Monetary limits for departmental appeals revised, restricting appeals to cases where tax effect exceeds prescribed thresholds.
Prescribes that departmental appeals and SLPs in Income-tax matters should not be filed unless the tax effect of disputed issues, computed year-by-year and including surcharge and cess but excluding interest unless disputed, exceeds specified monetary limits; composite orders involving multiple years require appeals in all covered years if any year exceeds the limit. The Assessing Officer must calculate tax effect per assessment year, special computation rules apply where income is computed under alternate tax provisions, and specific exceptions require contesting adverse decisions regardless of tax effect.

Mutual funds: SEBI master circular consolidates offer document, disclosure, governance, valuation, redemption and distribution rules.
The Master Circular compiles SEBI circulars (effective as of 05 June 2018) governing mutual funds, prescribing operative requirements for offer documents (SID, SAI, KIM) including filing, format, updates and investor communications; detailed disclosure and reporting obligations (portfolio uploads, reports, AUM and commission disclosures); governance and risk frameworks (trustee/independent director tenure, audit/valuation committees, systems audits, stress testing, in house credit assessment); valuation and NAV methodologies and cut off/timestamp rules; conditions and procedure for restriction on redemption; and distribution, intermediary due diligence, certification and transaction mechanics including dematerialisation and AML/KYC requirements.

Entity registration under Sea Cargo Manifest Regulations required; electronic arrival/departure manifests and inland manifest mandated for e-sealed export cargo.
Registration under the Sea Cargo Manifest & Transhipment Regulations requires Indian entities to register as Authorised Sea Carrier or Authorised Sea Agent and electronically submit Arrival and Departure Manifests prior to vessel departures. The Customs Inland Manifest (CIM) for e-sealed export cargo must be filed by the exporter for each vehicle or rail consignment before cargo leaves the exporter's premises; CIMs may reference multiple Shipping Bills. CIM details of vehicle, container and e-seal will be shared with the Risk Management System and verified by Preventive Officers in ICES, who will record match and tamper status.

Drawback Brand Rate jurisdiction change shifts application processing to port-based commissionerates with transitional safeguards and filing cell.
From 01.07.2017 applications for fixation of Drawback Brand Rate are to be filed with the Customs Commissionerate having jurisdiction over the port of export; Rule 6 and Rule 7 were amended by Notification No. 58/2017-cus (N.T). A Brand Rate Fixation cell is established at Hyderabad Customs headquarters to receive fresh and pending applications. The existing Duty Drawback scheme continues for a transition period until 30.09.2017, allowing composite rates subject to conditions that prevent simultaneous claiming of composite drawback and input tax credits or IGST refunds, and barring carry forward of CENVAT credit when composite rates are claimed.

Import/export prohibition on Indian currency - Bangladesh and Pakistan citizens barred from carrying notes; customs to enforce compliance.
Citizenship-based restriction: nationals of Bangladesh and Pakistan are prohibited from importing into India or exporting from India Indian currency notes under the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations, 2015 and related circular guidance; customs officials at Land Customs Stations are directed to ensure strict compliance and prevent such movements of currency.

Refrigerated cargo inspection waiver permits export after supervised stuffing and sealing upon confirmation, subject to scanning on intelligence.
Where refrigerated containers are stuffed and sealed under supervision of the jurisdictional Customs officer, the Superintendent i/c of the Parking Plaza/CFS shall waive physical examination upon confirmation by phone or email within two hours; failing confirmation the matter is to be escalated. The Parking Plaza/CFS officer must record supervised stuffing and sealing details in EDI departmental comments, and refrigerated containers remain liable to scanning/examination on intelligence or if RFID seals are found tampered.

ITC Refunds Special Drive: dedicated refund cells and extended office hours to clear pending IGST and ITC claims.
Administrative directive instituting a Special Refund Week from 9 July to 14 July 2018, with GST offices open on Saturday, to clear pending IGST and ITC refund claims. Exclusive camps/refund cells are set up in every division of the CGST Commissionerate, Raipur; assessees are instructed to contact named nodal officers at division contacts. A Joint Commissioner is designated for escalation and an Hqrs. Refund Cell email is provided. Trade bodies are asked to publicize the notice and earlier related trade notices are referenced for procedural clarification.

ITC/IGST refund facilitation: administrative drive to expedite refund processing and enable taxpayer grievance reporting.
Administrative initiative designates divisional offices as Exclusive Refund Cells to expedite ITC/IGST refund claims, with extended operating hours and coordinated supervision by GST and Customs Commissionerates. Trade is urged to submit pending claims and report processing obstacles; trade bodies are asked to disseminate the notice to stakeholders to facilitate resolution during the drive.

Supervised stuffing and sealing of reefer containers requires exporter request and Customs officer supervision under prescribed e seal procedures.
Supervised stuffing and sealing at Mundra Port requires exporter application to the Commissioner and a 24 hour request to the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner, Docks Preventive; deputed officers will supervise stuffing to the exporter's goods list, affix REID e seals supplied by the exporter, and endorse invoice copies with supervision details. RMCC will seek to avoid port examination of such sealed reefers though risk based or intelligence driven selection, tamper indications, or discretionary examination may occur. Existing self sealing with RFID e seals continues where supervised stuffing is not requested; applicable MOT charges must be prepaid.

