returns in the State. E-filing was made compulsory in the first phase and in the second phase e-payment had been introduced, said A. Rajaraman, Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes. He added that online payment would be more trader-friendly.

In order to make online payments, the assessee should click on the portal of Department of Commercial taxes, select the applicable tax payment and fill in the necessary details. Choose SBI from the list of banks, this will redirect the assessee to SBI's login page. Then enter the internet banking user ID and password.