Clarification regarding Appeal Provision after budget.

Circular No 984/08/2014-CX

F. No. 390/Budget/1/2012-JC

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

(Central Board of Excise & Customs)

     New Delhi, dated the 16^th September, 2014

To,

1.         All Chief Commissioners, Central Excise and Service Tax/ Customs.

2.         All Commissioners of Central Excise, Service Tax/ Customs.

3.         Chief Commissioner (AR), CESTAT, New Delhi.

5.         All Commissioners of Central Excise, Service Tax and Customs

6.         All Commissioners (AR), New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore & Ahmadabad

7.         Webmaster

Sub:     Amendments to the Appeal provisions in Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax made by Finance Act, 2014- Issue of clarifications – reg.

Sir / Madam,

The Finance Act (No.2), 2014 has been enacted on 06.08.2014.  Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 and Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962 have been substituted with new sections to prescribe mandatory pre-deposit as a percentage of the duty demanded where duty demanded is in dispute or where duty demanded and penalty levied are in dispute.  Where penalty alone is in dispute, the pre-deposit shall be calculated on the penalty imposed.

1.2        The amended provisions apply to appeals filed after 6^th August, 2014.  Sections 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 and Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962 contain specific saving clause to state that all pending appeals/stay applications filed till the enactment of the Finance Bill shall be governed by the erstwhile provisions.

1.3        Section 35FF of the Central Excise Act, 1944 and Section 129EE of the Customs Act, 1962 have also been substituted to provide for payment of refund along with interest at the prescribed rate on the amount pre-deposited from the date of such payment till the date of refund.       In exercise of the powers conferred under the new Section 35FF of the Central Excise Act, 1944 and Section 129EE of the Customs Act, Notification Nos 24/2014-CE(NT) and 70/2014-Cus(NT), both dated 12.08.2014 have been issued specifying six percent as rate of interest on refunds made under those sections.

1.4        Various doubts / issues have been raised by TRADE bodies, industry associations and field formations etc. on the implementation of the new provisions. With a view to implement the scheme smoothly, the following clarifications are issued.

2.         Quantum of pre-deposit in terms of Section 35F of Central Excise Act, 1944 and Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962:

2.1        Doubts have been expressed with regard to the amount to be deposited in terms of the amended provisions while filing appeal against the order of Commissioner (Appeals) before the CESTAT. Sub-section (iii) of Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 and Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962 stipulate payment of 10% of the duty or penalty payable in pursuance of the decision or order being appealed against i.e. the order of Commissioner (Appeal).  It is, therefore, clarified that in the event of appeal against the order of Commissioner (Appeal) before the Tribunal, 10% is to be paid on the amount of duty demanded or penalty imposed by the Commissioner (Appeal).  This need not be the same as the amount of duty demanded or penalty imposed in the Order-in-Original in the said case.

2.2        In a case, where penalty alone is in dispute and penalties have been imposed under different provisions of the Act, the pre-deposit would be calculated based on the aggregate of all penalties imposed in the order against which appeal is proposed to be filed.

2.3        In case of any short payment or non-payment of the amount stipulated under Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962, the appeal filed is liable for rejection.

3.         Payment made during investigation:

3.1        Payment made during the course of investigation or audit, prior to the date on which appeal is filed, to the extent of 7.5% or 10%, subject to the limit of Rs 10 crores, can be considered to be deposit made towards fulfillment of stipulation under Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962.  Any shortfall from the amount stipulated under these sections shall have to be paid before filing of appeal before the appellate authority.  As a corollary, amounts paid over and above the amounts stipulated under Section 35 F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962, shall not be treated as deposit under the said sections. 

3.2        Since the amount paid during investigation/audit takes the colour of deposit under Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962 only when the appeal is filed, the date of filing of appeal shall be deemed to be the date of deposit made in terms of the said sections. 

3.3        In case of any short-payment or non-payment of the amount stipulated under Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962, the appeal filed by the appellant is liable for rejection.

