The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which is part of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, has issued a circular introducing a new system that extends export-related benefits, such as Duty Drawback, Remission of Duties or Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP), and Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies on Export of Goods (RoSCTL), to exports made via courier.
Previously, limitations in the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) restricted exporters from claiming incentives such as Duty Drawback, RoDTEP, and the RoSCTL Scheme for courier exports.
This barrier has been overcome with the decision to use the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) at International Courier Terminals (ICTs). ICES provides the required functionalities, such as scroll creation and interface with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), to process these export-related payments efficiently.
Authorised couriers claiming Duty Drawback, RoDTEP, or RoSCTL benefits will now submit their Shipping Bills to ICES using their existing Courier Registration. Custodians of ICTs shall register with ICES to manage export products registration and exchange appropriate messages. Goods will be physically handled and scrutinized at ICTs, while customs clearance will be completed electronically via ICES.
This move streamlines the process without affecting the physical handling of shipments at courier terminals.