Customs Broker Licence Can’t Be Revoked On Mere Charge Of Mis–Declaration And Undervaluation Of The Illegal Imports: CESTAT

The Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that the licence cannot be revoked on a mere charge of misdeclaration and undervaluation of illegal imports.The bench of Binu Tamta (Judicial Member) and Hemambika R. Priya (Technical Member) has observed that the punishment has to be commensurate with the misconduct and that the charges against the appellant/customs broker are not so grave that the extreme punishment of revocation of licence is called...

Interconnectivity Utility Charges From Indian Customers/End Users Can’t Be Considered As Royalty/FTS: CESTAT

The Banglore Bench of the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that payments received by the assessee towards interconnectivity utility charges from Indian customers or end users cannot be considered royalties or fees for technical services (FTS).The bench of Beena Pillai (Judicial Member) and Chandra Poojari (Accountant Member) has observed that the payment received by the non-resident assessee amounts to the business profits of the assessee, which are taxable...

Wired Headset Not A Part Of Any Mobile Phone: CESTAT Allows Customs Duty Exemption

The Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has allowed the customs duty exemption on Earphones.The bench of Dr. Rachna Gupta (Judicial Member) and P. V. Subba Rao (Technical Member) has observed that all goods falling under CTH 8518 are exempted by S. No. 18 of the notification, excluding some ‘parts of the cellular mobile phones’ including ‘headsets’. S. No. 18 does not exclude all earphones but only headsets, which are parts of cellular mobile phones....

CESTAT Allows Interest On Auction Sale Proceeds From The Date The Amount Has Been Received By The Customs Dept., Till The Date Of Disbursal

The Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has allowed interest on the auction sale proceeds from the date the amount was received by the Customs Department until the date of disbursal.The Bench of Anil Choudhary, (Judicial Member), has observed that the department shall disburse the number of sale proceeds pursuant to auction sales by only adjusting the amount of penalty. No redemption fine can be adjusted.The appellants/assessees imported rough...

Penalty Under Section 114 A Of The Customs Act Is Invariably Linked To The Quantum Of Duty Evaded: CESTAT

The Chandigarh Bench of the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that the penalty under Section 114 A of the Customs Act is invariably linked to the quantum of duty evaded.The bench of S. S. Garg (Judicial Member) and P. Anjani Kumar (Technical Member) has observed that the appellant has not violated the provisions intentionally and that there is no mens rea or any motive that can be attributed to the appellant. Neither Section 111 nor Section 112 of the Customs...

Suspension Of The Licence Of Broker Is Not Warranted After The Investigation And Issue Of Show Cause Notice: CESTAT

The Kolkata Bench of the Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that suspension of the license is not warranted after investigation and the issuing of a show cause notice.The bench of P.K. Choudhary (Judicial Member) and K. Anpazhakan (Technical Member) has observed that immediate suspension of the customs broker is warranted when there is an apprehension that the customs broker may interfere in the investigation or tamper with any evidence that will be detrimental...

Imported Coal Does Not Attract Customs Education Cess And Higher Education Cess: CESTAT

The Chennai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that imported coal would not attract the Customs Education Cess and the Higher Education Cess.The two-member bench of Sulekha Beevi C.S. (Judicial Member) and Vasa Sheshagiri Rao (Technical Member) has observed that the adjudicating court erred by including the clean energy cess component with basic customs duty for the purpose of calculating customs educational cess and higher education cess.The...

Deputy Commissioner Not Empowered To Reassess After The Goods Were Cleared For Home Consumption: CESTAT

The Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that the Deputy Commissioner had the power to reassess the goods under Section 17(5) of the Customs Act, 1962, after the goods had been cleared for home consumption.The two-member bench of Binu Tamta (Judicial Member) and P.V. Subba Rao (Technical Member) has observed that the customs EDI system does not permit re-assessment of the bills of entry once an order permitting clearance of goods for home...

No Case Is Made Out By Customs For Confiscation Of Goods Meant For Export: CESTAT

The Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is not required from the Drug Controller in respect of an export consignment filed for the export of drugs to Liberia.The bench of Anil Choudhary (a Judicial Member) has observed that the appellant was a genuine manufacturer duly licensed to manufacture and export drugs. Even from the test report of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Mumbai, two...

Onus is On The Customs Department To Prove That The Goods are Smuggled: CESTAT

The Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that the onus is on the Customs Department to lead evidence in support of an allegation as to the smuggled nature of goods.The bench of Anil Choudhary (a judicial member) has directed the department to release the goods within a period of 15 days. The appellant shall not be liable for payment of godown rent, detention charges, or demurrage.The appellant/assessee are traders engaged in the trading of...

Notice Under Customs Act Can Be Issued Only After The Assessment Is Modified On Appeal: CESTAT

The Delhi Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that once an assessment is made, it stands unless it is reviewed under Section 28 of the Customs Act or modified in an appeal.The two-member bench headed by Justice Dilip Gupta (President) and P.V. Subba Rao (Technical Member) has observed that any assessment can be modified in two ways: first, through an appeal, and second, through a process of review under Section 28.The appellant importers imported the...

Customs Broker Is Not Liable For Undervaluation Of Exported Goods: CESTAT

The Chennai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that customs brokers cannot be held liable for the undervaluation of exported goods.The bench of P. Dinesha (a judicial member) has observed that the valuation of any goods could never be the domain of a customs broker as it depends upon the contract between the exporter and the importer, in which the customs broker has no say.The appellant or assessee is a customs broker. The show cause notice was...