4.         Recovery of the Amounts during the Pendency of Appeal:

4.1        Vide Circular No.967/1/2013 dated 1^st January, 2013, Board has issued detailed instructions with regard to recovery of the amounts due to the Government during the pendency of stay applications or appeals with the appellate authority.  This Circular would not apply to cases where appeal is filed after the enactment of the amended Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962.

4.2        No coercive  measures for the recovery of balance amount i.e., the amount in excess of 7.5% or 10% deposited in terms of  Section 35F of  Central Excise Act, 1944  or Section 129E of Customs Act, 1962, shall be taken during the pendency of appeal where the  party / assessee shows to the jurisdictional authorities:

(i)         proof of payment of stipulated amount as pre-deposit of 7.5% / 10%, subject to a limit of Rs.10 crores, as  the case may be; and

(ii)         the copy of appeal memo filed with the appellate authority.

4.3        Recovery action, if any, can be initiated only after the disposal of the case by the Commissioner (Appeal) / Tribunal in favour of the Department.  For example, if the Tribunal decides a case in favour of the Department, recovery action for the amount over and above the amount deposited under the provisions of Section 35F / 129E may be initiated unless the order of the Tribunal is stayed by the High Court/Supreme court.  The recovery, in such cases, would include the interest, at the specified rate, from the date duty became payable, till the date of payment.

5.         Refund of pre-deposit:

5.1        Where the appeal is decided in favour of the party / assessee, he shall be entitled to refund of the amount deposited along with the interest at the prescribed rate from the date of making the deposit to the date of refund in terms of Section 35FF of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129EE of the Customs Act, 1962.

5.2        Pre-deposit for filing appeal is not payment of duty.  Hence, refund of pre-deposit need not be subjected to the process of refund of duty under Section 11B of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 27 of the Customs Act, 1962.  Therefore, in all cases where the appellate authority has decided the matter in favour of the appellant, refund with interest should be paid to the appellant within 15 days of the receipt of the letter of the appellant seeking refund, irrespective of whether order of the appellate authority is proposed to be challenged by the Department or not.

5.3        If the Department contemplates appeal against the  order of the Commissioner (A) or the order of CESTAT, which is in favour of the appellant, refund along with interest would still be payable unless such order is stayed by a competent Appellate Authority.

5.4        In the event of a remand, refund of the pre-deposit shall be payable along with interest.

5.5        In case of partial remand where a portion of the duty is confirmed, it may be ensured that the duty due to the Government on the portion of order in favour of the revenue is collected by adjusting the deposited amount along with interest.

5.6.       It is reiterated that refund of pre-deposit made should not be withheld on the ground that Department is proposing to file an appeal or has filed an appeal against the order granting relief to the party.  Jurisdictional Commissioner should ensure that refund of deposit made for hearing the appeal should be paid within the stipulated time of 15 days as per para 5.2 supra.

6.         Procedure and Manner of making the pre-deposits:

6.1        E-payment facility can be made use of by the appellants, wherever possible.

6.2        A self attested copy of the document showing satisfactory proof of payment shall be submitted before the appellate authority as proof of payment made in terms of Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962.

6.3        Column 7 of EA.1, column 6 of CA.1 and column 6 of ST.4 for filing appeal before Commissioner (Appeals), seek details of the duty/penalty deposited.  The same may be used for indicating the deposits made under amended Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962.

6.4        The appeal filed before the CESTAT are filed along with the appeal memo in prescribed format (Form EA-3 for Central Excise Appeals and Form CA-3 for the Customs Appeals).  Column 14(i) of the said appeal forms seeks information of payment of duty, fine, penalty, interest along with proof of payment (challan).  These columns may, therefore, be used for the purpose of indicating the amount of deposit made, which shall be verified by the appellate authority before REGISTERING the appeal.

6.5        As per existing instructions, a copy of the appeal memo along with proof of deposit made shall be filed with the jurisdictional officers.

