Detailed scrutiny of central excise returns must follow risk based selection with document verification and operational escalation options.
Guidance requires departmental officers to conduct detailed scrutiny of Central Excise returns selected mainly by a risk scoring methodology, with Commissioners able to supplement selections manually. A prescribed monthly proportion of returns must be examined, the most recent return used, and supporting documents may be called for verification. Returns under audit or recently scrutinised are excluded from selection for a defined interval. Composite ranges must allocate scrutiny between Central Excise and Service Tax proportionately, ACES access problems are to be escalated to DG (Systems) with manual printouts permitted, and prior conflicting instructions are rescinded.

Withdrawal of trade notices: prior notices superseded by central excise notifications clarifying amendments to existing notifications.
Trade Notice Nos. 03/2015 and 04/2015 are withdrawn because Notification Nos. 34/2015, 35/2015 and 36/2015 (all dated 17 July 2015) supersede and incorporate the amendments previously addressed by those trade notices; stakeholders are directed to rely on the July 17, 2015 notifications as self explanatory replacements.

Electronic Verification Code validation permitted for specified electronically filed returns, enabling taxpayers to validate returns within extended filing window.
CBDT authorises Electronic Verification Code (EVC) as a valid mode of validating electronically filed returns for specified categories of persons and directs that returns filed electronically without digital signature, for which the ITR V submission period to CPC Bengaluru has been extended, may be validated through EVC within that extended period to facilitate processing.

Cost recovery for damaged container scanners: operators and CFSs liable for repairs and negligence may be penalised.
A committee of the Container Scanning Division will assess damage to the 9 MeV fixed scanner and GaRDS mobile system and estimate repair charges. The cost of repairs will be recovered directly from the responsible transport operators and CFSs. Negligence by CFSs or transport operators will be treated as obstruction of a customs officer and addressed under the Customs Act, the Indian Penal Code and other applicable laws.

Input duty payment requirement: manufacturers must ensure duty-paid inputs, no credit taken, and comply with registration plus stock-declaration obligations.
Eligibility for the notification is limited to excisable goods manufactured from inputs on which appropriate excise duty or additional customs duty has been paid and for which the manufacturer has not taken CENVAT credit; the prohibition on credit applies to the manufacturer (not the buyer) under the CENVAT Credit Rules. Affected manufacturers must register under Rule 9 of the Central Excise Rules 2002 and submit duplicate, separate declarations of input and finished goods stock to the jurisdictional range office by the specified compliance deadline.

Refund procedure for Special Additional Duty streamlined; auditor-certified challan copies accepted, Annexure E certificate introduced.
Accepts copies of ST/VAT challans accompanied by a consolidated statutory auditor/Chartered Accountant certificate in the prescribed proforma, eliminating the need for each challan copy to be separately certified. Originals may be called for in doubtful cases. Merges multiple auditor certificates into a single mandatory format, Annexure E, which verifies VAT/ST payment, correlates payments with sales invoices, addresses unjust enrichment, and covers sales via consignment agents; modifications apply to pending claims and Annexure E is mandatory from 1 August 2015.

Run Flat tyre exclusion: Run Flat/RF marked tyres are excluded from the Quality Control Order's coverage.
Modification to clause (iii) of the Pneumatic Tyres and Tubes for Automotive Vehicles (Quality Control) Order, 2009 revises the wording to "Run Flat/RF and or carrying the Symbol," replacing the prior text referring to tyres "marked RF or similar marking and carrying the Symbol." The Office Memorandum clarifies that tyres described as "Run Flat/RF and or carrying the Symbol" are not covered by the Quality Control Order, 2009.

New taxpayer targets prompt region-specific identification and enforcement measures to enroll taxpayers and address compliance gaps.
Regionally apportioned targets for enrolment of new taxpayers are set, requiring region-specific identification strategies, engagement with professional bodies, coordination with collection/intelligence units, completion of tiered verification of NMS defaulters within prescribed timeframes, PCCsIT decision and dissemination on Non PAN data for PAN population by jurisdictional officers or special units, and follow-up action against TDS defaulters to secure TDS statements and identify non- or short-deduction transactions.

Electronic delivery orders required: paper D.O. largely replaced by online transmission to custodians, with limited exceptions.
An Electronic Messaging System will replace routine physical delivery orders at the Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai: all airlines and consol agents must electronically transmit Delivery Order messages to custodians' portals for all airwaybills, while custodial verification, Customs out-of-charge and gate pass issuance procedures remain unchanged. Manual paper D.O.s are permitted only for specified categories (unaccompanied baggage, direct delivery, one-time/individual importers) or temporarily where electronic transfer fails; designated contacts are provided for implementation difficulties.

PAN Migration requirement: transfer PANs from old or defunct jurisdictions to nodal and correct assessing jurisdictions to ensure timely processing.
Movement of PANs recorded under obsolete, orphaned or defunct jurisdictions must be effected to their correct present assessing officers using the Nodal framework under CIT(CO); CsITs are to expedite transfer into Nodal custody and RCCs must reassign PANs to correct current jurisdictions, while PANs in administrative placeholders like TDS AO or CIB AO should be moved out; a detailed PAN wise dataset is available on ITAXNET to support reconciliation and transfers.

