Customs Launch of Exchange Rate Automation Module (ERAM)

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) issued Circular No. 07/2024-Customs on 25th June 2024, announcing the launch of the Exchange Rate Automation Module (ERAM). This module aims to automate the process of calculating the value of imported and exported goods based on the exchange rate as per Section 14 of the Customs Act.

Current Process and its Limitations – Currently, the CBIC notifies exchange rates for 22 currencies twice a month, on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays, based on the rates provided by the State Bank of India (SBI). These rates, specifically the ‘Bill rates’ adjusted to the nearest five paise, are manually incorporated into the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES). This manual process is prone to delays and errors, necessitating a more streamlined approach.

Automation of Exchange Rate Notification – Starting 4th July 2024, the process will be automated. SBI will send exchange rate data to ICEGATE through message exchange. These rates will then be adjusted and integrated with ICES. The automated system will publish these rates on the ICEGATE website at 6:00 p.m., effective from midnight the following day. This ensures timely updates and public accessibility of exchange rates, which will also be archived for future reference.

Contingency Measures – To address potential technical issues, nodal officers at SBI, CBIC, ICD (Patparganj), Air Cargo Complex (Bengaluru), and DG (Systems) will monitor and intervene manually if necessary. If there is a failure in electronic transmission or incomplete data from SBI, the previous day’s rates will remain in force until the issue is resolved. Automated alerts will inform the relevant officers of any issues, and if unresolved for two consecutive days, manual updates will be implemented.

Implementation and Public Guidance – The automated system will replace the existing notification process, with a link provided on the CBIC website directing users to the ICEGATE website for the latest exchange rates. Stakeholders will be informed through a public notice to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

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F. No. 468/1/2011-SO(Cus5)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi
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Circular No. 07/2024-Customs Dated: 25th June, 2024

To,
Pr. Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners (Customs or Central Tax & Customs)
Pr. Directors General/Directors General, all under CBIC
Pr. Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs
Pr. Additional Directors General/ Additional Directors General, all under CBIC

Madam/Sir,

Subject: Launch of Exchange Rate Automation Module (ERAM) -reg.

In terms of section 14 of the Customs Act, the value of any imported goods or export goods shall be calculated with reference to the rate of exchange as in force on the date on which a bill of entry is presented under section 46, or a shipping bill/bill of export is presented under section 50. For this purpose, Board currently notifies exchange rates of 22 currencies (listed at Annexure) twice a month, i.e. every 1st and 3rd Thursdays. These notified exchange rates become effective from midnight of the following day. Where a due date, i.e. 1st or 3rd Thursday, falls on a holiday, the rates are notified on the previous working day.

1.1 Further, on a given day, if it is noticed that exchange rate of a currency has fluctuated more than ± 5% vis-à-vis the notified rate, the rate for that currency is re-notified with effect from the following day.

2. These notifications are based on the rates obtained from the State Bank of India (SBI) on a daily basis. The SBI communicates ‘card rates’ which include ‘Bill rates’, ‘TT rates’ and ‘TC rates’ to CBIC everyday. While the Bill rates are used in transactions related to Letters of Credit, the TT rates are used in telegraphic transfers and TC rates for travelers’ cheques. The rates notified by the Board are the Bill rates (for transaction up to Rs 10 lakh) received from SBI, adjusted to the nearest five paise.

3. The existing process of notifying exchange rates is manual. Also, the rates so notified are manually incorporated in the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) by an officer designated for this purpose.

4. It has now been decided to automate the aforesaid process of issuing exchange rates, beginning with forwarding of exchange rate data by SBI to ICEGATE through message exchange. The exchange rates received from SBI shall be adjusted to the nearest five paise and integrated with ICES.

4.1 These exchange rates shall be published on ICEGATE website at 6:00 p.m. as per the existing frequency (as stated in Para 1 and Para 1.1 above) and shall be accessible for public viewing on ICEGATE website i.e. https://www.icegate.gov.in.

5. These rates, so published online, shall come into effect from midnight of the following day. For instance, exchange rates published on the evening of 11^th July 2024 shall come into force from 00:00 hrs of 12^th July 2024 and shall remain in force till the next revision.

6. The published exchange rates will be stored and shall remain accessible on ICEGATE for future reference, so as to enable a user to check the exchange rates for a previous date.

7. As a contingency plan for catering to any technical snag, the following procedure shall be followed for ensuring uninterrupted accessibility of exchange rates at any given time:

(i) Nodal Officers have been appointed in the SBI, Board, ICD (Patparganj), Air Cargo Complex (Bengaluru) and DG (Systems) to monitor and manually intervene, where needed.

(ii) Nodal Officer at ICD (Patparganj) shall continue to monitor the exchange rates in ICES as per the current practice. If any issue is noticed or in case of any unforeseen exigencies, he shall inform the Nodal Officer in DG (System) to take corrective action.

(iii) Where, on a due date when the rates are to be published, there is a failure in electronic transmission from SBI or an incomplete message is received, the last updated rates shall remain in force for the following day and the rates shall be revised the following day by 6:00 p.m. to apply from 00:00 hrs of the next day.

(iv) Where, on a due date when the rates are to be published, the exchange rates received from SBI fail to get integrated on ICES by 6:00 p.m., the message received from SBI shall be discarded and the last updated rates shall remain in force for the following day. The rates shall be revised the following day by 6:00 p.m. to apply from 00:00 hrs of the next day.

(v) As soon as the situation indicated at (iii) or (iv) above is encountered, an automated email and SMS alert will be sent to the Nodal Officers at ICD (Patparganj), Air Cargo Complex (Bengaluru), DG (System), SBI and the Board for corrective action. If the issue remains unresolved for consecutive two days, the exchange rates shall be updated on the System through manual intervention using the ‘admin’ interface by the Nodal Officer at ICD (Patparganj).

8. The automated system of ascertaining and publishing of exchange rates, as above, shall come into effect from 1st Thursday of July 2024, i.e. 4th July, 2024., upon which the existing system of notifying exchange rates through a notification would be dispensed with. A link shall be provided on the CBIC website which will take the user to the ICEGATE website, where the published rates will be available for viewing.

9. Suitable Public Notice may be issued for guidance of the stakeholders. Difficulty faced, if any, in implementation may be brought to the notice of the Board.

Yours sincerely,

(Komila Punia)
Deputy Secretary

Annexure

List of Currencies

Note: The list of currencies is subject to revision from time to time, based on requirement of the trade.