7.         Procedure for refund:

7.1        A simple letter from the person who has made such deposit, requesting for return of the said amount, along with a self attested Xerox copy of the order in appeal or the CESTAT order  consequent to which the deposit becomes returnable and attested Xerox copy of  the document evidencing payment of such deposit, addressed to Jurisdictional Assistant/Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise and Service Tax or the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, would suffice for refund of the amount deposited along with interest at the rate specified.

7.2        Record of deposits made  under Section 35F of the Central Excise Act, 1944 or section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962 should be maintained by the Commissionerate so  as to facilitate seamless verification of the deposits at the time of processing the refund claims made in case of favourable order from the Appellate Authority.

8.         Amendment to Preamble of Orders:

8.1        In order to make the new provisions known to the assessee / TRADE every adjudicating authority lower in rank to the Commissioner is directed to incorporate the following sentence in the Preamble to the order being issued by them –

            “An appeal against this order shall lie before the Commissioner (Appeal) on payment of 7.5% of the duty demanded where duty or duty and penalty are in dispute or penalty, are in dispute or penalty, where penalty alone is in dispute. ”

8.2        The following may be added in the preamble of the orders issued by the Commissioner (Appeals) –

            “An appeal against this order shall lie before the Tribunal on payment of 10% of the duty demanded where duty or duty and penalty are in dispute, or penalty, where penalty alone is in dispute”.

8.3        The following may be added in the preamble of the orders issued by the Commissioner as original adjudicating authority –

            “An appeal against this order shall lie before the Tribunal on payment of 7.5% of the duty demanded where duty or duty and penalty are in dispute, or penalty, where penalty alone is in dispute”.

9.         Receipt of the Circular may please be acknowledged.

10.        Hindi version follows.

(Sunil K. Sinha )

Director (Judicial Cell)

Want to Import Apple I Phone 6 into India

If you want to import Apple I-Phone 6 , You have to declare MRP in Indian Rupees.

The  Custom Duty  on  the  Apple I phone varies between 2% - 7%.

If you are availing CENVAT than the custom duty on Apple I-Phone 6 is 7%. Hence, if you are not  availing CENVAT than the custom duty on Apple I-Phone 6 is 2 %.

Want to Import Apple I-Phone 6 Plus into India

If you want to import Apple I-Phone 6 Plus ,you have to declare MRP in Indian Rupees.

The  Custom Duty  on  the  Apple I phone varies between 2% - 7%.

If you are availing CENVAT than the custom duty on Apple I-Phone 6 Plus is 7%. Hence, if you are not  availing CENVAT than the custom duty on Apple I-Phone 6 Plus is 2 %.

Customs Notification for allowing import of machinery of third countries whcih were exported to Bhutan

[TO BE PUBLISHED IN PART II, SECTION 3, SUB SECTION (i) OF THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY]

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

(Central Board of Excise and Customs)

Notification No. 07/2014-Customs (N.T)

New Delhi, the 28^th January, 2014.

8 Magha, Saka 1935

G.S.R. 66(E).-In exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962) the Central Government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby makes the following amendments in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, No.152/84-Customs, dated the 15^th May, 1984,  published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part II, Section 3, Sub-Section (i), vide number G.S.R.379(E)  dated the 15^th May, 1984 namely:-

In the said notification, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:-

“Provided that the prohibition shall not apply to import of machinery and equipment, which were exported to Bhutan from countries other than India through an Indian place of entry, for use in execution of projects in Bhutan, subject to the conditions that-

i.      The importer produces before the Assistant Commissioner of Customs or Deputy Commissioner of Customs the ‘Letter of Guarantee’ or the ‘Bill of Import’ and the other documents based on which the said goods were originally allowed transit clearance from the Indian place of entry to Bhutan, and

ii.     The Assistant Commissioner of Customs or Deputy Commissioner of Customs is satisfied regarding the identity of the goods.

