Resources
Customs glossary
Plain-language definitions of the customs and trade terms CHAs, importers and exporters use every day.
- Air Waybill AWB
- The transport document for air cargo, issued by the airline or its agent, used as the air equivalent of a bill of lading.
- Assessable value AV
- The value on which customs duty is calculated, generally the CIF value of imported goods converted to rupees.
- Basic Customs Duty BCD
- The primary duty on imports into India, charged as a percentage of the assessable value under the Customs Tariff.
- Bill of Entry BE
- The legal declaration an importer or their customs broker files with Indian Customs to clear imported goods, either for home consumption or warehousing.
- Bill of Lading B/L
- The document issued by a shipping line acknowledging receipt of cargo for sea transport. It serves as a receipt, contract of carriage and document of title.
- CAROTAR 2020
- The Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020, which set the origin information importers must hold when claiming preferential duty under a trade agreement.
- Certificate of Origin COO
- A document certifying the country where goods were produced, used to claim preferential duty or meet import conditions.
- CIF
- Cost, Insurance and Freight: an Incoterm where the seller pays the cost of goods, insurance and freight to the named port of destination.
- Customs Broker CHA
- A person licensed under the Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations to act for importers and exporters in customs clearance. Often still called a Customs House Agent (CHA).
- Customs Tariff Heading CTH
- The classification code of goods in the Customs Tariff, which in India is the 8-digit ITC-HS code that determines duty rates.
- Digital Signature Certificate DSC
- An electronic credential used to sign customs declarations and other filings on ICEGATE.
- Filing-ready packet
- In CustomsPilot.Ai, the complete set of documents, validated data, declaration draft, duty worksheet and audit trail needed to review, sign and file a customs declaration.
- HS Code HSN
- The Harmonized System code, a 6-digit international product classification maintained by the World Customs Organization and extended to 8 digits in India.
- ICEGATE
- Indian Customs Electronic Gateway, the national portal of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs for e-filing customs declarations and related services.
- Import General Manifest IGM
- The document a carrier files with customs listing all cargo on a vessel or aircraft arriving in India, filed before arrival.
- Importer Exporter Code IEC
- A 10-character code issued by DGFT that a business needs to import or export goods from India.
- Incoterms
- International Commercial Terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define who pays for and bears the risk of transport, insurance and duties.
- Integrated GST IGST
- The GST charged on imports into India, calculated on the assessable value plus BCD and Social Welfare Surcharge.
- Out of Charge OOC
- The order customs gives once duty is paid and goods are cleared, allowing them to leave customs control.
- Packing List
- A document detailing the contents, quantities, weights and packaging of each package in a shipment.
- Shipping Bill SB
- The declaration filed with Indian Customs for goods being exported, the export counterpart of the Bill of Entry.
- Social Welfare Surcharge SWS
- A surcharge on imports into India, generally levied at 10% of the Basic Customs Duty.
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