Board's Circular No.32/2017-Customs dated 27.07.2017 –Clarification regarding exports under claim for drawback in the GST scenario - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 20/2017

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS GST BHAVAN, 41/A, SASSOON ROAD, PUNE-411001 F. No. VIII/Cus/Tech/PN SI/48-75/2016 Date: 07.08.2017 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 20/2017 Subject :- Board's Circular No.32/2017-Customs dated 27.07.2017 Clarification regarding exports under claim for drawback in the GST scenario. 1. Attention of all Importers/ Exporters/ Customs Brokers and the Members of the Trade is invited to the above mentioned Circular issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, Central Board of Excise and Customs. 2. In this context, the higher All Industry Rates (AIRS) under Duty Drawback scheme viz. rates and caps available under columns (4) and (5) of the Schedule of All Industry Rates of Duty Drawback have been continued for a transition period of three months i.e. 1.7.2017 to 30.9.2017 (Circular No. 22/2017- Customs dated 30.6.2017). 3. Various issues have been highlighted by field formations and exporters regarding the requirement of a certificate to be obtained from the jurisdictional GST officer prescribed vide Note and Condition 12A of Notification 131/2016-cus (N.T.) dated 31.10.2016 as amended by Notification 59/2017-Cus (N.T.) dated 29.06.2017. The certificate aimed to ensure that there was no double neutralisation of taxes by way of credit/refund and drawback. However, in view of factors such as absence of clarity about jurisdictional GST officer, time lag between exports and the requisite returns to be filed under GST laws, etc., the said certificate from GST officer may not be available immediately at the time of export. 4. Keeping in mind the above difficulties, the Government has amended Note and Condition 12A of Notification 131/2016-cus (N.T.) dated 31.10.2016 by Notification 73/2017- Cus (N.T.) dated 26.7.2017 and dispensed with the requirement of the certificate from GST officer to claim higher rate of drawback. To facilitate exports, the higher rate of drawback can be claimed on the basis of self-declaration to be provided by exporter in terms of revised Note and Condition 12A of aforesaid Notification. 5. Since Notes and Conditions of Notification No. 131/2016-Cu (NT) dated 31.10.2016 (as amended) are integral part of the rates of drawback given under the Schedule to said Notification, accordingly in terms of the Section 75(3) of the Customs Act, 1962 and Rule 5(2) of the Customs, Central Excise Duties and Service Tax Drawback Rules, 1995, it may be noted that the changes made in Note and Condition 12A shall be applicable w.e.f. 1.7.2017 itself. Thus, exports which have been made from 1.7.2017 onwards shall be governed by the revised Note and Condition 12A. For all exports made w.e.f 1.7.2017 for which higher rate of drawback is claimed, exporter has to submit the self-declaration in the format attached. This format is also being suitably included in the EDI shipping bill. In respect of exports that have already been made, exporters may submit a single declaration regarding the export products covered in past shipping bills for which let export order has been given from 1.7.2017 onwards. This shall be irrespective of any certificate or declaration, if any, given earlier. 6. Another aspect that may be noted is that there could be cases where export goods had been cleared from factory, warehouse, etc. prior to 1.7.2017 but let export order has not been issued before 1.7.2017. Such goods are not supplies under GST and accordingly, said Note and Condition 12A is not applicable. For such goods, the declaration from exporter or certificate from the then Central Excise officer as applicable in terms of Note and Condition 12 of said Notification No. 131/2016-Customs (NT) shall continue. 7. As part of audit checks, the need for regular sample checking of the veracity of declarations accepted for disbursing AIR drawback claims has been highlighted in Board's instruction F. No. 603/01/2011-DBK dated 11.10.2013. The said instruction is reiterated for the purpose of audit checks for above cited self- declarations. Directorate General of Audit (Central Taxes) is also being asked to have the declarations given by exporters about nonavailment of ITC/refund etc. in respect of exports under drawback verified at the time of audit of these units/exporters. These checks wilt thus ensure that there is no double neutralisation of taxes by simultaneous availment of credit/refund and drawback. 8. In order to further facilitate exporters, it may be ensured that all pending drawback claims are disposed of on priority and zero pendency be maintained. Supplementary claims whenever filed should also be processed on priority. 9. The aforesaid circular may be downloaded from the website www.cbec.gov.in. 10. Difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the undersigned. (M. V. S. CHOUDARY) Commissioner of Customs, PUNE.