[F.No.554/02/2007-LC]

(M. Satish Kumar Reddy)

Director (ICD)

Note:-  The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India vide notification number 152/84-Customs, dated the 15^th May, 1984, G.S.R.379 (E), dated the 15^th May, 1984.

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Exemption to Secondary and Higher Education Cess

Refer Notification 14/2012 dated 17.03.2012, amended by 19/2014 customs dated 11.07.2014, 69/2004 custom dated 09.07.2004.

Exemption to Secondary and Higher Education Cess

Refer Notification 14/2012 dated 17.03.2012, amended by 19/2014 customs dated 11.07.2014, 69/2004 custom dated 09.07.2004.

Central Excise Cess is introduced @3% on Selected IT,Electronics and other Products

1.  Goods specifies in headings, sub headings or tariff items 3818, 84690010,  8470,       8471, 84732100, 84732900, 84735000;
2. Line telephone sets and line videophones of heading 8517;
3. Goods specified in tariff item 85195000;
4. All prepared unrecorded media for sound recording or similar recording of other phenomenon, other than products of chapter 37 (excluding cards incorporating a magnetic stripe) of heading 8523;
5. Recoded media for reproducing phenomena other than sound or image of heading 8523;
6. Goods specified in headings, sub-headings or tariff items 853120, 8532, 8533, 85340000, 8541;
7. Parts of electronic integrated circuits and micro-assemblies of tariff item 852352 or 85429000;
8. Goods specified in headings, sub-headings or tariff items 85437011, 90138010, 90139010, 9026, 90272000, 902730, 902750, 902780 (except exposure meters), 90304000, 90308200; and
9. Goods specified in serial numbers 11 to 12A, 17 to 44, 47 to 50 and 54 of the said table.  

Exemption to Education Cess

Refer Notification 13/2012 dated 17.03.2012, amended by 18/2014 customs dated 11.07.2014, 69/2004 custom dated 09.07.2004.

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Geneva" (Alcoholic Bewerage)

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Geneva Bewerage ( 2L or less capacity ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Gin" ( More than 2L )

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Gin ( More than 2L ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Gin"

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Gin ( 2L or Less capacity ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Vodka" ( More than 2L )

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Vodka ( More than 2L ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Vodka"

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Vodka" ( 2L or Less capacity) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Rum" ( More than 2L)

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Rum ( More than 2L ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on "Rum"

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Rum (2L or Less capacity) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Scotch ( More than 2L )

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Scotch ( More than 2L ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Scotch

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Scotch (2L or Less capacity) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Bourbon Whiskey ( More than 2L)

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Bourbon Whiskey ( More than 2L ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Bourbon Whiskey.

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Bourbon Whiskey (2L or Less capacity) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Liquors ( More than 2L ).

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Liquors ( More than 2L ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Brandy ( More than 2L ).

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Brandy ( More than 2L ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Liquors

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Liquors (2L or Less capacity) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Brandy

After Budget Total Custom Duty on Brandy (2L or less capacity ) is 160%.

No Import Restriction. 

After Budget, Total Custom Duty on "LED TV"

After Budget Total Custom Duty on LED TV set (Screen size below 63 cm) is 26.495%.

No Import Restriction. 

: Brief highlights of this Budget concerning individual Income Tax, simplification of Customs clearance and change in Tax related to your Industry

Indirect tax

Basic Customs Duty    

Steel grade limestone and steel grade dolomite @2.5%.

Imported flat rolled products of stainless steel @7.5%.

Forged Steel Ring used in manufacture of bearings of wind operated electricity generated @5%.

Excise Duty

Exempt Central Excise Duty

Machinery and equipment required for setting up of a project for Solar Energy Production.

Forged Steel Rings

Forged Steel Ring used in manufacture of bearings of wind operated Generators.

Solar Power Project

Concessional Basic Customs Duty (BCD) of 5 percent is also being extended to machinery and equipment required for setting up of a project for solar energy production.

