Customs agents must receive cargo handling/clearing charges through cheque

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has made it mandatory for the customs agents to receive handling or clearance charges from the importers/exporters through cheques for proper documentation of all trade transactions through agents. The FBR has amended the Customs Rules 2001 through a notification issued here on Wednesday in this regard.
Through amendment in the Customs Agents Licensing Rules of Customs Rules 2001, the FBR has tightened procedure for the customs clearing agents. A major clause of documentation of the business transactions of the customs agents has been incorporated in the Rules to discourage cash transactions between the customs agents and importers/exporters.
The new procedure has made it mandatory for the customs agents to issue proper bills specifying item-wise details of cargo handling/clearance charges received from the importers and exporters. Secondly, it will be necessary for the customs agents to receive handling or clearance charges from the importers or exporters through cheques. Third, the FBR has also made it compulsory for the customs agents to maintain proper manual record, registering all charges received by them.
It will be the responsibility of the licensee to file customs declarations in the prescribed manner giving detailed description of each item as mentioned in the Customs Tariff. He will make himself available at the time of examination of the goods drawing representative sample, counting, weighing, etc, as and when required. The customs agent will be responsible for any or all other documents signed by him or his employee or on his behalf or on behalf of his client and provide complete information and documents as and when required after clearance of the consignments.
The customs agent will be liable to pay the evaded amount of duties and taxes in case it is established that evasion has taken place because of his negligence, failure to perform his functions as prescribed under the law, or because of connivance or wilful act of its employee or permit holder. He will also furnish an authorisation from each of the company, firm or individual, as the case may be, by whom he is employed to act as customs agent. However, he will not represent a client before an officer of customs in any matter which the licensee dealt as an officer or employee of the customs or of which he gained knowledge while in government service.
The customs agent will also inform promptly the customer about the objection raised by documents or declaration required under the law and bring the matter to the notice of appropriate officer in writing immediately and report to the customs about suspected financial transactions like money laundering or proceeds of crime by its client. The customs agents have to fulfil other requirements according to the Customs Rules, 2001.