Customs Act, 1962, envisages that only places notified by the Government shall be Customs ports or Customs airports for the unloading of imported goods and loading of export goods. At each such customs ports, the Commissioner of Customs is empowered to approve proper places for the unloading and loading of goods and he also specifies the limits of any Customs area. The law further provides that the person in charge of the vessel or an aircraft shall not call or land at any place other than the Customs port/airport, except in cases of emergencies.
Section 37 empowers the proper officer to board any conveyance carrying imported goods or export goods. He may remain on board as long as he decides to remain. The proper officer may question the person in charge of the vessel or aircraft. He may demand production of documents and also ask questions, to be answered by such person. The person in charge of the conveyance is bound to comply with these requirements [Section 38].
The Master / Agent of the vessel or an aircraft has to deliver an import
manifest (an import report in case of a vehicle), within 24 hours after arrival
in the case of a vessel and 12 hours after arrival in the case of an aircraft or
a vehicle in the prescribed form. The time limit for filing the manifest is
extendable on showing sufficient cause. In the case of a vessel or an aircraft,
a manifest may also be filed even before arrival of the vessel or aircraft
(known as Prior Entry Manifest). In the case of vessels, for administrative
convenience, such advance manifests are accepted on any day within 14 days
before the expected arrival of the vessel.
If the vessel does not arrive within the stipulated time of 14 days or
such extended time as may be granted by the Assistant Commissioner (Imports),
the manifest accepted provisionally is cancelled and the fact circulated through
public notices. All the Bills of Entry filed against the cancelled manifest,
become void. The importers have to return those Bills of Entry to the Import
Department and to claim refund of duty, if paid on any such Bills of Entry. If
the same vessel enters the port after the cancellation of the original
manifests, it will be treated as a fresh entry and a fresh manifest is insisted
upon
A person filing declarations under this section has to declare the truthfulness of contents. This declaration has legal consequences, which bind the carrier. [Section 30(2)].
If for any reason, the carrier desires to amend or supplement the IGM, it will be permitted by the proper officer on payment of prescribed fees, if he is satisfied that there is no fraudulent intention behind the move. [Section 30(3)].
Any mis-declaration in this document will attract the penal provisions of Section 111(f) and Section 112.
Any mis-declaration in this document will attract the penal provisions of
Section 111(f) and Section 112.
(a) Excision from IGMs of items originally manifested:
(a)Excision from I.G.Ms of items originally manifested are permitted only:
(i)On application in writing from the ship’s Agents;
(ii)On production of the documentary evidence of short shipment of goods;
(iii)On payment of a fee as prescribed.
(b)(i)Excisions or amendments of items in the Import Manifest involving
reduction in number of Packages:
An application from the steamer agents for excisions or amendments in the
Import Manifest involving reduction in the number of packages or quantity or
weight thereof, should be submitted with the connected documentary evidence.
Such excisions or amendments will only be allowed; if after due investigation,
it is proved that the excess quantity was originally shown in the import
manifest as a result of an error. In the absence of such proof, the application
will be kept over for being dealt with by the Manifest Clearance Section at the
time of closure of the ship’s file.
(ii)Applications for the excision or amendments of items for which Bills of
Entry have been noted will be dealt with by the Manifest Clearance Section if
made two months after the arrival of the vessel.
Matters such as the number of copies of manifests to be filed, nature of
forms, manner of declaring cargo etc. are governed by the following Regulations:
(i)Import Report (Form) Regulation, 1976;
(ii)Import Manifest (Aircraft) Regulation, 1976; and
(iii)Import Manifest (Vessels) Regulation, 1971;
Generally speaking, the above Regulations stipulate declaring separately cargo
to be landed, unaccompanied Baggage, goods to be transported and same bottom or
retention cargo. Separate declarations are also to be filed in respect of
dangerous/prohibited/ sensitive goods such as Arms and Ammunitions, Narcotics,
Gold etc. The prime condition in the Regulations is that the manifest shall
cover all the goods carried in the conveyance.