Exempting from Excise Duty:

        i.            EVA sheets and solar back sheets and specified inputs used in their manufacture;

      ii.            solar tempered glass used in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic cells and modules;

    iii.            flat copper wire for the manufacture of PV ribbons for use in solar cells and modules;

     iv.            machinery and equipment required for setting up of a project for solar energy production;

       v.            forged steel rings used in the manufacture of bearings of wind operated generators;

Wind Power Project

Reducing the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) from 10 percent to 5 percent on forged steel rings used in the manufacture of bearings of wind operated electricity generators.

Also exempted the SAD of 4 percent on parts and raw materials required for the manufacture of wind operated generators.

Clean Energy Cess

Increased the Clean Energy Cess from ` 50 per tonnes to `100 per tonnes.

Service Tax

No Change noticed related to your Industry.

                                            Easy made doing Business

Reduced interface with Governmental agencies, dwell time and the cost of doing business.

1. Extended existing 24x7 customs clearance facility to 13 more airports in respect of all export goods and to 14 more sea ports in respect of specified import and export goods.

 2. Under an 'Indian Customs Single Window Project' to facilitate trade, importers and exporters would lodge their clearance documents at a single point only. Required permissions, if any, from other regulatory agencies would be obtained online without the trader having to approach these agencies.

Scheme of Advance Ruling                                

The scheme of Advance Ruling in indirect taxes is being expanded to cover resident private limited companies. This will allow these companies to seek advance ruling in respect of new activities being proposed to be undertaken by them.

Scope of Settlement Commission

The scope of Settlement Commission is being enlarged to facilitate quick dispute resolution.

Disposal of Appeal

To expedite the process of disposal of appeals, amendments have been proposed in the Customs and Central Excise Acts with a view to freeing appellate authorities from hearing stay applications and to take up regular appeals for final disposal.

Change in Budget in Direct Tax and Transfer price

                                                 Direct Taxes

1.      Increase personal income tax exemption limit by `50,000

i)                    From ` 2 lakh to ` 2.5 lakh in the case of individual taxpayers who are below the age of 60 years.

ii)                  Raise the exemption limit from ` 2.5 lakh to ` 3 lakh in the case of senior citizens.

2.      No change in the rate of surcharge for the corporates and the individuals, HUFs, firms etc.

3.       The education cess for all taxpayers shall continue at 3 percent.

4.      Increased the investment limit under section 80C of the Income-tax Act from ` 1 lakh to ` 1.5 lakh.

5.      Increased the deduction limit on account of interest on loan in respect of self occupied house property from ` 1.5 lakh to ` 2 lakh.

Manufacturing Sector

Provided investment allowance at the rate of 15 percent to a manufacturing company that invests more than ` 25 crore in any year in new plant and machinery.

This benefit will be available for three years i.e. for investments upto 31.03.2017. The Scheme announced last year will continue to operate in parallel till 31.03.2015.

Extended the 10 year tax holiday to the undertakings which begin generation, distribution and transmission of power by 31.03.2017.

Treating capital gains the income arising to Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)

 from transaction in securities.

Continued the concessional rate of tax at 15 percent on dividend received by Indian companies from their foreign subsidiaries without any sunset date.

Extended the eligible date of borrowing in foreign currency from 30.06.2016 to 30.06.2017 for a concessional tax rate of 5 percent on interest payments.

Also extended this tax incentive to all types of bonds instead of only infrastructure bonds.

                                  Transfer Pricing

Made certain changes in Transfer Pricing regulations.

(1)   To be strengthened the administrative set up of APA to expedite disposal of applications. Introduced a "Roll Back" provision in the APA scheme so that an APA entered into for future transactions may also be applied to international transactions undertaken in previous four years in specified circumstances.

