New Delhi, May 16 (KNN) The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has said that no person shall carry on business as a Customs Broker relating to the entry or departure of a conveyance or the import or export of goods including work relating to audit at any Customs Station unless such person holds a license granted under certain regulations it has mentioned.

The regulations laid by CBIC provides that no license under these regulations shall be required by- (a) an importer or exporter transacting any business at a Customs Station solely on his own account;

(b) any employee of any person or a firm transacting business generally on behalf of such person or firm, and holding an identity card or a temporary pass issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be; and

(c) an agent employed for one or more vessels or aircrafts in order solely to enter or clear such vessels or aircrafts for work incidental to his employment as such agent.

The Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2018 shall come into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

These regulations shall apply to, a Customs Broker who has been licensed and such other persons who have been employed or engaged by a licensed Customs Broker under these regulations or the Customs House Agents Licensing Regulations, 1984 or the Customs House Agents Licensing Regulations, 2004 or the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations, 2013.

Every license granted or renewed under these regulations shall be deemed to have been granted or renewed in favour of the licensee, and no license shall be sold or otherwise transferred.

Further, the Regulation by CBEC mentions that the Customs Broker shall obtain an authorisation from each of the companies, firms or individuals by whom he is for the time being employed as a Customs Broker and produce such authorisation whenever required by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be.

The broker should also transact business in the Customs Station either personally or through an authorised employee duly approved by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be.

The regulation also mandated the broker t o verify correctness of Importer Exporter Code (IEC) number, Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN),identity of his client and functioning of his client at the declared address by using reliable, independent, authentic documents, data or information. (KNN Bureau)