Customs dept changes with changing times

Exim Matters

A few years ago, the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) came out with a citizen's charter to inform the people dealing with the customs department about what they could expect from the field formations.

At that time, the promises appeared tall and unrealistic as the ground realities were quite different. However, over a period of time, perceptions began to change.

The importers and exporters, although grudgingly, admit that they find a significant change in the attitude of the customs department officers, especially at the senior level.

The CBEC followed up the citizen's charter with a mission statement that articulated the priorities of the department.

They were: achieving excellence in the formulation and implementation of initiatives aimed at realising the revenues in a fair and efficient manner, administering the government's economic, tariff and trade policies with a practical and pragmatic approach, and facilitating trade and industry by streamlining and simplifying customs and excise processes.

The CBEC also came up with a statement of commitment to carry out the tasks with integrity and judiciousness, courtesy and understanding, objectivity and transparency, promptness and efficiency. The statement also sought to encourage and assist voluntary tax compliance.

The lofty words would have been of little significance without meaningful action. So, the customs department set out their standards specifying time limits for various trade facilitation measures.

For example, refunds would be granted within 30 days, all communications would be responded to within 15 days, duty drawback would be credited within 48 hours in cases of electronic declarations, assistance would be given to re-pack the packages opened for examination at the docks and so on.

Most of these standards are not being met fully by all the field formations. Yet, there is a distinct improvement in the functioning of the customs department, at least while dealing directly with the honest elements.

The trouble is that most importers and exporters let the Customs House Agents deal with the Customs and not all CHAs are either competent or honest enough.

The customs have now started accepting bills of entry electronically from the importers, at certain centres.

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