(2)   In order to align Transfer Pricing regulations in India with the best available practices, Introduced range concept for determination of arm's length price. However, the arithmetic mean concept will continue to apply where number of comparable is inadequate. The relevant data is under analysis and appropriate rules will be prescribed.

(3)   As per existing provisions of Transfer Pricing Regulations, only one year data is allowed to be used for comparable analysis with some exception. Proposed to amend the regulations to allow use of multiple year data.

(4)   Necessary legislative amendments to give effect to the above proposals including those relating to the Authority for Advance Rulings and Income-tax Settlement Commission will be moved in the current session of the Parliament.

Duty Free Baggage Allowance has been increased by Rs. 10,000/- to make your foreign trip pleasurable.

Now  , the free baggage allowance is Rs 45,000. 

If base station of fast trackers alone is imported then it will be classified under HS 847180.

The base station for the Fitness Tracker converts electrical signals from the pedometer into data signals the computer can understand. The base station is powered by the computer, and charges the Tracker when it is physically docked with the base station. The base station is principally and solely used with a computer and meets Note 5c to Chapter 84 as a signal converting unit.

  Hence, it will be  classified under HS 847180.

Fitness Tracker, which records steps and motion , is classified under HS 903180 .

If the Fitness Tracker makes use of a three axis accelerometer to record not only a user’s steps, but motion as well. It uses this information to determine how many calories are being burned by the wearer. It uses the built-in accelerometer to track the user’s movement in three dimensions, and attempts to calculate the number of calories burned from this information. Then it is classified under  HS 903180 .

The tariff classification of the Fitness Tracker is based on functions it perfoms and how it is sold and shipped

What is  Fitness Tracker:

The Fitness Tracker measures the intensity and duration of the user’s physical activities, calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled, and how long it takes one to fall asleep.

When worn, the Fitness Tracker automatically tracks your exercise intensity levels, calories burned, sleep quality, steps and distance. Calories, steps, and distance traveled are displayed on a blue Organic LED display on the device.

The Fitness Tracker stores this information and wirelessly transmits it to a base station that is plugged into one’s computer. The information is then uploaded to a personal Fitness website that allows the user to track their progress towards their personal fitness goals.

If the Fitness Tracker is packaged with the base station, the belt clip, and the wristband and they are imported together and sold as a set, thus they should be classified as a composite goods under  HS 903180  .

if imported separately,belt holster of Fitness tracker will be classified HS 392690

The belt holster is made of a single piece of plastic, and contains a cavity wherein the Fitness Tracker can be snapped into place. The belt holster allows the user to attach the Fitness Tracker to thick belts, belts it would not be able to fit around without the use of the holster.

Classification of the belt holster  will be  HS 392690

wireless digital pedometer is merely counts a user’s steps then it is classified under HS 902910 .

If  Fitness Tracker  is just  wireless digital pedometer, and merely counts a user’s steps then it is classified under  HS 902910 .

The Sleep Wristband classification is HS 630790.

 The Sleep Wristband  is a textile wristband composed of 88% nylon and 12% spandex. It has a hook and loop closure fastener strip, and the Fitness logo screen-printed on the band. The Fitness Tracker clips to the wristband is designed to be worn while the user sleeps, enabling the Fitness Tracker to track the user’s movement and determine when they fall asleep.

Thus ,if imported seperately ,the Sleep Wristband will be  classified  under  HS 630790.

The tariff classification of a Fitness Band for exercise is HS 950691

What is fitness band:

The product is an exercise device that consists of a latex band that has a PVC/ABS handle on each end. The band is designed for resistance training during an exercise workout.

