Introduction of additional facilities in the EDI System ICES 1.5 version -Reg. - Customs - 17/2014

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS CUSTOM HOUSE: COCHIN- 682009 TRADE FACILITY No. 17/2014 SUB: Introduction of additional facilities in the EDI System ICES 1.5 version -Reg. Attention of Importers, Customs brokers, Custodians of imported goods, Officers of Customs and all other concerned is invited to certain additional facilities provided recently in the EDI system ICES 1.5 version, for facilitation of the trade. The new facilities enable generation of Short Paid Duty (Interest) Challan and payment of Interim Interest for Warehousing Bills of Entry, in the case of extension for warehousing period. Similarly, henceforth, the provisionally assessed Bills of Entry would be finalized in the EDI system by the proper officers of Customs instead of the manual finalization procedures hitherto followed. The salient features of the new facilities are briefly discussed below for guidance of all concerned:- a). Interim interest for Warehoused goods In the case of warehoused goods , on extension of warehousing period, the interest accrued for the preceding period has to be collected, as clarified by the CBEC vide Circular No.47/2002 Cus dt.29.7.2002 . This was being collected manually. However, at the time of Ex-bond clearance, the system would calculate the interest without taking into account the amount manually collected, as such manual payments were not being captured in the System. To avoid such issues, a facility has been introduced to generate and collect the interim interests by the System electronically so that the said amount can be finally adjusted at the stage of last Ex-Bond Bill of Entry. This facility is incorporated in the SUX role of the Supdt. (Bonds). b). During e-payment, when the payment received from the bank is short of amount due, the whole payment was getting rejected by the System, thus necessitating the importer to make fresh payment and to seek refund of the rejected payments. To avoid such issues, a new option has been introduced in the EDI system to generate the supplementary challan directly, without re-assessment. It may be noted that this option would be facilitated only when the short payment is on account of interest accrual. Wherever there is a change in duty amount, the supplementary challan would be generated only on re-assessment. This facility is incorporated in the APR (Import Assessment Appraiser) role. c). Module for finalization of provisional assessments Henceforth, the provisional assessments would be finalized in the EDI System, by the Assessing Officer in the FAO role and approved by the AC/DC in the FDC role. On final assessment by AC/DC, if there is a change in the duty amount, ie, additional duty has to be paid, a challan shall be generated from the ICLK role, so that the differential duty shall also be paid through the banks, as in the case of normal Bills of Entry. (However, the excess duty if any, can be refunded only in the manual procedure). The bond associated with the provisional assessment would be re credited by the AC/DC(Imports) in the ACL role , when the differential duty paid is integrated into the System or if there is no change in the duty amount on finalisation. On re-credit of such Bond, the printout of the finalized Bill of Entry can be generated from the ICLK role. All concerned are to note that in the new scheme, the provisionally assessed Bills of Entry would be picked for post-clearance audit (PCA) only after finalisation in the system. Further, an option is provided in the FAO role to note down the details of manually processed finalization, so that the said Bills of Entry can be removed from the pending que for finalization. All concerned are directed to take note of the above features and utilize the facilities. Difficulties if any, on implementation of the above may be brought to the notice of the undersigned. Sd/- (Dr. K.N.RAGHAVAN) F No. C1/01/2014 TU Cus. Pt. I COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS Dated: 07.07.2014 Attested (GEORGE JOSEPH) APPRAISER (TARIFF UNIT)