Levy and Collection of Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) on imports under various schemes such as Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) etc

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....ers, Customs Brokers, Shipping Lines/Agents, Custodians/Customs Cargo Service Providers, General Trade / Trade Associations / Chamber of Commerce Members of the RAC/PGC and the Public is invited to the levy of Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) on imports made and present practice regarding its debit through duty credit scrips such as Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) etc., Of the Foreign Trade Policy (FIT). In this connection attention is also invited to the Circular No. 02/2020-Customs dated 10.01.2020 issued from F. No. 605/06/2019- DBK, of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, New Delhi. 2. C&AG at Chennai has pointed out that SWS should be paid in cash in respect of imports whe....

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....ations also allow debit of Basic Customs Duty and Additional Duties of Customs in the duty credit scrips. It is to mention that the debit of SWS through duty credit scrip is not envisaged in the FTP and the exemption notifications. 5. Further, as per para 3.15 of the FTP, Basic Customs Duty paid through debit in the duty credit scrip is allowed to be adjusted for duty drawback. Duties debited in duty credit scrip are taken into account while determining the All Industry Rates and Brand Rate of duty drawback. Similarly, Additional Customs Duty paid on imported goods and Central Excise duty paid on domestic procurement of goods is also allowed to be adjusted as CENVAT Credit or Duty Drawback. Hence, duty credit scrips are only a mode of pay....

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....also referred to the Department of Legal Affairs for their legal opinion in light of the above-cited judgement. The Department of Legal Affairs has opined that since the Supreme Court has categorically held that a separate Notification has to be issued for providing exemption from additional duties in the nature of education cess and secondary and higher education cess, the same cannot be said to have been exempted and as per Article 141 of the Constitution, the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all Courts within the territory of India, the same occupies the field. It was further opined that therefore there appears to be no legal bar for levy and collection of SWS. 9. In view of above, there appears no exemption from SWS in ....