Furnishing of Bond/Letter of Undertaking: acceptance by deputy/assistant commissioners and manual FORM RFD-II filing permitted until portal module exists.
Furnishing of Bond/Letter of Undertaking under rule 96A for export without payment of integrated tax must be in FORM RFD-II on the common portal; CBIC permits acceptance by the jurisdictional Deputy/Assistant Commissioner and allows manual submission of FORM RFD-II to that officer until the portal module is available, with exporters authorised to download the specified format from the CBEC website.

Goods and Services Tax implementation alters customs procedures and IGST exemption treatment for SEZ imports, requiring trade compliance.
Introduction of the Goods and Services Tax prompted amendments to customs law and procedure, with a CBEC circular clarifying bonds and letters of undertaking for exports and notifications amending tariffs and providing IGST exemptions for SEZ units and developers on imports of goods and services. Stakeholders are directed to consult the listed instruments on the CBEC website, familiarise themselves with the changes, and report any difficulties to the Principal Commissioner's office.

Tariff classification of dioctyl orthophthalate clarified: ortho isomer classed under specific tariff line; meta and para under residual.
Classification of dioctyl orthophthalate (DEPH) turns on subheading rules and specificity: Sub heading Note 2 prevents Chapter Note 3's numerical order rule from applying between competing subheadings within the same heading. A specific subheading exists for the ortho variety, which therefore takes precedence over the residual "other" subheading; dioctyl orthophthalate (ortho) is classifiable under the specific ortho subheading, while the meta and para isomers fall under the residuary subheading for other dioctyl phthalates.

Proper officer appointments under CGST assign specific investigative and adjudicatory functions to designated Central Tax officers.
Assignment of proper officers under the CGST Act designates specified Central Tax officer classes to exercise enumerated statutory and rule based functions (other than Registration and Composition). The Board has mapped investigative, adjudicatory and procedural powers to officer designations-Principal Commissioners/Commissioners, Additional/Joint Commissioners, Deputy/Assistant Commissioners, Superintendents and Inspectors-authorising actions under specified sections and rules. Jurisdictional Principal Commissioners/Commissioners must circulate the assignment to taxpayers and field formations, and trade associations should inform their members.

Bond or Letter of Undertaking for exports may be accepted by jurisdictional Deputy/Assistant Commissioner; manual submission allowed until portal live.
Acceptance of the Bond/Letter of Undertaking required for export without payment of integrated tax may be effected by the jurisdictional Deputy or Assistant Commissioner. Until the portal module for FORM GST RFD-11 is available, exporters may download FORM RFD-11 from the Central Board's website and furnish the duly filled form manually to the jurisdictional Deputy/Assistant Commissioner. These provisions apply to applications filed on or after the operative commencement date.

Customs duty collection arrangements delegated to a designated bank for EDI-based duty collection and drawback payment at specified stations.
State Bank of India, Panbazar, Guwahati branch (BSR Code 0000078) is authorised for collection of Customs duty and payment of duty drawback under the EDI system for Darranga LCS (INDRG8), Kamardwisa (Rangapani) LCS (INPBLB), and LGBIA Airport, Borjhar (INGAU4); arrangements are effective from the date of issue of the facility notice.

Tax Clearance Certificate requirement removed for procurements under GST; departments must not insist on its production.
Procuring entities are instructed that the Meghalaya GST Act and the Central GST Act contain no provision for issuance of a Tax Clearance Certificate; therefore Departments and Local Bodies must not insist on submission of the Tax Clearance Certificate previously required under the repealed Meghalaya Value Added Tax Act when calling for tenders for supply of goods and/or services, and should remove it as a prequalification or tender condition until further notice.

Late filing charge exemption for bills of entry allows waiver where prior filing existed and bonafide delays are evidenced.
No late presentation charge will be levied for consignments with advance bills of entry filed prior to the GST transition and entry inward thereafter; importers unable to file due to circumstances beyond their control may seek waiver by producing sufficient evidence, and assessing groups will consider waivers on merits after satisfying themselves of the bonafide nature of each case.

Rebate of State Levies revised for garment and textile exports; new rates effective and EDI implementation completed.
Revised rates for the Rebate of State Levies (RoSL) on export of garments and textile made up articles are effective 1 July 2017, including revised RoSL rates for the AA AIR combination, applicable to exports with Let Export Order dates from that date; EDI implementation of the revised rates is complete, and public notices and standing orders should be issued for guidance with implementation difficulties to be reported to the Board.

Concessional import duty rules: administrative functions move from Central Excise to Customs while jurisdictional transfer is formalised.
The Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, 2017 supersede the 2016 Rules in view of GST; administrative tasks previously discharged by Central Excise officers are to be carried out by Customs officers, but until formal reallocation of Commissionerate jurisdictions by the Board, existing Central Excise Commissionerate officers will continue to perform those functions and stakeholders should report implementation difficulties to the Commissioner.

GSTIN exemption: PAN as IEC suffices for importers and exporters exclusively trading in non taxable or exempt goods.
Importers and exporters exclusively engaged in import or export of goods that are not liable to tax or are wholly exempt under CGST or IGST need not obtain a GSTIN; PAN (when authorised as an IEC by DGFT) suffices for customs clearance, and Commissioners must ensure consignments are not held up and that PAN is quoted in bills of entry and shipping bills where the exemption applies.

