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Informist, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026

 

--CBIC chairman:Unified tax portal to aid businesses be trusted trade partner 
--CONTEXT: CBIC Chairman Chaturvedi speaking at an event in Delhi 
--CBIC chairman: Must have consolidated portal for businesses' tax background 

NEW DELHI – Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi Wednesday said that the customs department must accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time analytics to help with easier trade facilitation with lower compliance. He also listed the five pillars of strength that the customs department must build on to better integrate India's businesses with developed economies.

 

With cyclical and predictive application of technology, the ambition should be to move towards a near-touchless, near-digital experience, Chaturvedi said at an event on Authorised Economic Operator certification by the customs department. Digital adoption will help reduce the need for human intervention and will also reduce transaction costs, he said. 

 

The second task at hand for the customs department is to render targeted hand-holding, sector-specific outreach, and a cluster-based approach towards helping businesses across sectors. He also mooted that sustained depository is built so that the benefits of behavioural status and opportunities reach the smallest and the most vulnerable players in India's trading system. "A trust-based framework is essential for broad-based export growth and acquisition," he said. 

 

The third idea is to have a seamless relationship across jurisdictions under the Mutual Recognition Authorisation framework, he said. "The ultimate vision is a single, integrated, trusted freedom experience across all the cross-border areas," the CBIC chairman said. According to him, the Indian customs department must expand its network of Mutual Recognition Authorisation with other developed economies, while also integrating international standards, which will help India gain wider international recognition. The idea is to enhance Indian traders' capability as well as the competitiveness of India's trade.

 

The chairman also said that it was "very important" to have synergy across indirect tax verticals. He also said that customs officials must maintain close synergy with global trade partners to establish and maintain strong and collaborative partnerships with trade partners. "This principle is not merely aspirational. It is a foundational requirement for building a resilient and trusted global society," he said.

 

Finally, Chaturvedi said that the indirect tax department should aspire to create a unified, trusted portal that rewards consistent good behaviour across the indirect tax compliance requirements. This will help Indian traders get easier acceptance as an Authorised Economic Operator. Authorised Economic Operator is an official status given to trusted businesses in the international supply chain. It proves the company follows strong safety and legal rules. Indian Customs also gives faster cargo clearance and lower risk scores to certified businesses.

 

On the sidelines of the event, Chaturvedi said that India has signed a Mutual Recognition Authorisation pact with 11 countries, with many more in the pipeline. He also said that more businesses must join the government's Eligible Manufacturer Importers scheme announced in the Budget for 2026-27 (Apr-Mar). This is a new facilitation measure for trusted manufacturers by enabling the facility of deferred payment of customs duty to a new category of importers called Eligible Manufacturer Importers. 

 

The scheme took effect on Mar. 1, and so far, only around 1,000 businesses have joined the scheme, he said, adding that he expects more businesses to come forward. The department has reduced the compliance burden to join the scheme and is also scheduled to hold outreach programmes for wider adoption. 

 

Under the scheme, Eligible Manufacturer Importers will be able to clear imported goods without paying Customs duty at the time of clearance. Instead, the applicable duty can be paid on a monthly basis as prescribed under the Deferred Payment of Import Duty Rules, 2016, helping manufacturers better manage cash flows and working capital. The facility will remain in force till Mar. 31, 2028.  End

 

Reported by Priyasmita Dutta

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

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