CGST, IGST, UTGST and Compensation Cess bills are introduced in the loksabha on 27-3-2017 for discussion and passing. GSTN gearing up to be a marvel of technology.

CGST Act proposes to adopt three authorities (1) Authority for Advance Ruling (2) Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal, and (3) Authority for Anti-Profiteering.

With GST environment around, the Drawback Committee has invited suggestions and views to formulate revised All Industry Rates (AIRs) of drawback for exports which may be sent to dirdbk-rev@nic.in.

Banking hours extended upto Midnight on 31st March. Accordingly, e-payment of service tax and central excise duties for the month of March, or Quarter or Half Year Ending March, can be made upto Midnight on 31st March.

The most adorable Indian Ethnic as well as modern garment, as known for ages, is ‘Saree’: CBEC has clarified that 'Saree' which has undergone further processing such as embroidery, stitching of lace and tikki etc. and stitched with two or more kinds of fabrics will be classifiable as 'Saree' under Chapter 50, 52 and 54 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 depending upon the material of the fabrics, and not as made-ups under Chapter 63 of the said Act [CBEC Circular No. 1054/03/2017-CX dated 15-3-2017].

CBEC rescinds 89 circulars in one go, and issues a master circular no. 1053/02/2017-CX dated 10-3-2017, on Show Cause Notice, Adjudication and Recovery.

CBEC clarifies classification of paper and paper articles, under various headings of chapter 49 depending upon their actual content and use. Namely, Railway/ bus/ other tickets/ passes, Mark sheets/ certificates, OMR sheets, Answer books with or without OMR, answer booklets and passbooks, Inland letter cards, Application forms, Paper outer strip seals, Railway Receipts (RRs), Practical notebook. [Circular No. 1052/01/2017-CX dated 23-2-2017]

From 23rd March, 2017, the Rebate of State Levies scheme [ROSL scheme] will be available for exports of made-up articles falling under Chapters 63 for a period of three years, i.e. upto March, 2020.

One of the most comfort garment now a days for ladies, i.e. leggings (knitted or crocheted), has finally got its classification under Customs Tariff Heading 6115, for imports or exports. [CBEC Instruction Letter no. 04/2017-Customs dated 21-3-2017]

Single Window Interface for Facilitation of Trade (SWIFT) to Exports envisages that the importers and exporters would electronically lodge their Customs clearance documents at a single point only with the Customs. The Single Window provides the importers/exporters a single point interface for Customs clearance of import and export goods thereby reducing interface with Governmental agencies, dwell time and cost of doing business. If any permissions/ NOC is necessary, the same can be obtained from other regulatory agencies online without the importer/exporter having to separately approach the respective agencies.

Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) at Courier Terminal, Sahar, Mumbai rolled out in December, 2016 successfully expedited, thanks to the cooperation by customs officials, agents and port officials.

Requirement of mate receipt is abolished for containerised cargo shall not be insisted for Customs clearances. However, for other cargo, the same has to be obtained from the captain of the vessel/aircraft. It is still an important document for claiming duty drawback on exported goods.

Export of Groundnut oil, Sesame oil, Soyabean oil and Maize (Corn) oil in bulk, irrespective of any pack size, has been exempted from the prohibition on export of edible oil. [DGFT Notification No. 43/2015-2020 dated 27-3-2017]