Guidelines issued for virtual customs hearings to maintain social distance amidst Covid-19

According to the guidelines, the new system would help importers, exporters, international passengers, advocates, tax practitioners and authorised representatives interacting with officials the Customs department to maintain social distancing while performing their work from a place of their choice.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued guidelines for its offices to conduct hearings on customs-related matters via video conference with the consent of the appellant or respondent to accelerate the disposal of pending cases and at the same time follow social distancing norms to check the spread of Covid-19.

Lucknow Police personnel clean a food packet, during lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, at Daliganj, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, Tuesday, 28, 2020. (Photo by Dheeraj Dhawan / Hindustan Times)

“With an aim to create a virtual Customs working environment, ensuring #SocialDistancing, reduce physical presence & usage of ICT systems, CBIC issues guidelines for conduct of personal hearings in virtual mode under Customs Act, 1962,” CBIC tweeted on Tuesday. ICT is short for information and communications technology.

According to the guidelines, the new system would help importers, exporters, international passengers, advocates, tax practitioners and authorised representatives interacting with officials the Customs department to maintain social distancing while performing their work from a place of their choice.

Participants in video conferences should be “appropriately dressed and maintain the required decorum,” the guidelines said.

These steps reinforce the “turant” (instant) scheme including answers to online queries, eSanchit (paperless processing, uploading of supporting documents), web-based goods registration, electronic processing of licenses, machine -based release of imported goods based on customs compliance verification, and electronic transmission of PDF-based first copy of bill of entry (BoE) to customs brokers and registered importers.

Chartered accountant Kapil Rana said conducting personal hearings in the virtual mode is in sync with the changed way of doing business. “During the pandemic, the business is not happening or happening at a very slow pace; utilising this time to clear all the pending cases is a fantastic move.”

He said the it would speed up the disposal of pending cases and clearance of refunds “which will help business during this crunch time.”