In respect of a vessel, an import manifest shall, in addition, consist of
an application for entry inwards.
The Master of the vessel is not to permit the unloading of any imported goods until an order has been given by the proper officer granting Entry Inwards of such vessel. Normally, Entry Inwards is granted only after the import manifest has been delivered. This entry inward date is crucial for determining the rate of duty, as provided in section 15 of the Customs Act, 1962. Unloading of certain items like accompanied baggage, mail bags, animals, perishables and hazardous goods are exempted from this stipulation.
The amendment made in 1995 (w.e.f. 1-7-1995) introduces a new form for
obtaining entry inwards. The forms are designed according to IMO-FAL Convention.
The forms have to be filed in prescribed sizes only. Host of enclosures are
sought along with these forms. This practice has its origin in other statutes
such as Merchant Shipping Act, 1880. However, keeping the said convention in
view, Board has issued instructions dispensing with submission of various
documents. The following declarations have, however, to be filed along-with IGM:
(a)Deck Cargo Declaration / Certificate.
(b)Last port clearance copy.
(c)Amendment application (when relevant).
(d)Income Tax Certificate in case of Export Cargo.
(e)Nil export cargo certificate.
(f)Port Trust "No Demand" certificate.
(g)Immigration certificate.
(h)Application for sign on/sign off of crew (when relevant).
(i)Application for crew baggage chceking when they sign on (When relevant).
(i)
IGM by Shipping lines:
The shipping line/steamer agent needs to submit the manifest in
prescribed form at the Service Centre. The shipping lines are required to submit
the electronic version of the Import General manifest in floppies, containing
all the details and particulars. It is to be ensured by the Shipping Lines that
all the particulars and details of the Import general manifest submitted either
manually or through floppies are correct. The shipping agents who do not have
arrangement for data in floppy, may approach the Service Center of Customs and
get the data of IGM submitted in system. They are also to ensure that details of
House Bill of Lading are also incorporated in the IGM in case of consol cargo.
On arrival of the vessel, the shipping line needs to approach the
Preventive officer for granting entry inwards. Before making the application,
the shipping line has to make payment of the Light House dues.
In case the shipping line is filing an IGM after arrival of the vessel,
the procedure as mentioned above for prior IGM, is to be followed except that
the date of arrival of vessel is also indicated. After submission, the shipping
line has to approach the proper officer for grant of entry inwards in the
system.
(ii) IGM by Air:
The airlines are required to file IGM in prescribed format. In case of
Air Cargo Complexes having EDI, the IGMs may be filed through electronic mode.
The IGMs to be submitted need to contain all details and particulars. In other
words, the airlines would not only be furnishing the details of the Master
Airway Bills but also the House Airway bills in the case of console cargo. The
airlines are also to furnish the additional information, namely, the ULD Nos.
for use by the custodians.
When entering any port, all ships are required to furnish to the Commissioner of Customs, a list (or nil return) of ships stores intended for landing (excluding any consumable stores issued from any dutified shops in. Retention on board of imported stores is governed by Import Store (Retention on board) Regulations, 1963. The consumable stores can remain on board without payment of import duties during the period the vessel/Aircraft remains foreign going. Otherwise, such consumable stores are to be kept under Customs seal. Even in respect of foreign going vessels, only the stores required for immediate use of the personnel may be left unsealed. Excessive stocks of stores such as liquor, tobacco, cigarettes, etc are kept under Customs seal.
Imported goods are not to be unloaded from the vessel until Entry Inwards is granted. No imported goods are to be unloaded unless they are specified in the import manifest/report for being unloaded at that Customs station. No imported goods shall be unloaded at any place other than the places provided for such unloading. Further, imported goods shall not be unloaded from any conveyance except under the supervision of the proper officer. Similarly, for unloading imported goods on any Sunday or on any holiday, prior notice shall be given and fees prescribed in this regard shall be paid.
