New Delhi: In a crackdown on goods being imported into India in the guise of 'gifts', the zonal office of Mumbai customs authority has ordered cancellation of registration of courier companies which outsource their activities without the permission of the customs department and don't comply with know-your-customer norms while importing.
Under current customs rules duty-free goods up to 5000 are permitted as 'gifts' via courier for personal use. But, stringent KYC norms have to be followed.
The authority has said while calculating the exemption limit of 5,000 to these gifts, the total amount of courier charge, which is based on the weight of the parcel, should be included. The cost borne by the sender of the gift should be included, it said. For those exceeding 5,000, will be charged IGST, basic customs duty and social welfare cess including the courier charge.
The order follows instances of smuggling of precious metals and misdeclaration of goods such as food items to avoid mandatory quarantine or food standards checks through the courier route.
"Multiple consignments of goods to the same consignees of dutiable goods imports for trading in the guise of gifts and samples, has been noticed," said the customs commissioner of APSC, Mumbai-zone three in an order dated December 28, 2018.
There have also been reports of a large number of products from China entering India as 'gifts' and shipped directly to customers. "Non-compliance of prescribed KYC guidelines by authorised couriers and their staff is also a major cause of incidents of smuggling," as per the order.
Citing a "total lack of supervision at all levels among the staff at the courier terminal in Mumbai", it has directed examination of 60 import consignments per shift in addition to the required checks and maintain separate records.
Effective January 10, they have been instructed to conduct audits of atleast three couriers every month and prepare an audit plan by January 7.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com