Online transmission of duty free import authorizations requires quoting authorization numbers and enables automated Customs-DGFT exchanges.
Online transmission of Duty Free Import Authorization (DFIA) via an Electronic Message Exchange System is operational from 13 October 2011; DFIA details must be provided in the revised License Table or prescribed Annexure column when filing Shipping Bills or Bills of Entry. ICES 1.5 will automatically receive authorizations issued on or after implementation and exporters/importers must quote the authorization number. Customs will transmit Shipping Bills to DGFT for export obligation monitoring; DGFT will issue an Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC) and, based on it, Customs will release bonds/LUTs/BGs after verification. Amendments require a Customs-issued log print and no imports are allowed after log print until amendment message is received.

Extension of filing deadline for half yearly service tax returns due to newly mandated e filing, allowing extra time to comply.
The Central Board extends the filing deadline for half yearly service tax returns for the April-September period to afford taxpayers additional time to comply following the imposition of mandatory electronic filing for all classes of service tax assesses, thereby modifying the prescribed due date and providing an administrative accommodation to facilitate transition to e filing.

Identification of Export Goods: require speaking orders, prompt deficiency notices and monitoring to ensure timely processing of drawback claims.
For identification and determination of use under Section 74, export goods must be identified to the satisfaction of the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner through examination of physical attributes, documents and tests, and a speaking order with detailed reasons must be issued when drawback is proposed or denied. Any deficiency in drawback claims under Sections 74 or 75 must be communicated clearly to the exporter within ten days; disbursement must follow the Citizen's Charter and Sevottam standards. Field formations must perform periodic sample checks, ensure BRC module data entry, dispose brand rate claims time bound, and create monitoring cells to act against defaulter exporters.

Completion of service requires finalization of auxiliary activities before invoice issuance; invoice timing obligations apply to continuous services.
The notice clarifies that for Service Tax Rules purposes an invoice must be issued within the statutory period after service completion, and completion includes all related activities that enable the provider to quantify and invoice the service (for example measurement or quality testing). The test of completion is the conclusion of those activities that place the provider in a position to issue the invoice; flimsy or irrelevant reasons cannot justify delay. This clarification also applies to determining completion dates in cases of continuous supply of service.

Repatriation rules: income and sale proceeds of foreign assets need not be brought to India after return, and LRS income may be retained.
Income and sale proceeds of foreign assets owned when resident abroad or inherited from a former non-resident need not be repatriated upon return to India; investors may retain and reinvest income from investments made under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Authorised Dealer banks are to inform customers of these clarifications under FEMA.

Permitted currency expansion: FCNR(B) deposits may be accepted in any freely convertible foreign currency under FEMA regulations.
Authorised Dealer banks may accept FCNR(B) deposits in any permitted currency, meaning a foreign currency that is freely convertible under FEMA regulations; banks should notify account holders of this liberalisation, which is issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and without prejudice to other statutory permissions.

Transfer of imported firearms: DGFT permission dispensed for certain transfers based on import age, owner age, and shooter status.
The Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I (2009-2014), Para 2.43.2 is amended: prior permission for transfer or disposal of imported goods is not required after two years from import; for imported firearms, DGFT permission is not required where transfer occurs after ten years from import or upon the importer attaining sixty years of age; Renowned Shooters need no DGFT permission for weapon transfers five years after import, and those with Renowned Shooter status for three consecutive years require no permission after three years from import.

Amendment to Standard Input Output Norms allows import of liquid paraffin as alternate input for plastic export manufacture.
The Standard Input Output Norms for the Plastic Product Group are amended so the import item description now reads "Mineral Oil / Liquid Paraffin," thereby permitting liquid paraffin to be imported as an alternate input for manufacture of specified export products, with no change to export descriptions, other import items, or quantities.

Special audit empanelment: panel of CA/ICWA to conduct service tax special audits under Section 14AA with specified duties.
A panel of practising Chartered Accountants and Cost Accountants will be empanelled to conduct special audit of Service Tax assessees under Section 14AA as applied to Service Tax; eligibility requires institute membership with a Certificate of Practice, minimum Service Tax experience, no recent professional misconduct or penalization, and no ongoing departmental investigation. Applications will be scrutinized and shortlisted by a Commissioner-appointed Committee, with final empanelment after interview; the panel is normally valid for two years, assignments allocated as required, performance monitored, and auditors must follow Terms of Reference, coordinate with departmental officers, submit detailed certified reports, and comply with conflict-of-interest restrictions.

Dematerialisation requirement enables shifting from trade-for-trade to rolling settlement when non-promoter holdings are sufficiently dematerialised.
Companies that have connectivity with both NSDL and CDSL may be shifted from Trade for Trade Settlement to normal Rolling Settlement if at least 50% of other than promoter holdings are dematerialised (certified by the RTA or, if none, by a practicing Company Secretary/Chartered Accountant) and there are no other grounds for continuation of TFTS; stock exchanges must report the action in their Monthly/Quarterly Development Reports.