Inter-se seniority revision: revise ITO seniority lists giving effect to judgment; promotions stayed pending revised lists.
Administrative direction to expedite Revised Inter-se Seniority Lists of ITOs to give effect to the referenced judgment, noting implementation in certain charges and representations for seniority revision; an ongoing OA produced an interim order restraining further promotions based on the existing Final All India Inter-se Seniority List until revised lists are prepared.

Trade annulment policy: exchanges may annul or reset trades for material mistakes, with time-bound procedures and review.
Policy sets a uniform mechanism for trade annulment or price reset for trades arising from material mistakes or erroneous orders: exchanges may act suo motu or on broker request, require timely electronic submissions, deter frivolous requests, notify brokers, and decide expeditiously while considering market-wide effects. Decisions must be reasoned, published, and reviewable before payout via an independent oversight committee; exchanges must implement bylaws, with application fees credited to the Investor Protection Fund and penalties for erroneous orders.

FPI maturity rule: SRs by ARCs exempt from residual maturity restriction, subject to overall corporate debt limits.
The minimum residual maturity restriction for FPI investment in corporate bonds does not apply to security receipts issued by Asset Reconstruction Companies; such investments must, however, remain within the overall corporate debt limit. All other conditions for FPI debt-market investment remain unchanged, the clarification is effective immediately, and further operational guidelines may be issued by the securities regulator.

Export factoring on non-recourse basis permitted for banks, subject to due diligence, invoice notation and reporting.
Authorised Dealer Category I banks may provide export factoring on a non recourse basis subject to conditions: ensure genuine invoices and no over financing by determining working capital against factored invoice values; remit net realisations to financing banks if not financing; complete KYC and due diligence; arrange for Import Factor credit evaluation and collection or obtain correspondent bank credit evaluation in single factor cases; annotate invoices directing payment to the Import Factor; close factored export bills and report them in EDPMS.

Issue of employee stock options to non-residents allowed with sectoral cap compliance and required approvals and reporting.
Indian companies may issue employees' stock options and/or sweat equity shares to non-resident employees or directors, including those of a holding company, joint venture or wholly owned overseas subsidiaries, provided schemes comply with securities or company rules, issuances observe applicable sectoral caps, FIPB approval is obtained where the company is under the approval route or recipients are citizens of Bangladesh or Pakistan, and the issuing company files Form ESOP with the Reserve Bank within thirty days while furnishing prescribed certificates and valuation evidence.

Foreign Currency Account payment requirement: SEZ units must pay DTA suppliers from FCA to enable Advance Authorisation closure.
Payments for supplies received by SEZ units towards fulfilment of export obligation against Advance Authorisations must be made from the SEZ unit's Foreign Currency Account; Development Commissioners are to instruct SEZ units accordingly so authorisation holders can obtain closure, and non compliance may attract regulatory action under the foreign trade law.

MEIS reward rate amendments revise HS-code specific export incentives, restricting eligibility for Japan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Amendments to MEIS Table 2 (Appendix 3B) revise reward rates for 118 ITC (HS) codes, replacing existing rates with new rates effective from the corrigendum's operative date. Specific tariff lines are annotated: codes marked with an asterisk are eligible for the revised reward only for exports to Japan; codes marked with a hash are eligible for the revised reward only for exports to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The corrigendum corrects and partially modifies the prior public notice thereby updating the operative MEIS schedule.

Exemption scope for anode slime clarified: not covered by exemption for waste and scrap of precious metals.
The Board concluded that anode slime, a by product of electrolytic copper refining, is not exempt under serial no. 195 of the exemption notification because it does not constitute "waste and scrap of precious metals"-it contains only traces of precious metals-and it does not arise in the course of manufacture of goods of the tariff chapter dealing with precious metals. The Board noted divergent field decisions and pending adjudications, observed that the matter involves mixed questions of law and fact for adjudication, and indicated that statutory appellate remedies remain available.

MEIS reward rate revisions: country group reclassification, schedule deletions/additions, and handicraft eligibility certification required.
Amendments to the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) revise Appendix 3B by reclassifying specified countries between country groups, deleting listed ITC (HS) lines, amending reward rates for numerous HS codes (including differential rates for handicraft versus non handicraft items), and adding HS lines whose benefits are admissible only for certified handicraft products; certain codes are marked to restrict rewards to exports to Japan or to Japan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Changes are made under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 and are effective immediately.

Foreign exchange declaration in Shipping Bill replaces separate SDF for EDI exports, requiring mandatory undertaking on remittance.
Exporters must replace the standalone SDF form with an embedded foreign exchange remittance declaration in the Shipping Bill, reflecting the RBI dispensation for EDI-processed exports and making the undertaking on realization and repatriation of foreign exchange a mandatory part of customs export filing.