30-Day Duty Deferral for Manufacturer-Importers Set to Launch

The revenue department is poised to implement a 30-day duty deferral facility for qualifying manufacturer-importers starting next month, a senior official announced this Thursday. This new measure is aimed at enhancing the liquidity management for these importers.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman initially proposed this facility in the 2026-27 Budget, aiming to extend the same advantages available to Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) to a broader group of importers. The Budget also extended the duty deferral duration for Tier 2 and Tier 3 AEOs from 15 days to 30 days.

Speaking during the National Symposium on Customs Reforms-2026, Revenue Department Joint Secretary Anupam Prakash emphasized the objective to increase participation in the current trusted ecosystem. From next month, eligible manufacturer-importers will be able to clear goods on the import day and defer customs duty payment for up to 30 days, thereby strengthening their role in manufacturing and exports.