The Office of the Principal Commissioner of Customs (Air Cargo), Chennai, has issued Public Notice No. 09/2026 introducing a payment aggregator facility on the ICEGATE platform to simplify customs duty payments. The initiative, aligned with reforms by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), enhances trade facilitation by allowing importers to pay duties using credit cards, debit cards, and UPI for the first time, along with expanded internet banking access through 41 banks. The system integrates with the Electronic Cash Ledger (ECL) to enable seamless, real-time transaction-based payments. While this new mode complements existing options like NEFT/RTGS and authorised bank payments, any applicable bank charges must be borne by users. Initially, select banks have been onboarded, with more to follow. The reform is backed by amendments to the Customs (Electronic Cash Ledger) Regulations, 2022, and aims to improve efficiency, reduce transaction time, and enhance transparency in customs processes.
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL
COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (AIR CARGO)
NEW CUSTOM HOUSE, CHENNAI-VII COMMISSIONERATE,
AIR CARGO COMPLEX, MEENAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI 600 016
F No: CUS/AG/PN/3/2026-A/M
Public Notice No. 09/2026 Custom | Dated: 30th March 2026
Subject: Ease of Customs Duty Payment – Introduction of Payment Aggregator – Reg
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Attention of Importers, Exporters, Customs Brokers and all other stakeholders is invited to Board Circular No. 13/2026 dated 24.03.2026 regarding Ease of Customs Duty Payment Introduction of Payment Aggregator. Various initiatives have been introduced by CBIC in the recent years for facilitating the Trade by simplification of procedures, introduction of online facilities and improving transparency, thus leading to reduced time and cost during import and Export.
2. One such initiative is Electronic Cash Ledger introduced in April 2023 for seamless integration with the banks and introduction of deposits for subsequent duty payments. This has been extended to courier shipments in March 2024. Various facilities are being continuously added to ease customs duty payment including onboarding of additional banks for internet banking.
3.1 Taking this initiative forward, ICEGATE e-Payment platform has enabled Payment aggregator as an authorised mode to facilitate customs duty payment with the following features:
(a) Credit card or debit card or Unified Payment Interface (UPI) introduced for the first time for customs duty payment
(b) Internet banking through Payment aggregator mode will now allow payment through 41 Banks instead of 23 live banks integrated directly.
(c) This payment aggregator option will complement the existing payment modes such as Internet Banking through authorised banker mode and NEFT/RTGS payment through RBI.
3.2 As available in the other authorised modes, the payment aggregator mode also allows importer to make transaction-wise payment in the platform, wherein the systems shall route the payment instantaneously through ECL before accounting for duty payment.
3.3 It is to note that, as specified in the Explanation to Regulation (3) of Customs (Electronic Cash Ledger) Regulations, 2022, while making deposit through this mode, any commission, if any payable to the bank in respect of such deposit will be borne by the person making deposit.
4. Currently ICICI, JOB, SBI and HDFC bank have been onboarded on ICEGATE as payment aggegators. Subsequently, more banks will be added as and when the testing is completed with them.
5. Necessary legal changes have also been carried out in Customs (Electronic Cash Ledger) Regulations, 2022 vide Notification No. 30/2026 dated 24th March, 2026. A user manual on the Payment Aggregator facility to handhold and onboard users has been uploaded on the ICEGATE platform (https://www.icegate.gov.in/guidelines/payment-gateway).
6. All the officers are hereby sensitized to handhold the stakeholders for making payment though the new Payment Aggregator facility.
7. Difficulties, if any, in the implementation of the above Circular may be brought to the notice of this office.
MANJULA DUNDAPPA HOSMANI
COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS
AIR CARGO COMMISSIONERATE
End: 1. Circular No. 13/2026 dated 24.03.2026
2. Notification No. 30/2026 dated 24th March, 2026
3. User manual on the Payment Aggregator facility
To
1. All Additional / Joint /Deputy/Asst. Commissioners, Chennai VII.
2. Appraisers/Superintendents in all Sections, Chennai — VII.
3. All Stake Holders
Copy to:
1. The Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Chennai Custom Zone — For kind information.
2. CHS for placing in the Notice Board.
3. EDI for publishing in the website