IGST refund assistance: designated nodal officers and contact points set to resolve export refund issues during special facilitation week.
A time-bound facilitation mechanism for exporters facing IGST refund difficulties during 9-14 July 2018 directs exporters in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to contact designated nodal officers at eight ICDs and the Air Cargo Complex, with listed venues, names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, and provides the Commissioner's contact email for further escalation.

Acceptance of shipping bill copies allows exporters to submit any self certified shipping bill copy for EODC applications, easing compliance.
Exporters applying for Ex post Duty Credit under Advance Authorisation for exports made on or after 23.11.2016 may optionally submit a self certified copy of any shipping bill copy (Exporter/EP/CHA/Exchange Control) with the EODC application in ANF 4F; this interim measure is allowed while DGFT improves online verification for Regional Authorities and aims to reduce transaction costs.

Division of migrated taxpayers' base under GST: allocation to Centre or Sikkim based on turnover and annexure lists.
Division of migrated taxpayers' base is made by allocating GST-registered taxpayers into Centre or State jurisdiction lists based on a turnover threshold of Rs. 1.5 crore, with taxpayers above and below the threshold listed in four annexures (ANNEXURE-1A, 1B, 2A, 2B); trade associations are to notify members and taxpayers not appearing in annexures may email the designated Central or State contact addresses.

Customs broker oral examination scheduled 10 and 11 July 2018 with revised candidate list and venue announced.
Oral examinations for customs broker licences under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013 are scheduled for 10 and 11 July 2018 at Custom House, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad; a revised list of eligible candidates received from commissionerates is annexed as Annexure A specifying schedules and dates, and candidates or stakeholders facing difficulties are to inform the Department.

Import policy inclusion of peas allows free clearance of qualifying consignments imported before official clarification, subject to customs verification.
Consignments of peas other than Yellow Peas imported during the period after the amendment but before the clarification, and consignments with a bill of lading dated prior to the clarification, are permitted free clearance; customs authorities must verify the type of peas for consignments covered by this stipulation.

Centralised SCOMET export authorisation enables DGFT headquarters to issue licences while regions retain revalidation and enforcement.
Centralisation of issuance of SCOMET export authorisations places grant of licences with the SCOMET Cell at DGFT headquarters, signed by designated officials and copied to jurisdictional Regional Authorities, while Regional Authorities retain responsibility for revalidation after expiry, penal action, and administration of export benefits; Regional Authorities must also immediately issue authorisations for cases permitted by headquarters prior to this notice.

Input Tax Credit refunds: special liquidation drive with dedicated refund cells and nodal officers to resolve pending claims.
A concentrated refund liquidation drive for ITC refunds will run from 09 July 2018 to 14 July 2018 with offices open on the Saturday; exclusive camps/refund cells are set up in all divisions to process pending Input Tax Credit refund claims. Taxpayers should contact designated nodal officers listed for each division for assistance, while trade associations are requested to publicize the drive. A Joint Commissioner and the Hqrs Technical Branch email are provided for escalation of unresolved difficulties.

Customs port inclusion permits imports and exports through Kakinada and Krishnapatnam, subject to Notification conditions and policy.
Kakinada Port and Krishnapatnam Port are permitted for imports and exports for the purposes of Notification No.32/1997-Customs, subject to all conditions of that Notification, the Import-Export policy and any restrictions imposed by the Board; the proviso to condition (vi) authorizes the Commissioner to allow imports/exports through these ports.

Transporters of CID/CTD exports must register with the LCS, record vehicle details, and list transporter on export documents.
Transporters carrying CID/CTD (Exports) consignments must register with the concerned LCS and obtain a one year license; vehicle details must be registered and export documents (including LUT/insurance) must state the transporter, vehicle number and CHA name. Customs brokers must submit letters of authority from Nepalese exporters authorizing the broker and transporter. Failure to secure safe transit and receipt at destination will lead to deregistration and action under sections 16 and 135 of the Customs Act. A prescribed application and supporting documents are required for registration and renewal.

Sensitive items designation restricts specified export consignments to prevent diversion, effective immediately under transit treaty procedures.
Para 8 of the Export Procedure under the Transit Treaty empowers the Government to specify sensitive items for CTD (Exports) to prevent diversion; the Patna Commissionerate, citing diversion incidents and border communications, has designated Buffalo Meat; Cotton Goods; Gutkha; Tobacco Products; Tea; Handicraft Goods; Readymade Garments; Noodle; Yarn; and Felt Goods as sensitive, effective immediately and to be followed until further order.

Insolvency Professional Entity restrictions: IPEs may only support their partner professionals and must not seek empanelment.
An Insolvency Professional Entity (IPE) may only provide support services to its partner or director insolvency professionals and cannot act as an insolvency professional or provide services to other persons. Because IPEs are neither enrolled members of an Insolvency Professional Agency nor registered with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy regulatory board, they are prohibited from seeking empanelment with or joining panels of market participants.