CBDT Circular on Foreign Shipping Companies

Streamlining the process of No Objection Certificate (NOC), Port Clearance Certificate (PCC), voyage return and voyage assessment in the case of Foreign Shipping Companies (FSCs)

The CBDT vide Circular No. 30/2016 dt. 26 Aug. 2016 has streamlined the process for 'Port Clearance/ No Objection Certificates and Voyage Return/ Assessment' in the case of Foreign Shipping Companies.

CBDT has received representations regarding procedural difficulties faced by foreign shipping companies in issuance of Port Clearance Certificate (PCC) required as per S. 172 of Income-tax Act, 1961, i.e. a self contained code for assessment of shipping business of non residents.

it has been represented by the FSCs before the CBDT that no uniform practice is being followed by the port Assessing Officers in giving NOC for each voyage and also in making the voyage assessment in this regard. Further it is represented that at some of the ports, annual NOC issued by the jurisdictional AO is being honoured and port clearance and voyage return assessment are being done in a routine manner; whereas at some other ports, the port Assessing officers are not honouring the annual NOC and are still insisting for documentation such as submission of tax residency certificate, proof of effective management etc before the NOC leading to the port clearance is issued. It has been represented that in these cases, the insistence on filing details is leading to duplication of work as these documents have already been filed before and verified by the jurisdictional AO at the time of issue of annual NOC. It has also been stated that the procedure of obtaining NOC from the officer having jurisdiction over the port creates logistical difficulties for FSCs as the Port assessing officer is normally situated at a considerable distance from the jurisdictional AO.

The matter has been examined by the CBDT and requisite guidelines have been issued for streamlining the processes. For details, please refer the CBDT Circular below:

CBDT Circular No. 30/2016 dt. 26 Aug. 2016