Export procedure and container self-sealing under GST: e-seals, approval for premises, and risk-based customs checks.
Exports are zero rated under IGST, allowing exporters to supply under bond/Letter of Undertaking to claim refund of unutilised input tax credit or to pay IGST and claim refund of tax paid; refund filing is electronic via the common portal after export manifest delivery, and shipping bills with GST invoices serve as deemed refund applications when returns are filed. Self-sealing of containers at approved premises replaces routine customs sealing subject to prior notification, premises inspection, nationwide permission, use of tamper-evident electronic seals declared in the shipping bill, and continued risk-based examination at ports; the new procedures take effect 01.09.2017.

GST implementation training announced to guide trade on registration, transition, invoicing and recordkeeping via live broadcasts.
Notice informs importers, exporters, customs brokers and trade of a six day GST outreach titled GST Ki Master Class covering Registration and Migration, Transition and Invoice Making, and Composition and Record Keeping in Hindi and English. Sessions, led by a team headed by the Revenue Secretary, will be telecast live on national television and webcast on the PIB to provide uniform answers to frequently asked GST questions.

Concessional import duty rules implemented; customs officers to assume excise roles under transitional jurisdictional arrangements.
The Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, 2017, effective 1 July 2017, replace the 2016 rules and apply to importers seeking concessional duty relief where benefit depends on use of imported goods in manufacture or service provision. Administrative duties formerly exercised by Central Excise officers are to be assumed by Customs officers, but until the Board reassigns Commissionerate jurisdictions, Central Excise officers will continue performing those functions; Central Excise officials already have legal empowerment under the Customs Act, 1962.

Duty drawback transition: exporters may claim composite AIRs subject to conditions limiting input tax credit and refunds.
Effective 1 July 2017, a three month transition permits exporters to claim pre existing composite AIRs or only the Customs portion; claiming composite or Brand rates bars simultaneous availing of input tax credit or IGST refund on exports or inputs and prohibits carrying forward CENVAT credit, with prescribed declarations required. Changes in AIRs adjust rates, caps and classifications for specified textile, marine, leather and metal items. Fixation of Brand rates and supplementary drawback claims are transferred from Central Excise to Customs formations, with transitional delegation to existing Central Excise Commissionerates until Customs jurisdictions are notified.

Bond or Letter of Undertaking for exports may be accepted by deputy/assistant commissioners, permitting manual FORM GST RFD-11 filing.
Exports without payment of integrated tax require prior furnishing of a Bond/Letter of Undertaking in FORM GST RFD-11. Acceptance of that bond/undertaking may be done by the jurisdictional Deputy or Assistant Commissioner, and until the online module is available exporters may manually submit the downloaded FORM GST RFD-11 to the jurisdictional Deputy/Assistant Commissioner.

Duty drawback processing for DTA-to-SEZ supplies shifted to Customs jurisdiction, altering payment and brand-rate responsibility.
Drawback claims for supplies by DTA units to SEZ units or developers, where a disclaimer is issued, shall be processed and paid by the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over the DTA unit; brand rate fixation for such supplies will also be undertaken by that Customs office. Pending claims with Central Excise formations are to be transferred to the jurisdictional Customs office, and existing Drawback Rules instructions remain applicable except as modified by this reallocation. Central Excise officers designated as Customs officers will continue functions until Customs commissionerates assume responsibility.

Brand rate fixation in GST transition: Customs at place of export will process applications with specified input tax credit restrictions.
Fixation of Brand rate drawback is reassigned to the Customs Commissionerate having jurisdiction over the place of export from the GST commencement; Rule 6 and Rule 7 are amended and pending Central Excise applications will be transferred to the relevant Customs Commissionerate (exporter may choose where multiple export locations exist). Verification of data may be conducted through the Customs formation over the factory. Transitional conditions allow claim of AIR or Brand rate for pre-GST duties provided exporters do not claim CGST/IGST input tax credit or IGST refund and must furnish prescribed declarations; existing procedures apply mutatis mutandis.

Bond and Bank Guarantee Cell centralisation streamlines custody and monitoring for import bonds and guarantees at ACC Mumbai.
A dedicated Bond and Bank Guarantee Cell (Import) at ACC, Mumbai is established to centralise custody and monitoring of bonds and bank guarantees for the Import Commissionerate, operating in a segregated location alongside the BBG Cell (General) and following Public Notice No. 15/2017 and Standing Order No. 08/2017. Interim charge is assigned to specified officers and stakeholders are invited to report implementation difficulties to the issuing office.

Exemption from late filing charges for Bills of Entry affected by system failures, subject to evidence of attempted electronic submission.
A waiver of the late presentation charge for Bills of Entry affected by post-GST ICES/ICEGATE disruptions is available where the broker or importer provides evidence of attempted electronic submission without acknowledgement; DC/ACs will decide waivers on merits. For advanced BEs lacking IGST details that require cancellation and refiling due to the system issue, late filing charges for the refiling may be waived on verification, but the cancellation fee must be paid.