Round-the-clock customs clearance expanded; clarification on levy of MOT charges in CFSs attached to ports provided.
Expansion of 24x7 Customs clearance extends continuous customs operational hours at designated ports, affecting examination, clearance and coordination with Container Freight Stations. The circular clarifies the levy of MOT charges in CFSs attached to these ports and provides procedural guidance for importers, clearing agents and CFS operators, directing stakeholders to Circular No. 04/2017 for implementation and compliance.

Tariff value fixation clarifies customs valuation for specified imported commodities and directs importers to the governing notification.
Fixation of tariff values is effected by Notification No. 21/2017 Customs (N.T) dated 15.03.2017 for edible oils, brass scrap, poppy seeds, areca nut, gold and silver; the Department of Revenue issues the notification for guidance to importers, clearing agents and the trading public and directs consultation of the notification and the CBEC website for operative tariff values and administrative details.

Amendment of customs notification circulates amended text for importers and clearing agents and directs reliance on official website.
The Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 19/2017-Customs (N.T) amending Notification No. 384/86-Cus (N.T), and circulated the amended text for guidance to importers, clearing agents and the trading public, advising consultation of the enclosed amendment and the official departmental website for the authoritative text.

Amendment of customs notification updates import procedural guidance for importers and clearing agents and trading public.
The Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue issued Notification No. 18/2017 customs (N.T) amending Notification No. 31/97 Cus (N.T); the amendment is circulated for guidance to importers, clearing agents and the trading public and is available on the CBEC website, as notified by the Office of the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai II in Public Notice No. 48/2017.

Courier clearance amendment updates procedural requirements for importers and clearing agents, with guidance and online access.
The Government issued an amendment to the Courier Imports and Exports (Clearance) Regulations revising procedural requirements for courier consignment clearance; the notice advises importers, clearing agents and the trading public to consult the official online publication for the amendment text and implementation guidance.

Port notification amendment permits unloading and loading of specified imports and exports; consult official customs notification online.
Amendment to the port notification authorises specified unloading of imported goods and loading of export goods at Revdanda Port by way of Notification No. 15/2017 customs (N.T.), circulated for the guidance of importers, clearing agents and the trading public and made available on the central customs website.

Tariff value fixation for specified imports notified; importers and agents advised to apply the notified values for customs valuation.
The central government has notified fixation of tariff values for edible oils, brass scrap, poppy seeds, areca nut, gold and silver; the notification is circulated for guidance to importers, clearing agents and the trading public and the department website hosts the authoritative text.

Tariff value fixation for edible oils, metals and agricultural imports notified; importers and agents must follow the official guidance.
Fixation of tariff values has been notified for edible oils, brass scrap, poppy seeds, areca nut, gold and silver as the operative valuation guidance for customs assessment; the Ministry's notification is circulated for the guidance of importers, clearing agents and the trading public and is available on the central customs website.

Shipping bill copy procedure requires exporters to submit customs copy to shipping lines and retain exporter copy.
After abolition of Exchange Control Copy and Export Promotion Copy, only Customs Copy and Exporter Copy of the shipping bill are generated; Customs will not retain the Customs Copy at LEO. The Customs Copy must be submitted by the exporter to the shipping line as proof of customs clearance and will be submitted by the shipping line to Customs as part of the Export General Manifest (EGM). Exporters may retain the Exporter Copy for record, audit and future reference.

Continuity bond compliance: failure to re-export bonded containers prompts duty recovery with interest and possible penal action.
Compliance with Continuity Bonds for temporary importation of durable containers is required; recurring non-compliance includes failure to re-export containers within the stipulated period and omission to seek extensions or submit monthly statements. The Principal Commissioner directs strict adherence to bond obligations and warns that breaches will invite recovery of customs duty with interest under Section 142 read with Section 143 of the Customs Act, 1962, and possible penal proceedings under the Act.

Time-barred income tax returns: Online TMS enabled to process PAN-related failures with distinct treatments for valid and invalid PANs.
Enables Online TMS from 15-3-2017 to process FY 2015-16 returns nearing time bar where AST/CPC cannot process them due to PAN-related issues. Two workflows: Category 1 for genuine PANs (migration, deletion, de-duplication, restoration) allows AO processing outside PAN jurisdiction, online tax credits, and later integration into AST; Category 2 for invalid or mismatched PANs disallows tax credit posting and refunds, keeps processed data standalone, and requires the AO to record reasons and pursue PAN correction.

