What is ICEGATE?
It is an infrastructure project that helps in fulfilling the customs department Electronic Commerce /Electronic Data Interchange and data communication requirements.
What are the services ICEGATE offers?
ICEGATE offers varied distinguished services, such as
- a.Through ICEGATE the department offers a host of services.
- b.Electronic filing of the Bill of Entry (import goods declaration).
- c.Shipping Bills (export goods declaration).
- d.Electronic messages between Customs and the Trading Partners using communication facilities (E-mail, Web-upload & FTP) using the communication protocols commonly used on the internet.
- e.24X7 helpdesk facility is provided by ICEGATE to its trading partners.
How ICEGATE is helpful?
The ICEGATE Portal helps many agencies in making regulatory compliances in seamless manner.
- The shipping agents, cargo carriers and airlines can file manifests through the internet using ICEGATE interface facility.
- The custodians and cargo logistics operators interact with Customs EDI through ICEGATE for cargo, logistics and related information.
- ICEGATE provides an Electronic Data Interchange between different government bodies.
- It helps in the exchange of data between regulatory bodies of India and licensing agencies who play a key role in the growth of Indian economy.
- The data is exchanged between RBI, DGFT, Ministry of Steel, DGICS.
- For the Directorate of valuation, The National Import Database (NIDB), Export Commodity Database (ECDB) uses ICEGATE services.
- Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) process all the documents and electronically interchanged messages which are handled by ICEGATE. 245 customs locations serving 98% of Indian export and import traffic.
ICEGATE provides a host for other services
Varied other services like paying taxes online etc are hosted on ICEGATE to provide a one stop solution to the user. A list of such services has been given underneath
- a. E-payment
- b.Online registration for IPR (Intellectual Property Rights)
- c. Document Tracking status at Customs EDI.
- d. Online verification of DEPB/DES/EPC licenses.
- e. IE code status
- f. PAN-based CHA data
It also helps in the customs department to exchange the data between important government Web portals.
Benefits of using ICEGATE
- It helps traders, importers, and exporters to avoid heavy paperwork and execute the whole process in a stress-free manner.
- ICEGATE provides digital security, it uses Digital signature on the Bill of entry and other documents which are handled and processed under ICEGATE and customs department.
- ICEGATE helped in solving the complex problems of eliminating the data error and communication delay between different legal bodies and licensing authorities.
Bill of Entry
What is Bill of Entry?
Bill of Entry is one of the legal documents submitted to the customs department in customs clearance procedure. It is filed by importer or CHA (Clearing House Agent). Once Bill of entry is filed on or before the arrival of goods, the importer will be able to claim ITC on the goods.
Who can file Bill of Entry?
Bill of Entry is filled by Importer or CHA (Clearing House Agent) appointed on behalf of importer. Firms or companies which are importing goods from other countries can also issue Bill of Entry.
Sample of Bill of Entry
The sample of Bill of entry, after the implementation of the GST regime.
The Bill of Entry consist of
- BOE number and Date
- Name and address of the Importer.
- Port code, mode of payment.
- Value of the goods, IGST, customs duty, additional duty.
- IEC code, GSTIN, and PAN numbers.
How to track the Bill of entry in ICES?
ICEGATE is an e-filing service portal for the traders and cargo logistic operators. It also helps the traders and importers to track the customs clearance status and BOE (Bill of Entry) details in the services provided in the portal. Tracking at Indian Customs EDI system (ICES) through ICEGATE portal is simple and easy.
Shipping Bill
What is Shipping Bill?
When the goods are exported to other countries by traders, it is the mandatory legal document to be provided to the customs department for the shipping clearance. It contains the details of exported goods, the value of the goods, buyer name, seller name and details of the tax amount paid etc. It helps in claiming the duty drawback, additional duties and extra charges paid.
Types of Shipping Bill
Shipping Bill is an important legal document issued by shipping agencies for the export of goods from India to other countries and bonded warehouses to other places.
There are 5 types of Shipping Bills, they are classified depending on customs duty and duty drawback.
- 1) Free Shipping Bill
- 2) Dutiable Shipping Bill
- 3) Drawback Shipping Bill
- 4) Shipping Bill for Shipment Ex-Bond
- 5) Coastal Shipping Bill
How to track the Shipping Bill in ICES?
ICEGATE is an e-filing service portal for the traders and cargo logistic operators. It also helps traders and exporters to track the customs clearance status on the goods in the services provided by ICEGATE portal. Tracking at Indian Customs EDI system (ICES) through ICEGATE portal is simple and easy.
After entering the Submit button, the following details will be displayed.
What is Bill of lading?
Bill of lading is the important receipts issued by the carrier company’s agent or captain or owner of the carrier to acknowledge the goods (Cargo) for shipment through seaways or airways. It contains a detailed list of cargo with size and quantity. It is used by the importer to file Bill of Entry. Bill of lading serves as evidence of the contract of carriage.
What is IGM in shipping?
Import General Manifest (IGM) filing is the detailed filing of cargo before arriving at the destination port or port of importing country with the customs department. The IGM is filed by carrier or his agent which filed on the basis of Bill of lading or Airway bills.
IGM contains details such as
- Shippers name and details
- Consignee details
- Description of goods
- Bill of lading
- Total number of packages
- Details of the ship, vessel or aircraft.
If the details of IGM is filled incorrectly, then import custom clearance documents are rejected. If IGM is filed incorrectly, then such details are amended with customs before filing customs clearance.
What is EGM ?
EGM stands for Export General Manifest. It is the documents to be filed by carrier or shipping agents with the customs department. It is filed once the export takes place from the country’s port or airways.
EGM contains details such as
- 1) Details of the exporter.
- 2) Details of the shipping goods.
- 3) Value of the goods in the vessel or aircraft.
Customs department releases the shipping bill, based on the EGM filed by the goods shipping carrier
Banks authorized for the e-payment through ICEGATE
Government of India allowed few banks to facilitate the e-payment process to the import and export traders. E-challan payments can be done for paying taxes, customs duties and other duties in import and export of the goods.
| State Bank of India | Punjab National Bank | Bank of India |
| Indian Bank | UCO Bank | IDBI Bank |
| United Bank of India | Bank of Maharashtra | Corporation Bank |
| Bank of Baroda | Canara Bank | Indian Overseas Bank |
| Central Bank of India | Vijaya Bank | Syndicate Bank |
| Andhra Bank | Dena Bank | Oriental Bank of Commerce |
| Allahabad Bank | Punjab National Bank |
SWIFT: SINGLE WINDOW INTERFACE FOR FACILITATING TRADE
The manifold advantages of SWIFT: SINGLE WINDOW INTERFACE FOR FACILITATING TRADE are
- 1) Integrated Declaration replacing 9 separate documents
- 2) Online Clearances reduces the traveling cost and time consumed in the process.
- 3) It follows automated routing which involves four steps
- a) Receive
b) Route
c) Process
d) Respond
By introducing the ICEGATE and SWIFT facilities Indian Government have improved rank of India in ease of doing business. In 2017 India ranked 130th in ease of doing business but at present in 2019 India stood at 77th rank in the world at ease of doing business.
