SEZ cargo delivery now integrates SEZ Online with Customs EDI to automate filing, transshipment approvals and release messaging.
SEZ Online is electronically integrated with Customs EDI (ICES 1.5) on a pilot basis to automate tagging of IGM particulars to Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills, transmit removal and arrival messages via ICEGATE, generate transshipment approvals and Approval Orders in ICES 1.5, and require Preventive Officers to verify seals, container condition, and marks before permitting release; manual endorsements and physical re-warehousing certificates remain during the pilot and broken seals or discrepancies revert to manual clearance.

ECB modification powers: AD Category I banks may approve schedule, amount and cost changes, subject to ceilings and reporting.
Authorised dealer Category I banks may permit modifications to ECB terms-changes in draw down and repayment schedules, reductions in amount, and increases in all in cost-provided revised average maturity and/or all in cost conform to applicable ceilings and guidelines and changes occur during the ECB tenure; lender changes and transfers on corporate reorganisations are allowed after ensuring borrower eligibility and continued compliance.

Commercial invoice cum packing list accepted as sufficient for customs submission, easing document requirements for importers and exporters.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs permits submission of a single Commercial invoice cum Packing list containing essential packing particulars-description of goods, marks and numbers, quantity, gross and net weight, number and types of packages-and such a merged document will suffice for customs purposes. Importers/exporters may nonetheless provide a separate packing list if desired, and any implementation difficulties are to be notified to the Deputy Commissioner.

Freight subsidy scheme extends transport cost reimbursement to eligible industrial units in designated remote areas under specified conditions.
The Freight Subsidy Scheme, 2013 reimburses specified portions of transport costs for eligible industrial units located in designated Selected Areas, subject to registration, time limits, and exclusions on a Negative List. Subsidy rates vary by Selected Area and mode (rail, road, sea, inland waterways, air) with reimbursements capped at actual or notional costs from designated rail-heads/ports, and exclude handling charges. Administrative responsibilities are allocated to District Industries Centres, State Level Committees and named Nodal Agencies, with central oversight by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and a five year sunset.

Media coverage protocol: field offices must route press requests through the designated official spokesperson for centralised handling.
The CIT (M&TP) is the official spokesperson and media coordinator for CBDT; field offices wishing media coverage on locally significant matters must send a suitable note to the CIT (M&TP) for action in accordance with the extant media guidelines, ensuring centralised handling and confidentiality safeguards.

Cross-border carriage of Indian currency permits limited transport of higher-denomination notes to Nepal and Bhutan under FEMA regulations.
Individuals travelling to Nepal or Bhutan may carry specified higher-denomination Reserve Bank of India currency notes subject to a prescribed ceiling; Authorised Persons must inform constituents and customers. The amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Export & Import of Currency) Regulations, 2000 has been notified in the Official Gazette, and the circular is issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act without prejudice to permissions required under other laws.

Remittance of salary: facility extended to employees deputed to group companies in India and to LLPs under forex rules.
Remittance of salary outside India under Regulation 7(8) extends to employees deputed to a group company in India and the term 'company' in that provision includes a Limited Liability Partnership; the Reserve Bank amended the principal Regulations in 2014 to reflect this position and Category I Authorised Dealer banks are to notify their constituents, with the directions issued under FEMA subject to other statutory permissions.

Depository receipts scheme: new rules cap foreign holdings and require Form DRR reporting after issuance.
The circular implements the Depository Receipts Scheme, 2014, designating specified Schedule-listed securities as eligible for issuance/transfer to foreign depositories subject to applicable FEMA foreign holding limits; prohibits issuance of depository receipts at prices below corresponding domestic issue prices; requires compliance with FEMA conditions where issuance increases company capital; and mandates the domestic custodian to file Form DRR with the Reserve Bank within thirty days of close of the issue/programme.

Full FDI through automatic route permitted in construction development, subject to conditions set out in the Press Note.
The Construction Development sector is permitted full Foreign Direct Investment under the Automatic route, subject to the conditions set out in Press Note No.10 (2014 Series) dated December 3, 2014; the Reserve Bank amended the principal FEMA regulations to implement this revision and directed Authorised Dealer Category I banks to notify constituents. The directions are issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and remain without prejudice to other statutory permissions.

Overseas direct investment rules tightened for proprietorships and unregistered firms; approval conditioned on export status and compliance.
Revises approval-route eligibility for Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) by proprietorship concerns and unregistered partnership firms: applicant must be a Status Holder under the Foreign Trade Policy, show a proven export track record with limited export outstanding and consistently high performance, be KYC-compliant with verifiable business and turnover, not be under adverse notice or listed as a defaulter, and proposed investment abroad must not exceed prescribed ceilings based on recent average export realisation or net owned funds.

