What is Advance Authorisation Scheme?

The Advance Authorisation Scheme (AA) is a duty exemption scheme for exporters offered by the Indian government. It is provided through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and incentivizes the import of required raw materials and additives that are physically incorporated into a product that is bound for exports. There can be fuel, oil, power, or catalysts consumed in the production of the export items. The Advance Authorisation Scheme (AA) makes the import of such inputs duty-free. The scheme also allows normal allowance for wastage of these inputs. Notification about the products to be included or excluded from the scope of AA is released as and when required by the DGFT in the form of public notices.

Advance Authorisation Scheme has been referred to as an ‘Advance License’ in some places as well. The input-output relationship is established based on guidelines provided in the scheme, as are the eligibility, the value addition criteria, and several other aspects related to the scheme.

Exemptions under Advance Authorisation Scheme

Under the Advance Authorisation Scheme, the following duties are exempt: basic customs duty, education cess, social welfare cess, anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, and safeguard duty. IGST and compensation cess are also exempted.

Also Read: How to claim GST Refund on exports?

Who is Eligible for Advance Authoisation Scheme?

Benefits of DGFT Advance License can be availed of by the manufacturer exporter or merchant exporter with link to the supporting manufacturer. It is also available to sub-contractors of projects where the name of the sub-contractor appears in the contract, in case of supply to the UN or other aid programs. Payment for such types of contracts must be received in freely convertible foreign exchange.

It is issued for physical exports, including exports to SEZs, intermediate supplies, and supply of stores onboard vessels/aircraft, subject to conditions. Import of mandatory spares, if required to be provided with the exported item, is covered under the duty-free benefit to a maximum of 10% of the CIF value of authorization.

Which imported inputs are eligible for Advance License?

The physical incorporation of the imported materials in exportable products is established based on the standard input-output norms (SION) or on the basis of self-declaration. In the absence of SION, one can apply to the Norms Committee. Moreover, if the exporter is an 'Authorized Economic Operator'(AEO) certificate holder under the common accreditation program of the CBIC, they can apply for advance authorization under the self-ratification scheme as well.

Certain inputs are not admissible for the purposes of the scheme on a self-declaration basis, such as vegetable oils, cereals, fruits, etc. In the case of biotechnology items, self-declaration is allowed but only if accompanied by an NOC from the Department of Biotechnology. Coming to spices, Advance Authorisation is not allowed for processes like cleaning, grading, or packaging. Activity resembling manufacture is mandatory, such as crushing, grinding, sterilization, etc.

Apply for Invoice factoring with drip capital

What is Advance Authorisation for Annual requirement?

Advance authorisation is also available as an annual requirement, but only for items notified in the SION, except where the item of input appears in Appendix 4J of the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20. To be eligible for the Advance Authorisation annual requirement, an exporter must have the export performance for at least the previous two financial years. The FOB value of the export realized should be more than 15% of the CIF value of the input covered by the scheme.

Under annual requirement scheme, the amount entitled on the import of raw materials would be 300% of FOB value of physical export/FOR value of deemed export, or Rs. 1 crore, whichever is higher.

How can one apply for the Advance Authorisation Scheme?

  • The Application of the AA is online from the DGFT portal www.dgft.gov.in. The Process is completely online now.
  • As per the procedure validity period for import under Advance Authorisation is 12 months from the date of the issue of the authorisation.
  • Validity in case of deemed exports would be project execution or 12 months, whichever is higher.
  • An exporter with an AA can also procure domestically, along with (or in place of) import.
  • Sale proceeds must be received by the exporter in freely convertible foreign exchange unless otherwise specified.
  • In the case of re-import of exported goods, the exporter must inform the concerned regional authority within a month of the date of re-import.

Also Read: Deemed Exports under GST | Procedure for Refund

Minimum value addition under Duty Free Import Authorisation

The Advance License for import has specific requirements when it comes to the minimum value addition expected from the products. For most products the expected value addition is at 15%, however in the case of tea, it is 50%. Appendix 4D contains a list of products where the value addition can be less than 15%. Appendix 4C provides the value addition required for products for which payments are not received in freely convertible foreign exchange. The Handbook of Procedures also lays down the minimum value addition required in the gems and jewelry segment.

Value addition calculates the difference between the FOB/FOR value of export/supply and CIF value of the inputs covered under the scheme, as a percentage of the latter. In case of receipt of free supply from the foreign buyer, the notional value of the same is considered in the CIF value of import and FOB value of export.

Export obligation under Advance Authorisation Scheme

For beneficiaries of Advance Authorisation, there is an export obligation (EO) in terms of the value of exports that needs to be fulfilled within a specified time frame. The EO is mentioned in the authorization itself and not achieving it in time can lead to penalties. Once the EO is met, one has to retain evidence of the same and provide it when required. The period specified is 18 months from the date of issue of the advance authorization, but it can vary for inputs such as supplies to turnkey projects, defense, military, aerospace, etc.

Also Read:

Apply for working capital loan for exporters