Under Section 115 and 116, the persons in charge of vessel or aircraft
have other liabilities, which are important and noteworthy. Section 115 provides
for confiscation of vessel or other conveyance under the following
circumstances:
(a)A conveyance within Indian waters or port or customs area which is adopted,
fitted, modified or altered for concealing goods.
(b)A conveyance from which goods are thrown overboard, staved or destroyed so as
to prevent seizure by customs officers.
(c)A conveyance which disobeys any order under Section 106 to stop or land,
without sufficient cause.
(d)A conveyance from which goods under drawback claim are unloaded without
proper officer’s permission.
(e)A conveyance which has entered with goods, from which substantial portion of goods
are missing and failure of the master to account therefor.
Any vessel when used as means of transport for smuggling of any goods or in the
carriage of any smuggled goods, is liable to confiscation, unless the owner
establishes that it was used without the knowledge or connivance of the owner,
his agent and the person in-charge of the vessel. When any such conveyance is
confiscated, an option to pay redemption fine has to be given to the owner of
the conveyance. The upper limit for imposing the redemption fine is the market
value of impugned goods.
Under Section 116, penalty may be imposed on the person incharge of
vessel if there is failure to account for all goods loaded in the vessel for
importation into India or transhipped under the provisions of Customs Act and
these are not unloaded at the place of destination in India or if the quantity
unloaded is short of the quantity to be unloaded at particular destination.
Penalty may be waived if failure to unload or deficiency in unloading is
accounted for to the satisfaction of competent officer. Thus, if there is any
shortage which is not satisfactorily accounted for, the person incharge of the
vessel will be liable to penalty, which may be twice the duty payable on the
import goods not accounted for.
Goods imported in a vessel/aircraft attract customs duty and unless these are
not meant for customs clearance at the port/airport of arrival by particular
vessel/aircraft and are intended for transit by the same vessel/aircraft or
transhipment to another customs station or to any place outside India, detailed
customs clearance formalities of the landed goods have to be followed by the
importers. In regard to the transit goods, so long as these are mentioned in
import report/IGM for transit to any place outside, Customs allows transit without
payment of duty. Similarly for goods brought in by particular vessel/aircraft
for transhipment to another customs station detailed customs clearance
formalities at the port/airport of landing are not prescribed and simple
transhipment procedure has to be followed by the carrier and the concerned
agencies. The customs clearance formalities have to be complied with by the
importer after arrival of the goods at the other customs station. There could
also be cases of transhipment of the goods after unloading to a port outside
India. Here also simpler procedure for
transhipment has been prescribed by regulations, and no duty is required to be
paid. (Sections 52 to 56 of the Customs are relevant in this regard)
For other goods which are offloaded importers have the option to clear
the goods for home consumption after payment of the duties leviable or to clear
them for warehousing without immediate discharge of the duties leviable in terms
of the warehousing provisions built in the Customs Act. Every importer is
required to file in terms of the Section 46 an entry (which is called Bill of
entry) for home consumption or warehousing in the form, as prescribed by
regulations.
\ Refer Circular No. 15/2009-Cus Dated 12/5/2009
If the goods are cleared through the EDI system no formal Bill of Entry
is filed as it is generated in the computer system, but the importer is required
to file a cargo declaration having prescribed particulars required for
The Bill of entry, where filed, is to be submitted in a set, different
copies meant for different purposes and also given different colour scheme, and
on the body of the bill of entry the purpose for which it will be used is
generally mentioned in the non-EDI declaration.
The importer clearing the goods for domestic consumption has to file bill
of entry in four copies; original and duplicate are meant for customs, third
copy for the importer and the fourth copy is meant for the bank for making
remittances.
In the non-EDI system alongwith the bill of entry filed by the importer
or his representative the following documents are also generally required:-
While filing the bill of entry and giving various particulars as
prescribed therein the correctness of the information given has also to be
certified by the importer in the form a declaration at the foot of the bill of
entry and any mis-declaration/incorrect declaration has legal consequences, and
due precautions should be taken by importer while signing these declarations.