Identity card validity reduced to one year for fishermen; applies to new and renewed cards immediately.
Validity of laminated photo identity cards for fishermen is reduced from three years to one year, applying to cards issued or renewed henceforth; all other issuance and renewal procedures and conditions remain unchanged and the amendment takes immediate effect.

Jurisdiction realignment: service tax boundaries reorganised and assessees must use existing CDR until migration completes.
Service tax administrative boundaries have been redefined to align with re organised municipal wards and peripheral taluks and districts, effective 20.01.2015, as per the annexed schedule. Assessees should consult the departmental website or provided contact numbers for jurisdictional details. Until migration to the new CDR code is completed, assessees must continue using their existing CDR code for tax payments and must quote their Service Tax Registration Number in all correspondence. The Trade Notice supersedes prior notices and requests acknowledgment of receipt.

Importer registration verification: single-zone verification accepted across Mumbai Customs zones, subject to random checks.
First-time importers must submit VAT/Sales Tax registration, bank certification of account and signatures, proof of payment through the importer's account, prior year balance sheet, and latest income tax or sales tax return. Verification carried out in any one Mumbai Customs Zone (NS-I, III or V) will be accepted across the other Zones, with names of verified importers updated weekly on the Zone website and subject to random verification; listed importers need not re-submit documents for first-time imports in another Zone.

Customs documentation simplification reduces hard-copy requirements and permissions, easing compliance through continuity bonds and single-copy transshipment.
Customs procedures are simplified by restricting hard-copy IGM submissions to two, permitting a continuity bond and merged guarantee for port clearance to reduce documents and submission frequency, limiting Sub Manifest Transshipment Permit hard copies to one, and removing the need for separate permission when transshipment mode changes provided the carrier intimates the change and the bond covers both modes.

Procurement certificate verification required; failure to produce re warehousing certificates may trigger demand notices and clearance restrictions.
Verification of Procurement Certificates and mandatory receipt of Re warehousing Certificates are required to complete duty free import warehousing under the EOU scheme. PCs must be presented in sealed covers and are subject to random verification; RWCs must be submitted within the prescribed period from PC issuance or demand notices and other restrictions will follow. Two warehousing procedures operate: officer supervised warehousing and conditional self bonding by eligible EOUs, both requiring specific inspection, endorsement, register entries and issuance or closure of entries in TAR and PCR upon receipt of RWCs.

Income tax rate and compliance overhaul clarifies income characterisation, tightens trust exemptions, and expands TDS and valuation powers.
The Finance (No.2) Act, 2014 specifies income tax rates and surcharge/cess mechanics and enacts wide amendments to income characterisation, capital gains rules, deduction and investment incentives, and compliance procedures. It treats securities held by notified foreign portfolio investors as capital assets, revises holding periods for unlisted securities and mutual fund units, expands and conditions investment linked deductions, tightens the charitable trust exemption code and CSR deductibility, revises TDS/TCS obligations and penalties, enhances valuation, survey and inquiry powers of tax authorities, enlarges advance ruling and APA schemes, mandates financial reporting by prescribed institutions, and prescribes taxation rules for business trusts and distributed income.

Merged commercial invoice and packing list accepted for customs if it includes required shipment details; separate list optional.
Customs will accept a commercial invoice cum packing list as sufficient for import and export processing where it contains the packing-list-specific shipment details-description of goods, marks and numbers, quantity, gross weight, net weight, number of packages, and types of packages-while importers and exporters may still provide a separate packing list if they choose.

Summons issuance protocols restrict routine use and require senior authorization plus written records before enforcement.
Summons under Section 14 are to be used only as a last resort; Superintendents must obtain prior written permission from an officer not below Assistant Commissioner with reasons recorded, or, if impracticable, secure oral/telephonic permission later reduced to writing. The issuing officer must file a report or brief of proceedings in the case file and submit it to the authorising officer. Senior management of large companies or PSUs should not be summoned initially unless investigation indicates their involvement in revenue affecting decisions.

Export certificate for personal jewellery enables verified sealing and documented re-import procedures for passengers carrying jewellery abroad.
Facility permits passengers to obtain an export certificate for personal jewellery carried abroad to enable duty-free re-import, limited to non-commercial quantities. Passengers must submit detailed packaging lists, ownership proof or affidavit, coloured photographs, valid travel documents and an undertaking to re-import. Jewellery is inspected, appraised, repacked, labelled, sealed with Customs Seal and recorded in a register. On departure Customs endorses packing lists and retains copies; on return Customs detains jewellery in warehouse, appraises to match export records, cancels endorsed lists if matched, releases jewellery and charges warehouse fees to the passenger.

Re-export permissions for mistakenly imported goods now delegable to customs officers, enabling expedited decisions and fewer delays.
Permission for re-export of goods inadvertently imported for another destination may be granted on merit by the customs officer concerned under their adjudication powers, modifying prior instructions that required Commissioner-level approval; chief commissioners must ensure compliance and report difficulties to the Board.