Implementation of paperless processing under SWIFT - Mandatory uploading of supporting documents for all the bills of entry filed in PORTS OF Customs Commissionerate Indore w.e.f 15.03.2018 - Customs - PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 06/2017-18

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER CUSTOMS MANIK BAGH PALACE. POST BAG NO.10, INDORE - 452 001 (M.P.) Dated: 14.03.2018 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 06/2017-18 Subject: - Implementation of paperless processing under SWIFT - Mandatory uploading of supporting documents for all the bills of entry filed in PORTS OF Customs Commissionerate Indore w.e.f 15.03.2018- Regarding. Attention of all the Importer, Exporters, Customs Brokers, other stake holders and members of the trade is invited to CBEC circular no. 40/2017- Customs dated 13 th October, 2017 (issued from F.No.450/148/2015-Cus.IV) regarding uploading of supporting documents. Under the project Saksham CBEC has upgraded its IT infrastructure, which is inter alia being used for the introduction of paperless under Single Window Interface Facilitation of Trade (SWIFT). With the objective of redwing physical Interface between Customs, other regulatory agencies and the Trade, and to further enhance the speed of clearance of import cargo, a facility to upload digitally signed supporting documents on a pilot basis has already been introduced at Air Cargo Complex, New Delhi and Chennai Customs House. 2. Under CBEC Circular 10/2015 dated March 31, 2015, and Circular 26/2015 dated November 23, 2015, Bills of Entry are required to be submitted by authorized persons on ICEGATE after affixing their digital signatures. Now, under facility (uploading digitally signed supporting documents), the authorized persons (Customs Broker/ Importer ) are also required to submit all the supporting documents online on ICEGATE after affixing digital signatures. 3. It has been mentioned in the aforesaid CBEC Circular No. 40/2017 Customs dated 13 th October, 2017 that on a voluntary basis, Members of the trade may use this facility to upload the supporting documents concerning Bills of Entry may be filed on or after October 20, 2017. 4. However, it has been observed that in-spite of the availability of facility to upload digitally Signed supporting documents, which will significantly reduce the import clearance time, and trade being also requested to avail this facility in PRFC and other forums, this facility is still not being used optimally by trade. All importers at ports of Customs Commissionerate Indore are again being informed that this facility is available to them and they are encouraged to use this facility for all their import clearances. 5. The detailed procedure for uploading the supporting documents as mentioned in the above Boards circular, shall be as under. 5.1. For uploading supporting documents on ICEGATE, authorized persons must open ICEGATE URL https://www.iozgate.gov.in/. Click on login/signup button for login into ICEGATE by using his/her access credentials and then Click on e-SANCHIT link provided in left vertical menu to redirect on e-SANCHIT. The step-by-step procedure for upload of supporting documents is also provided on the ICEGATE website. The same is also Annexed along with Public Notice. While preparing a job for submission on ICEGATE in their respective Remote EDI Systems (RES), the authorized persons must ensure that they have uploaded all the necessary supporting documents. A facility has also been provided on ICEGATE to the authorized persons to access and view tie documents uploaded by them. 5.2 In case the authorized person seek to provide a document after the generation of the Bill of Entry number, he/she may first upload the document on ICEGATE, obtain a unique ID Image Reference number (IRN) for the document and link that document with the corresponding Bill o Entry by submitting an amendment at the Service Center. This procedure will also apply when the authorized person submits a document in response to a query raised by Customs for a Bill of Entry. 6. Assessment Document Verification Once a Bill of Entry has been filed, Customs officers will be able to access the uploaded electronic versions of supporting documents while viewing or assessing the Bill of Entry on The Indian Customs EDI System (hereinafter referred to as ICES ). During assessment, ICES provides for a query to be raised in order to call for additional documents or information. In response to a query, supporting documents can also be uploaded online by following the procedure described above. All documents required for the purposes of assessment Would be viewed online. In due course, the facility to view supporting documents will also be extended to officers of the Participating Government Agencies GAS). Post Clearance Compliance Verification (PCCV) will be carried out online based on the electronic versions of supporting documents instead of hardcopy dockets of the Bills of Entry. 7. Goods Registration, Examination Clearance After filing of the Bill of Entry, the authorized person (e.g. importer/Customs Broker) may with his self-assessed copy of the Bill of Entry, approach the designated place for goods registration, document and clearance. In case goods are to be examined, the officer examining goods may record the results of inspection/examination online on ICES. 8. Some types of supporting documents are required to be presented in original (as specified in the respective notifications) for verification of seal/signature etc., for defacement and for the debit of quantities/value. Trade should present hardcopy at the time of the registration of goods or at a place specified by the Commissioner of Customs. It may however be noted that all supporting documents shall be uploaded digitally, including those documents that must be presented in hardcopy. For supporting documents, where a debit of quantity/value is required to be made on hardcopy, for every subsequent Bill of Entry filed for import, the latest debit sheet shall be uploaded. The authorized person fling the Bill of Entry should pay attention while linking supporting documents with Bills of Entry and should ensure that the correct unique reference numbers (IRNs) are mentioned in the Bills of Entry. Manifest Closure 9. With the submission of supporting documents online, the manifest closure department of the Custom House will not receive hardcopies of dockets. Officers shall rely on the electronic records maintained on ICES to carry out activities in relation to manifest closure. 10. The Bill of Entry (Electronic Integrated Declaration) Regulation 2011, was placed on the CBEC website since August 4, 2017 for public feedback. e updated draft Regulations provide for die authorized person to submit digitally signed electronic integrated declarations (Bills of Entry) and supporting documents and dispenses with the need for trade to submit the corresponding hardcopies. The draft Regulations also provide that the authorised person shall retain, for a period of 5 years from the date of acceptance of the Bill of Entry, all supporting documents in original, which were used or relied upon by him in submitting the electronic integrated declaration, and shall produce them before Customs or other Government agencies in connection with any act\on or proceedings under the Customs Act 1962 or any other law for the time being in force. 11. Importers/ Customs Brokers were informed that bills of entry pertaining to other Appraising Groups can also be filed by using e-SANCHIT facility on voluntary basis as use of e-SANCHIT will enhance the speed of import clearance. 12. It has now been decided that it shall be obligatory to upload the supporting documents through e-SANCHIT facility for all the bills of entry filed in ports of this Commissionerate w.e.f. 15.03.2018. 13. Accordingly, following procedures is prescribed in order to smooth implementation of this facility: a) When a bill of entry is filed by using e-SANCHIT facility, hard copy of uploaded documents will not be insisted by Assessing Officers. Hardcopies of additional documents required during assessment should be uploaded through e- SANCHIT as per procedure outlined in the Public Notice no, 06/2018 dated 08.03.2018. b) Certain documents/ certificates in original (for example, Certificates of Origin, duty exemption certificate, etc.), are required to be mandatorily verified at the time of assessment and/ or clearance as case may be. However, even such documents must be uploaded on e-SANCHIT before clearance. 14. To facilitate smooth functioning of this facility of uploading the supporting documents, the feedback, queries/difficulties, in implementation of this Public Notice (issued in reference to CBEC Circular No.40/2011-Customs dated 13-10-2017), if any, shall be brought to the notice of the undersigned or may be addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Customs(EDI), Hqrs Indore by email to [email protected]/Assistant Commissioner in charge of ICD Pithampur (email address: [email protected]). 15. A file containing Frequently asked questions and their answers (also available on the ICEGATE website) has also been reproduced at the end of this Public Notice for the sake of easy reference. 16. Action to be taken in terms of decisions taken in this Public Notice should be considered as standing order for the purpose of officers and staff. (NEERAV KUMAR MALLICK) COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS