The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in a Letter dated March 25, 2025, addresses issues with the ICEGATE system for Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Following a prior directive (dated 17.02.2025) mandating Shipping Bills and Bills of Entry to be filed on ICEGATE from 18.02.2025, SEZ units reported disruptions due to technical and procedural challenges. After review, the Ministry permits filing certain transactions—exports via Merchant Exporters, DTA supplies (excluding FTWZ and Chapter 71 goods), and zone-to-zone transfers—on SEZ-Online until further notice. Development Commissioners may also allow exceptions on SEZ-Online with written justification, following consultation with Customs, notifying the Department of Commerce and DG (Systems).
I am directed to refer to this Ministry’s letter No. J-16/3/2007-SEZ Vol-V dated 17.02.2025 wherein filing of Shipping Bills and Bills of Entry for imports in respect of SEZ units was discontinued on SEZ Online and such documents are to be filed mandatorily on ICEGATE w.e.f. 18.02.2025 and to state that Department of Commerce is still receiving numerous representations regarding difficulties being faced by SEZ units creating disruptions in business transactions due to technical and procedural issues in ICEGATE.
The matter has been reviewed and examined in consultation with SEZ officials across all SEZs and it has been decided that in partial modification to this Ministry’s letter No. J-16/3/2007-SEZ Vol-V dated 17.02.2025 and modules mentioned therein, filing of documents in respect of the following transactions on SEZ-Online is also allowed till further orders:
I. Shipping Bill by SEZ Units in case of export through Merchant Exporter as provided under Rule 46(11) for movement of goods from SEZ Units to merchant exporters;
ii. DTA Supply excluding supply from FTWZ and goods under Chapter 71;
iii. Zone to Zone Transfer.
Further, the Development Commissioners may allow filing of documents in respect of specific transactions on SEZ-Online on exceptional basis wherein unique challenges are being faced by the Units in filing of documents on the ICEGATE platform after due consultation with Customs officers and mentioning reasons in writing under intimation to the Department of Commerce and DG (Systems).
The Letter can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Filing-of-documents-in-SEZOnline-for-certain-modules.pdf
