Central Government vide Notification No. 134/2016-Customs (NT), Dated: November 2, 2016 notified Deferred Payment of Import Duty Rules, 2016 to be effective from 16th November 2016. These rules apply to eligible importers i.e. class or classes of importers as specified by Central Government who shall pay such duty electronically.
The due dates for payment of duty by an eligible importer are:
| For goods corresponding to Bill of Entry returned for payment from | Duty to be paid by: |
| 1st day to 15th day of any month | 17th day of that month |
| 16th day till the last day of any month other than March | 2nd day of the following month |
| 16th day till the 29th day of March1 | 31st March |
| 30th day of March to 31st day of March | 2nd April |
The duty needs to be paid electronically and if there is a default more than once in three consecutive months, this facility of deferred payment will not be allowed unless the duty with interest has been paid in full. Provisions of these rules are not applicable to the goods which have not been assessed or not declared by the importer in the entry made under the Customs Act, 1962.
Further, Central Government vide Notification No. 135/2016-Customs (NT), Dated: November 2, 2016 has made Importers certified under Authorized Economic Operator programme as AEO (Tier-Two) and AEO (Tier-Three), as eligible importers for the deferred payment of duty scheme.
In addition to above, Circular No. 52/2016-Cus; Dated: November 15, 2016 has been issued to provide the following:
a) Every importer certified as AEO-T2/AEO-T3 is required to obtain ICEGATE Login which is essential to avail benefits envisaged in the AEO Programme. Further, to avail the facility of deferred payment, every AEO-T2/AEO-T3 is advised to nominate a nodal person borne on their establishment who would be responsible for authenticating all the customs related transactions on behalf of the AEO. The contact details of AEO nodal person shall also be provided in ICEGATE login to ensure that the information reaches in time at their registered mail for authentication.
b) An intimation addressed to the AEO Programme Manager with a copy to the Principal Commissioner(s) of Customs or the Commissioner(s) of Customs, having jurisdiction over the port(s) of clearance will be considered as an intimation by an eligible importer. The eligible importer who intends to make deferred payment will indicate the same using flag “D” in the Payment Method column of Bill of Entry filed. To ensure that the facility of deferred payment is availed only by the eligible importer, option has been provided in ICEGATE Login for AEO Nodal person to acknowledge such intent and authenticate using One Time Password (OTP) sent to his registered e-mail address. The Nodal person would be able to authenticate multiple Bills of Entry at once. Only on such authentication by the eligible AEO importer, customs clearance would be provided for the consignment under deferred payment of duty Rules.
c) The eligible importer will also have an option to select the challans belonging to the deferred period and pay at anytime, even before the due date at their convenience. Reports regarding availing of deferred payment at each port are made available in ICES.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)
(CENTRAL BOARD OF EXCISE AND CUSTOMS)
Notification No. 135/2016-Customs (N.T.)
New Delhi, dated the 2nd November, 2016
G.S.R 1038(E)––In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to sub-section (1) of section 47 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Government permits the following class of importers to make deferred payment of import duty:
(i) Importers certified under Authorized Economic Operator programme as AEO (Tier-Two) and AEO (Tier-Three)
Explanation.- For the purpose of this notification, AEO means Authorized Economic Operator certified by the Directorate General of Performance Management under the Central Board of Excise and Customs.
[F. No. 450/81/2016-Cus.IV]
(Shaifali G. Singh)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
