The Customs Department has called upon importers, customs brokers, and all trade stakeholders to ensure complete and accurate documentation while filing Bills of Entry (BE) to streamline and expedite the assessment process under the Faceless Assessment Group (FAG) regime.
In a recent advisory, Customs emphasized the importance of compliance with Section 17 of the Customs Act, 1962, which places the onus on importers to self-assess duty liability correctly and submit all necessary documents at the time of filing. The department reiterated the guidance issued in CBIC Circular No. 45/2020-Cus, which aims to minimize queries and delays through accurate and complete data submission.
Following a detailed query analysis by NAC–Electric Machinery, it was found that a significant number of Bills of Entry were being filed with only airway bills or bills of lading — while crucial supporting documents such as purchase orders, freight invoices, remittance copies, SVB orders, BIS or WPC licenses, and EPR authorizations were missing. This lack of documentation has compelled assessing officers to raise additional queries, slowing down the pace of assessment and clearance.
To facilitate faster processing, the department has advised the trade to:
Upload legible and complete supporting documents through e-Sanchit, ensuring proper linkage with corresponding BEs.
Provide technical catalogues, product write-ups, user manuals, and images of goods to aid verification.
Declare detailed product parameters such as wattage, voltage, frequency, and functionality for electrical machinery components.
Clearly describe goods with complete, non-technical, and unambiguous information, including intended use.
Upload manufacturer details where anti-dumping duties apply.
Ensure compliance and documentation for BIS, MTCTE, WPC/ETA, and Legal Metrology (LMPC) requirements.
Upload relevant certificates for goods requiring registration under specific Acts or exemption notifications.
The advisory also underscores the need for proper replies to queries, mentioning the IRN (Image Reference Number) of uploaded documents, and providing exhaustive responses to avoid repetitive correspondence.
For Group 5A-CM imports (Electrical Machinery and Components), Customs listed common documents that should accompany BEs, including:
Purchase order or contract copy,
Freight invoice,
Product catalogue or pictorial reference,
Technical literature,
Country of origin certificate,
SVB orders,
BIS/MTCTE/WPC certifications,
LMPC certificates,
EPR authorizations, and
Special import licenses for restricted goods.
Authorities noted that this list is indicative, not exhaustive, and assessing officers may seek additional documentation depending on the nature of imports.
The department’s message reiterates that accurate and complete documentation at the outset is crucial for ensuring faster assessments and minimizing delays in cargo clearance under the faceless assessment framework.