Such Fitness Band for exercise are classified under  HS 950691

Level playing field is provided to domestic manufactures of Tunnel Boring Machine(TBM) vis a vis with imported TBM by the Central Government through Notification No 04/2014 -Customs,dated 3.2.2014

Notification to remove CVD benefits available to the imported  TBM-

 [TO BE PUBLISHED IN PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (i) OF THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY]

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

(DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)

Notification No. 04 /2014-Customs

New Delhi, the 3^rd February, 2014

            G.S.R.     (E).- In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of  the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby makes the following further amendment in the notification of the Government of India, in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 12/2012-Customs, dated the 17^th March, 2012, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 185(E), dated the 17^th March, 2012, namely:-

            In the said notification, in the Table,  against serial number 397 and the entries relating thereto, the following shall be substituted, namely:-

“397

84 or any other Chapter

The following goods, namely:- (A) Tunnel boring machines (B) Parts and components of (A) for use in the assembly of Tunnel boring machines

Nil Nil

- -

- -”.

 [F.No. 354/10/2012-TRU]

(Akshay Joshi)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Note: The principal notification No. 12/2012-Customs, dated the 17^th March, 2012, was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 185(E), dated the 17^th March, 2012 and was last amended vide notification No. 02/2014-Customs, dated the 20^th January, 2014, published vide number G.S.R. 35(E), dated the 20^th January, 2014.

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) are supplied for execution of tunneling infrastructure including India `s ambitious project of Metro Rail Networks. 

Earlier ,the effective rate of CVD as NIL has been prescribed in the case of Tunnel boring machine, Parts and components of Tunnel boring machines for use in the assembly of Tunnel boring machines when imported into India, as per SN 397 of the Customs Notification 12/2012. This notification benefit is extended to goods falling under Chapter 84 or any other Chapter. Thus the intention of this notification is to extend benefits to TBM as such and all goods used in manufacturing of TBM.

However,Tunnel boring machines falls under Central Excise Tariff Heading  8430 and used to  attracts Central Excise duty @ 12% ,whereas ,  parts and accessories  of  these  machines falls under Central Excise Tariff Heading  8431  and attracts Central Excise duty @ 12% as per the First Schedule to  the the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 (5 of 1986).

 What is law for levying  additional duty on imported goods equal to effective duty of excise leviable on the goods  manufactured in India:

 Section 3 of the said Customs Tariff Act 1975 (51 of 1975)   is reproduced herewith for easy reference -

“ (1) Any article which is imported into India shall, in addition, be liable to a duty (hereafter in this section referred to as the additional duty) equal to the excise duty for the time being leviable on a like article if produced or manufactured in India and if such excise duty on a like article is leviable at any percentage of its value, the additional duty to which the imported article shall be so liable shall be calculated at that percentage of the value of the imported article:”

Explanation to the above sub-section (1) of section 3 of the said Customs Tariff Act 1975 (51 of 1975)  is also reproduced herewith for easy reference

-“Explanation.— In this sub-section, the expression the excise duty for the time being leviable on a like article if produced or manufactured in India” means the excise duty for the time being in force which would be leviable on a like article if produced or manufactured in India or, if a like article is not so produced or manufactured, which would be leviable on the class or description of articles to which the imported article belongs, and where such duty is leviable at different rates, the highest duty.”

In terms of the Explanation   to sub-section (1) of section 3 of the said Customs Tariff Act , additional duty is equal to effective duty of excise leviable on the goods  manufactured in India . This duty is also called Counter Veiling Duty (CVD) to the imported   goods.

Therefore,  before issuing  this Customs Notifcations, if Tunnel boring machines and their parts and components are manufactured in India then they are suffered Central Excise Duty @ 12 %, and whereas, if they are imported then NIL rate of duty is attracted. This has not only resulted in putting local manufacturers of these goods at  great disadvantage  vis-à-vis with imported goods, but ,it is also in total negation of basic principle of  Counter veiling Duty(CVD) to provide level playing field to imported goods and locally manufactured goods. 

Now,  after issuing  Notification No 04/2014 -Customs,dated 3.2.2014  by the Central Government ,to remove Nil rate of duty benefit available to the imported TBM , there is level playing field to imported and locally manufactured  TBM. 

  This  would make Indian manufacturer more competitive and fuel growth of economy.