Considering the representations received from the industry about the difficulty in filing IGCR-3 monthly statements online on the ICEGATE portal, the CBIC has permitted manual filing of IGCR-3 by 31st January 2025 through circular No. 25/2024-Customs dated 21st November 2024.
1. Background
The Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty or for Specified End Use) Rules, 2022 allows the importer to import goods at concessional rate of duty subject to the condition that such goods are used by the importer for the specified end purpose by the specified time period.
To claim exemption, the importer is required to file intimation, generate identifiers, file monthly returns, etc. Any non – non-compliance shall lead to a fine and penalty or the exemption shall stand withdrawn. Post automation of IGCR, 2022, compliance is required to be made online on the ICEGATE portal.
In terms of IGCR 2022, as part of the compliance, the importer is required to maintain a record of import, utilisation, in-stock, etc., and is required to file the mandatory monthly return by the 10th of the following month in Form IGCR 3 and recredit of bond in terms of details of consumption of inputs in form IGCR 3A.
The CBIC received various representations about issues faced in the filing Of GCR-3 online on the ICEGATE portal.
2. What is Form IGCR-3?
Form IGCR-3 is a detailed monthly statement wherein the following information is to be furnished by the importer:
- IIN
- Details of goods imported, consumed, re-exported, pending for use, or cleared on payment of duty during the month
- Job work and unit transfer details
- Re-export details
- Clearance on payment of duty
IGCR-3 must be filed online on ICEGATE by the 10th of the following month.
3. Permitted Manual filing of IGCR-3 till January
Considering the representation received from the industry, the CBIC has issued the following Circular No. 25/2024- Customs dated 21st November 2024:
- To permit the importers, who are facing difficulties in filing their IGCR-3 monthly statements online, to file their IGCR-3 manually with their jurisdictional officers until 31 January 2025. The monthly statement from February 2025 is to be filed online.
- Further, an Excel utility shall also be made available by DG systems, CBIC by 15th December 2024 for filing of IGCR-3 monthly statement.
The importers are encouraged to make use of such Excel statements for filing IGCR-3 or IGCR-3A electronically for the past and present periods and to complete all the filings by 31st January 2025.
Conclusion
The option to file returns manually will surely help the industry meet the compliance requirement under IGCR 2022. However, going forward, traders have to file these returns through ICEGATE only. Therefore, CBIC has to ensure the smooth functioning of the portal and proper support to enable the industry to file returns timely.
