CBIC through its circular No 35/2018 dated 1st Oct ’18 provided an advisory for registration of the beneficiaries. Single Window Interface for facilitating Trade (SWIFT) was introduced as part of ease of doing business initiative to integrate Customs and other Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) for seamless processing of import and export clearances.
One of the components of SWIFT is e – SANCHIT wherein, under the import side, the system allows the beneficiary importer to submit all supporting documents for clearance of consignments electronically with digital signatures and thereby making the process of consignment clearance faceless and paperless from 1st Apr ‘18.
Now the e-SANCHIT facility is being extended for exports as well whereby the PGAs issuing Licences, Permits, Certificates and other Authorizations (LPCO’s), will upload the same themselves and communicate the details of the generated IRN (Image reference number) to the beneficiary through email Id’s used for registration at ICEGATE. In future a facility to view such documents will also be provided to the beneficiary. However, this would require the beneficiaries i.e. importers and the exporters, to be registered on ICEGATE. Detailed procedure of the same is provided at www.icegate.gov.in -à Downloads-à Registration_Demo
However, one of the bottlenecks for registering at ICEGATE was the requirement of Digital Signature Certificate. For effective implementation of PGA – e SANCHITA it is decided to do away with the digital signature for those beneficiaries that do not intend to do any filing of documents through ICEGATE and will use the login only for information and interaction purpose.
The auto registration for IEC holders would be done based on the email ids already provided at time of registration under GST. However Digital Signature would be required in for IEC holders intending to upload any declaration (BE, SB, e Seal manifest etc) with customs.
Registration of importers and exporters will also enable access to information of enquires raised by DG(Systems) and Customs officer at time of post clearance audit under their login and also the option of replying to same. Through login, beneficiaries will get intimation about status of their consignment and PDF copies of their declaration on registered Email ID.
H&A comments: Requirement of DSC has been removed, for the beneficiaries who are not required to do any filing on ICEGATE & without such requirement various permission can be obtained in a single portal like FDSSA, CHEMICAL & DRUG, ARMS & AMMUNITION.
Disclaimer:-This material and the information contained herein prepared by Hiregange & Associates is intended for clients and other Chartered Accountants, to provide updates under GST and is not an exhaustive treatment of such subject. We are not, by means of this material, rendering any professional advice or services. It should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any decision which may affect you or your business.
Special thanks to CA Kenil Dharod for penning this article. For any further queries/comments please write to [email protected].