Single Registration for Importer & Trader - CBEC Invites Suggestions on Draft
BY Notification No. 8/2014-CENT and 9/2014-CENT both dated 28.2.2014, the CE Rules and CENVAT Credit Rules were amended to stipulate that an importer who issues an invoice on which CENVAT Credit can be taken, is required to get registered and file a quarterly return.
Representations have been received from the trade stating that in the case of assessees who are both "importers" and "dealers" the need for taking separate registration and filing separate returns has increased procedural compliance and transaction cost. For improving ease of doing business they have requested for a single registration and return for such assessees .
In DDT 2385 30 06 2014, we covered this issue as:
Now if an importer deals with indigenous goods also, should he get registered as a dealer and separately as an importer? Should he get a new registration as an importer even if he is already registered as a dealer? The Mumbai Chief Commissioner of Central Excise says, YES .
Many assessees feel that these are more of directions than clarifications and complicate the issue further. They feel that this could not have been the intention of the Board and the Government. Why should you tie up the assessee with more and more procedural wrangles? They expect the Board to clarify.
Board is trying to solve the problem after nearly two years.
Board has examined the issue and is considering optional facility to an assessee who conducts business both as an importer and a first stage dealer, to take only one registration. Secondly, such assessees who conduct business both as a first stage dealer and an importer shall also have the option of filing a single quarterly return giving details of transactions as a first stage dealer and an importer one after the other in the same table of the return.
Board has released a draft Notification and Circular proposed to be issued. Board wants feedback from the departmental officers and the Members of the Trade by 6th June, 2016 on the email id: shankar.sarma@nic.in
Please also see Are two registrations required under CE Law for a dealer?
CBEC F.No 201/042016-CX.6., Dated: May 23, 2016