Refrigerated container export procedures: temporary relaxation allowing parking plaza registration and seal verification prior to LEO issuance.
Customs will not insist on prior physical entry of refrigerated containers into the Parking Plaza; upon arrival exporters may seek registration and issuance of Let Export Order where RMS facilitation applies. Preventive Officers will verify seal and container numbers and condition and may process LEO if in order. If a shipping bill is not RMS facilitated and is selected for examination, refrigerated containers must be routed through a CFS for examination and completion of customs procedures. The relaxation is temporary and issued as a standing order.

Change of ownership: new documentary and bond requirements prescribed for transfer of warehoused imported goods under customs supervision.
Denaturing of ethyl alcohol in warehouse storage is permitted only under Customs supervision with permission from the AC/DC Group and in accordance with Board Circulars, Public Notices and the Denaturing of Spirit Rules, 1972. A new change of ownership procedure allows AC/DC Bond to permit transfers on seller and buyer request, conditioned on submission of an application form, a purchaser-executed triple duty bond on prescribed notarised non-judicial stamp paper, letters of willingness from importer and purchaser, CHA appointment letter if applicable, warehousing Bill of Entry with examination order, endorsed Bill of Lading, and a prescribed bond or sale agreement for transfer.

Extension of filing deadline for third quarter VAT returns permits late electronic filing while tax payment obligations remain unchanged.
Last date for submission of online or hard copy third quarter VAT returns in Form DVAT 16, Form DVAT 17 and Form DVAT 48 is extended to 31.03.2017 under Rule 49A; taxes due remain payable as per the applicable payment provisions; dealers filing with digital signature need not submit a hard copy or Form DVAT 56.

Regulatory disclosure obligations require clearing corporations to publish orders and arbitration awards online for investor transparency.
Clearing Corporations must publish on their websites all regulatory orders against clearing members and all arbitration or appellate awards; orders and awards issued since June 20, 2012 are to be posted within thirty days and those issued after the date of the circular must be posted immediately. Corporations must also disclose arbitrator profiles including qualifications, experience and number of matters handled, disseminate the circular's provisions on their websites, and report implementation status to the regulator in the Monthly Development Report.

Acceptance of e-BRC as proof of export realization, subject to exporter declaration and exception for suspected misuse.
DGFT electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (e-BRC) will be accepted as proof of realization of export sale proceeds for the specified earlier export period, except where specific intelligence or information indicates misuse; acceptance is conditional on an appropriate exporter declaration on the back of the DGFT e-BRC in the prescribed format, and implementation difficulties are to be reported to the customs authority.

Authorized Economic Operator exemption removes routine sample drawal for drawback, subject to intelligence-based sampling override.
Exports by entities holding Authorized Economic Operator certificates at Tier II and Tier III are exempted from the routine requirement of drawal of physical samples for the purpose of processing and grant of customs drawback, subject to an exception where specific information or intelligence warrants sampling. The exemption streamlines drawback claims while preserving an intelligence-driven sampling override.

Bank account errors block duty drawback and RoSL payments; exporters must correct bank and IFSC details promptly.
Errors in exporter-provided bank account numbers and IFSC codes are causing rejection of Duty Drawback claims by banks and rejection of entire payment scrolls in PFMS for Rebate of State Levies (RoSL). Exporters must immediately update correct bank details for IECs identified by the Systems Directorate, field formations must follow up to ensure priority updating, and Chief Commissioners must instruct formations and submit an action-taken report to the Board.

Line of Credit compliance: export eligibility, local content requirement and declaration obligations govern financed shipments.
Government-supported Line of Credit by Export-Import Bank for a Guyana road project sets financing and compliance conditions: eligible exports under India's Foreign Trade Policy may be financed, at least 75 per cent of contract value must be supplied from India with up to 25 per cent sourced abroad, and shipments must be declared on the Export Declaration Form. No agency commission payable from the LOC, but exporters may pay commission from their own funds or exchange-earner balances subject to realisation and remittance rules; AD Category-I banks must inform exporters and obtain LOC details from Exim Bank.

Government-backed line of credit enables export financing for maritime procurement with Indian sourcing and compliance obligations.
A Government of India supported Line of Credit from Exim Bank to Guyana finances an ocean ferry and eligible exports under the Foreign Trade Policy, requiring at least 75% Indian supply and permitting up to 25% foreign procurement. The LOC is effective from March 2017 with a 60 month terminal utilization period post completion; shipments must be declared on the Export Declaration Form. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, though exporters may remit commission from their own resources or EEFC balances subject to realization and extant rules; AD Category I banks must inform exporters and facilitate compliance. Directions are issued under FEMA.