Under the EDI system, the importer does not submit documents as such for
assessment but submits declarations in electronic format containing all the
relevant information to the Service Centre. A signed paper copy of the
declaration is taken by the service centre operator for non-repudiability of the
declaration. A checklist is generated for verification of data by the
importer/CHA. After verification, the data is submitted to the system by the
Service Centre Operator and system then generates a B/E Number, which is
endorsed on the printed checklist and returned to the importer/CHA. No original
documents are taken at this stage. Original documents are taken at the time of
examination. The importer/CHA also need to sign on the final document after
Customs clearance.
The first stage for processing a bill of entry is what is termed the
noting of the bill of entry, vis-à-vis, the IGM filed by the carrier. In the
non-EDI system the importer has to get the bill of entry noted in the concerned
unit which checks the consignment sought to be cleared having been manifested in
the particular vessel and a bill of entry number is generated and indicated on
all copies. After noting the bill of entry gets sent to the appraising section
of the Custom House for assessment functions, payment of duty etc. In the EDI
system, the Steamer Agents get the manifest filed through EDI or by using the
service centre of the Custom House and the noting aspect is checked by the
system itself – which also generates bill of entry number.
After noting/registration of
the Bill of entry, it is forwarded manually or electronically to the concerned
Appraising Group in the Custom House dealing with the commodity sought to be
cleared. Appraising Wing of the Custom House has a number of Groups dealing with
earmarked commodities falling under different Chapter Headings of the Customs
Tariff and they take up further scrutiny for assessment, import permissibility
etc. angle.
The basic function of the assessing officer in the appraising groups is
to determine the duty liability taking due note of any exemptions or benefits
claimed under different export promotion schemes. They have also to check
whether there are any restrictions or prohibitions on the goods imported and if
they require any permission/license/permit etc., and if so whether these are
forthcoming. Assessment of duty essentially involves proper classification of
the goods imported in the customs tariff having due regard to the rules of
interpretations, chapter and sections notes etc., and determining the duty
liability. It also involves correct determination of value where the goods are
assessable on ad valorem basis. The assessing officer has to take note of the
invoice and other declarations submitted alongwith the bill of entry to support
the valuation claim, and adjudge whether the transaction value method and the
invoice value claimed for the basis of assessment is acceptable, or value needs
to be redetermined having due regard to the provisions of Section 14 and the
valuation rules issued thereunder, the case law and various instructions on the
subject. He also takes note of the contemporaneous values and other information
on valuation available with the Custom House.
Where the appraising officer is not very clear about the description of
the goods from the document or as some doubts about the proper classification
which may be possible only to determine after detailed examination of the nature
of the goods or testing of its samples, he may give an examination order in
advance of finalisation of assessment including order for drawing of
representative sample. This is done generally on the reverse of the original
copy of the bill of entry which is presented by the authorized agent of the
importer to the appraising staff posted in the Docks/Air Cargo Complexes where
the goods are got examined in the presence of the importer’s representative.
On receipt of the examination report the appraising officers in the group
assesses the bill of entry. He indicates the final classification and valuation
in the bill of entry indicating separately the various duties such as basic,
countervailing, anti-dumping, safeguard duties etc., that may be leviable.
Thereafter the bill of entry goes to Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner
for confirmation depending upon certain value limits and sent to comptist who
calculates the duty amount taking into account the rate of exchange at the
relevant date as provided under Section 14 of the Customs Act.
After the assessment and calculation of the duty liability the importer’s
representative has to deposit the duty calculated with the treasury or the
nominated banks, whereafter he can go and seek delivery of the goods from the
custodians.
Where the goods have already been examined for finalization of
classification or valuation no further examination/checking by the dock
appraising staff is required at the time of giving delivery and the goods can be
taken delivery after taking appropriate orders and payment of dues to the
custodians, if any.
