What it is
A Bill of Entry is the declaration an importer files with Indian Customs, describing the goods, their value and their HS code. Customs assesses duty on it, and the goods cannot leave the port without it. It is filed electronically on ICEGATE, usually by a licensed customs broker.
Three types
- Home consumption: the most common. Duty is paid and the goods are cleared for use in India.
- Into-bond (warehousing): goods go into a bonded warehouse and duty is paid later, when they are taken out.
- Ex-bond: filed to take warehoused goods out for home consumption, paying duty at that point.
From filing to release
- Filing: ideally before the cargo arrives. Customs now expects early filing, and late filing attracts a charge.
- Assessment: Customs' risk system decides whether the Bill of Entry is facilitated, needs an officer to assess it, or needs the goods examined.
- Duty payment: online, once assessed.
- Examination, if selected: the goods are checked against the declaration.
- Out of charge: Customs releases the goods, and they can be delivered.
What slows it down
Queries during assessment, missing documents and classification disputes. Each one keeps the container at the port, where demurrage and detention add up. Most can be avoided by checking everything before filing.