Export remittance cap increased for online gateways, allowing higher per transaction repatriation under existing standing arrangements.
AD Category I banks with standing arrangements with Online Payment Gateway Service Providers may accept and repatriate export related remittances up to USD 3000 per transaction through OPGSPs, replacing the earlier USD 500 limit; all other terms of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.17 remain unchanged and the revision is effective immediately under FEMA, subject to other applicable permissions.

Line of Credit for rural electrification requires majority India-origin supplies, set LC/disbursement timelines, and FEMA compliance.
Exim Bank's Line of Credit to Senegal finances rural electrification and eligible Indian goods, services and consultancy, requires a substantial majority of supplies to be from India with a limited portion of non-consultancy goods permitted from abroad, sets cut-off rules for Letters of Credit and disbursements tied to contract completion and a post-execution period for supply contracts, mandates shipment declaration on GR/SDF forms, prohibits agency commission under the LOC while permitting exporter-funded commission remittances subject to realization and instructions, and directs AD Category-I banks to inform exporters; issued under FEMA provisions.

Filing deadline extension for VAT returns permits optional electronic annexures while hard-copy annexures remain mandatory unless filed online
The Commissioner has extended on-line filing deadlines for specified VAT monthly and quarterly returns and Annexures 2A and 2B under the VAT rules, set separate dates for on-line and hard-copy submission, made electronic filing of the annexures optional while requiring annexures with hard-copy returns unless filed online, and affirmed that tax must be deposited per statutory provisions with applicable penalties for late payment.

Tax deduction at source on interest applies to court-ordered deposits; banks must credit TDS to the named depositor.
Where a court directs one or more litigants to deposit specified sums in a bank, the bank must deduct TDS on interest accruing on such deposits at rates in force and issue the certificate of deduction in the name of the depositor; where multiple depositors are involved, TDS is to be apportioned to each depositor's share and separate certificates issued. Depositors must submit a prescribed declaration to the court for transmission to the bank. The procedure excludes deposits held or administered by the court or arising from attachment and cases of a representative assessee.

Reward and incentive scheme amendments update eligible products and focus markets under export policy, expanding focus product lists and markets.
The Director General amends the Handbook of Procedures Vol. I under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy by deleting specified items from Appendix 37A (VKGUY), adding numerous products to Appendix 37D (Focus Product Scheme) including new focus products, bonus-benefit sectors and a Special Bonus Table, revising Market Linked Focus Products (Table 6), adding two countries to Appendix 37C and inserting a Special Focus Market Scheme Table 3, and by updating Appendix 7 with additional Towns of Export Excellence.

Clubbing of advance authorisations permits consolidation of imports and exports under one authorisation subject to compliance conditions.
Facility of clubbing shall be available only for redemption or regularisation, with no further imports or exports allowed; authorisations under similar Customs notifications may be clubbed across financial years, and Advance Authorisations issued on or after 1.4.2004 may be clubbed despite differing customs notifications. Regional Authorities or central headquarters will consider ANF 4D requests for clubbing if inputs are properly accounted for; value addition for clubbed authorisations is the average of minimum prescribed value addition, and upon clubbing authorisations are treated as one for regularisation of any shortfall.

Re-credit of duty for re-export permits customs-issued re-credit certificates enabling near-full reuse of debited duty.
Re-export of goods imported under reward schemes and DEPB may be permitted by the Commissioner of Customs where goods are defective or for any other reason, subject to conditions including re-export from the same port, within the prescribed time-limit, identity verification, non-use of goods, issuance of a re-credit certificate by Customs recording scrip details and debited amount, use of re-credit to the extent of ninety eight percent, and compliance with prevailing accounting guidelines; fresh scrip issuance by DGFT regional offices is not required.

Duty Free Import Authorization online transmission to Customs instituted, preserving existing online filing and transitional physical certificates.
DFIAs issued on or after 13.10.2011 will be transmitted electronically by DGFT to Customs while exporters/importers continue existing on line filing procedures unchanged. Physical DFIA certificates will remain in circulation temporarily during transition. Status of transmitted DFIAs will be published on the DGFT website, and designated Help Desk contacts at DGFT Headquarters and Zonal Offices will handle transmission errors or technical faults.

Duty Free Import Authorization transmission now automated, enabling electronic DFIA delivery to Customs and requiring updated system formats.
Online transmission of Duty Free Import Authorization licences between Customs and the issuing authority is operational at Chennai seaport, covering DFIA issued under the Duty Free Import Authorization scheme for exports and imports for all ports of registration, both EDI and non-EDI. Users must follow updated formats and the revised RES package available on the national electronic customs portal for implementation.

Reconversion of Indian Rupees: authorised dealers and FFMCs may reconvert tourist cash against ATM receipts with specified ID and ticket.
Urban Cooperative Banks will not receive fresh authorisation as Full Fledged Money Changers and may be considered for Authorised Dealer Category I or II only if they meet eligibility norms. Authorised Dealer Category I, Category II and Full Fledged Money Changers may reconvert Indian currency to foreign exchange for non NRI foreign tourists against ATM receipts, subject to presentation of passport and visa, a confirmed imminent departure ticket, and original ATM slip verified with the original card.