In most cases, the appraising officer assessees the goods on the basis of
information and details furnished to the importer in the bill of entry, invoice
and other related documents including catalogue, write-up etc. He also
determines whether the goods are permissible for import or there are any
restriction/prohibition. He may allow payment of duty and delivery of the goods
on what is called second check/appraising basis in case there are no
restriction/prohibition. In this method, the duties as determined and calculated
are paid in the Custom House and appropriate order is given on the reverse of
the duplicate copy of the bill of entry and the importer or his agent after
paying the duty submits the goods for examination in the import sheds in the
docks etc., to the examining staff. If the goods are found to be as declared and
no other discrepancies/mis-declarations etc., are detected, the importer or his
agent can clear the goods after the shed appraiser gives out of charge order.
Wherever the importer is not satisfied with the classification, rate of
duty or valuation as may be determined by the appraising officer, he can seek an
assessment order. An appeal against the assessment order can be made to
appropriate appellate authority within the time limits and in the manner
prescribed.
In the EDI system of handling of the documents/declarations for taking
import clearances as mentioned earlier the cargo declaration is transferred to
the assessing officer in the groups electronically.
\The assessing officer processes the cargo declaration on screen with
regard to all the parameters as given above for manual process. However in EDI
system, all the calculations are done by the system itself. In addition, the
system also supplies useful information for calculation of duty, for example,
when a particular exemption notification is accepted, the system itself gives
the extent of exemption under that notification and calculates the duty
accordingly. Similarly, it automatically applies relevant rate of exchange in
force while calculating. Thus no comptist is required in EDI system. If
assessing officer needs any clarification from the importer, he may raise a
query. The query is printed at the service centre and the party replies to the
query through the service centre.
After assessment, a copy of the assessed bill of entry is printed in the
service centre. Under EDI, documents are normally examined at the time of
examination of the goods. Final bill of entry is printed after ‘out of charge’
is given by the Custom Officer.
\In EDI system, in certain cases, the facility of system appraisal is
available. Under this process, the declaration of importer is taken as correct
and the system itself calculates duty which is paid by the importer. In such
case, no assessing officer is involved.
Also, a facility of tele-enquiry is provided in certain major Customs
stations through which the status of documents filed through EDI systems could
be ascertained through the telephone. If nay query is raised, the same may be
got printed through fax in the office of importer/exporter/CHA.
All imported goods are required to be examined for verification of
correctness of description given in the bill of entry. However, a part of the
consignment is selected on random selection basis and is examined. In case the
importer does not have complete information with him at the time of import, he
may request for examination of the goods before assessing the duty liability or,
if the Customs Appraiser/Assistant Commissioner feels the goods are required to
be examined before assessment, the goods are examined prior to assessment. This
is called First Appraisement. The importer has to request for first check
examination at the time of filing the bill of entry or at data entry stage. The
reason for seeking First Appraisement is also required to be given. On original
copy of the bill of entry, the Customs Appraiser records the examination order
and returns the bill of entry to the importer/CHA with the direction for
examination, who is to take it to the import shed for examination of the goods
in the shed. Shed Appraiser/Dock examiner examines the goods as per examination
order and records his findings. In case group has called for samples, he
forwards sealed samples to the group. The importer is to bring back the said
bill of entry to the assessing officer for assessing the duty. Appraiser
assesses the bill of entry. It is countersigned by Assistant/Deputy Commissioner
if the value is more than Rs. 1 lakh.
The goods can also be examined subsequent to assessment and payment of
duty. This is called Second Appraisement. Most of the consignments are cleared
on second appraisement basis. It is to be noted that whole of the consignment is
not examined. Only those packages which are selected on random selection basis
are examined in the shed.
Under the EDI system, the bill of entry, after assessment by the group or
first appraisement, as the case may be, need to be presented at the counter for
registration for examination in the import shed. A declaration for correctness
of entries and genuineness of the original documents needs to be made at this
stage. After registration, the B/E is passed on to the shed Appraiser for
examination of the goods. Along-with the B/E, the CHA is to present all the
necessary documents. After completing examination of the goods, the Shed
Appraiser enters the report in System and transfers first appraisement B/E to
the group and gives 'out of charge' in case of already assessed Bs/E. Thereupon,
the system prints Bill of Entry and order of clearance (in triplicate). All
these copies carry the examination report, order of clearance number and name of
Shed Appraiser. The two copies each of B/E and the order are to be returned to
the CHA/Importer, after the Appraiser signs them. One copy of the order is
attached to the Customs copy of B/E and retained by the Shed Appraiser.
