If you are a taxpayer or a tax professional, you might be familiar with TRACES, the online portal for TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) and TCS (Tax Collected at Source) administration. TRACES allows you to view, verify, and download various forms and certificates related to your tax transactions. To do so, you need to sign the documents digitally using your DSC (Digital Signature Certificate).
However, many users face a common error while signing or validating the documents with DSC on TRACES. The error message says:
Error in establishing connection with TRACES WebSocket Esigner. Please ensure that WebSigner Setup is installed and service is running on your machine and there are no proxies enabled on the browser while doing DSC activities.
This error can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially if you have urgent or important documents to sign. In this blog, we will show you how to resolve this error and sign the documents smoothly on TRACES.
Steps to Resolve the Error
The error in establishing connection with TRACES WebSocket Esigner is mainly caused by the incompatibility or malfunctioning of the Java utility, EmSigner, or DSC drivers on your computer.
To fix this error, you need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Uninstall the existing Java utility, EmSigner (including MCA, GST), and DSC drivers that are installed on your computer.
You can do this from the Control Panel > Programs and Features > Uninstall a program.
Make sure you uninstall all the versions and components of this software.
Step 2: Install JAVA 8 Update 162 32-bit version only. This is the only version that is compatible with TRACES, even if you are using Windows 7/10 and 32-bit/64-bit version.
You can download this version from (https://www.filepuma.com/download/java_runtime_environment_32bit_8.0.1620.12-17918/).
To ensure that you have installed the correct version, you can check the Control Panel > Programs and Features > Java 8 Update 162 (32-bit).
Step 3: Download and install TRACES Web Signer Setup V 2.0 from the TRACES website.
To do this, log in to TRACES
- Downloads
- Requested Downloads
- Click here to download the utility
- Enter the captcha and click on Submit
- Scroll down and find TRACES WebSigner Setup V 2.0
- Download
- Right-click on the setup file
- Click on Install.
TRACES updated WebSocket in June 2019, so you need to download the latest version from the website.
Read Also: TDS on Purchase of Goods
Step 4: Install the DSC drivers on your computer.
You can find the drivers in the CD provided along with the DSC or online from the DSC vendor's website.
Make sure you install the drivers that match your DSC token model and operating system.
Step 5: Update your Chrome browser to the latest version.
You can do this from the Chrome menu > Help > About Google Chrome > Check for updates.
Alternatively, you can use other browsers such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, but Chrome is recommended for TRACES.
Step 6: Clear the cache and cookies from your browser.
You can do this from the Chrome menu > More tools > Clear browsing data > Select the time range and the data types > Click on Clear data.
Step 7: Restart your computer.
Step 8: Run EmSigner as administrator.
You can do this by right-clicking on the EmSigner icon on your desktop or taskbar > Run as administrator.
After following these steps, you should be able to sign or validate the documents with DSC on TRACES without any error.
If you still face the same error, you can try these additional steps:
-
Install the Java FXER software from (https://johann.loefflmann.net/downloads/jarfix.exe) and run it as administrator. This software can fix the Java file association issues on your computer.
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Change your internet connection if you are using a mobile hotspot or JioFi device. These devices may cause some network issues that interfere with the WebSocket connection.
Read Also: How to Fix an Emsigner GST Portal Error?
Tips
We hope this blog has helped you to resolve the error in establishing connection with TRACES WebSocket Esigner. By following the steps mentioned above, you should be able to sign the documents on TRACES smoothly and securely.
Here are some tips to avoid the error in the future:
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Do not update the Java utility or EmSigner automatically. Always use the versions that are compatible with TRACES.
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Do not enable any proxies or VPNs on your browser while doing DSC activities on TRACES.
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Do not use multiple DSC tokens or browsers at the same time. Use only one DSC token and one browser for signing the documents on TRACES.