Some major importers have been given the green channel clearance facility. It means clearance of goods is done without routine examination of the goods. They have to make a declaration in the declaration form at the time of filing of bill of entry. The appraisement is done as per normal procedure except that there would be no physical examination of the goods. Only marks and number are to be checked in such cases. However, in rare cases, if there are specific doubts regarding description or quantity of the goods, physical examination may be ordered by the senior officers/investigation wing like SIIB.
Refer Circular No. 9/2007-Cus Dated 7/2/2007
Wherever necessary, for availing duty free assessment or concessional
assessment under different schemes and notifications, execution of end use bonds
with Bank Guarantee or other surety is required to be furnished. These have to
be executed in prescribed forms before the assessing Appraiser.
The duty can be paid in the designated banks or through TR-6 challans. Different Custom Houses have authorised different banks for payment of duty. It is necessary to check the name of the bank and the branch before depositing the duty. Bank endorses the payment particulars in challan which is submitted to the Customs.
Whenever mistakes are noticed after submission of documents, amendments to the of entry is carried out with the approval of Deputy/Assistant Commissioner. The request for amendment may be submitted with the supporting documents. For example, if the amendment of container number is required, a letter from shipping agent is required. Amendment in document may be permitted after the goods have been given out of charge i.e. goods have been cleared on sufficient proof being shown to the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner.
For faster clearance of the goods, provision has been made in section 46
of the Act, to allow filing of bill of entry prior to arrival of goods. This
bill of entry is valid if vessel/aircraft carrying the goods arrive within 30
days from the date of presentation of bill of entry.
\The importer is to file 5 copies of the bill of entry and the fifth copy
is called Advance Noting copy. The importer has to declare that the
vessel/aircraft is due within 30 days and they have to present the bill of entry
for final noting as soon as the IGM is filed. Advance noting is available to all
imports except for into bond bill of entry and also during the special period.
Often in case of goods coming by container ships they are transferred at an intermediate ports (like Ceylon ) from mother vessel to smaller vessels called feeder vessels. At the time of filing of advance noting B/E, the importer does not know as to which vessel will finally bring the goods to Indian port. In such cases, the name of mother vessel may be filled in on the basis of the bill of lading. On arrival of the feeder vessel, the bill of entry may be amended to mention names of both mother vessel and feeder vessel.
The import of goods are made under specialised schemes like DEEC or EOU etc. The importer in such cases is required to execute bonds with the Customs authorities for fulfillment of conditions of respective notifications. If the importer fails to fulfill the conditions, he has to pay the duty leviable on those goods. The amount of bond would be equal to the amount of duty leviable on the imported goods. The bank guarantee is also required alongwith the bond. However, the amount of bank guarantee depends upon the status of the importer like Super Star Trading House/Trading House etc.
A separate form of bill of entry is used for clearance of goods for
warehousing. All documents as required to be attached with a Bill of Entry for
home consumption are also required to be filed with bill of entry for
warehousing. The bill of entry is assessed in the same manner and duty payable
is determined. However, since duty is not required to be paid at the time of
warehousing of the goods, the purpose of assessing the goods at this stage is to
secure the duty in case the goods do not reach the warehouse. The duty is paid
at the time of ex-bond clearance of goods for which an ex-bond bill of entry is
filed. The rate of duty applicable to imported goods cleared from a warehouse is
the rate in-force on the date on which the goods are actually removed from the
warehouse.
(References: Bill of Entry (Forms) Regulations, 1976, ATA carnet (Form Bill of
Entry and Shipping Bill) Regulations, 1990 ,Uncleared goods (Bill of entry)
regulation, 1972, , CBEC Circulars No. 22/97, dated 4/7/1997, 63/97, dated
21/11/1997).