NEWS DETAILS

Date: 26/12/2024

You ask we answer 

Q 433: What is LC? What types of LCs are available? What care should be taken by exporters for export against LC?
 
 A: 1. In the international market, there are 4 terms of payment:
 
1. Advance Payment.
2. Documents Against Payments (D/P)
3. Documents against Acceptance (D/A)
4. Letter of Credit (L/C)
2. L/C is the most popular method of securing payment for exports.
 
3. Letter of Credit is the most reliable and dependable method of obtaining payment for exports.
 
4. Under L/C, banker guarantees the payment for imports on behalf of the importer.
 
5. Letter of Credit is a mode of payment in which importer’s bank gives an assurance to the exporter that he will be paid, provided he ships the goods and presents the documents as per the terms and conditions stated in the L/C.
 
6. The Letter of Credit is established by the importer through his bank. This L/C is passed on to the exporter via the bank.
 
7. For transmissions of the L/C, Swift (Society for Worldwide Interbanking Financial Telecommunication) mechanism is used.
 
8. Following are the different types of L/C: 
 
1. Documentary Letter of Credit
2. Clean Letter of Credit
3. Revocable Letter of Credit 
4. Irrevocable Letter of Credit
5. Back to Back Letter of Credit
6.
Confirmed Letter of Credit
7. Red Clause Letter of Credit
8. Revolving Letter of Credit
9. Transferable Letter of Credit
9. There are six parties which are normally associated with the Letter of Credit.
 
1. Applicant
The importer, who applies for L/C. 
He is your overseas buyer. 
2. Opening Bank
The bank which issues Letter of Credit in response to the request of the importer. Generally, it is the importer’s bank. It is also known as issuing bank.
3. Beneficiary The exporter or the seller in whose favour the Letter of Credit is established.
4. Advising Bank  The bank that is intimating the L/C to the beneficiary. Normally, it is the exporter’s bank.
5.
Confirming Bank
Confirming bank is generally in beneficiary’s country. This bank guarantees the payment under L/C upon request from beneficiary. The exporter approaches a bank for adding the confirmation.
6. Negotiating Bank The bank to which the drafts and other documents are presented by the exporters. This bank negotiates the L/C and credits the accounts of the beneficiary. 
 
Q 434: We wish to download software from the website of an overseas company. It will be our import. How do we pay import duty? In case we import pen drive or disc physically, how will this import be regarded? If we export this imported pen drive/disc by adding some features and making the product more useful, what benefits do we get against earning of foreign exchange?   
 
A: 1. Downloading of software from the website of overseas company is very common practice by Indian importers dealing in software/IT.
 
2. This will be your import.
 
3. When you approach your bank for remittance against the invoice received from the overseas supplier of software, the bank will insist for payment of applicable import duty.
 
4. You do not require filing Bill of Entry for this import but the payment of import duty has to be done to Customs.
 
5. Copy of duty paid challan is required to be submitted to the bank to enable the bank to effect outward payment to the overseas supplier.
 
6. Some banks also insist on a certificate from a Charted Accountant for the conformation of the value of import.
 
7. Your import of pen drive or disc will be regarded as import of goods.
 
8. It will be physical import.
 
9. Proper procedures of import, including documentation, will be required to be followed.
 
10. Bill of Entry will be filed under appropriate 8-digit HSN Code.
 
11. If there are any other Customs compliances required against specific HSN Code, then importer will also require to fulfil the same.
 
12. If you are exporting the imported goods after adding some features, which makes your export products distinct than the imported product, then you will be exporting the products on merit.
 
13. Eligible export incentives can be claimed.
 
14. Customs Invoice, Packing List, Export Value Declaration form etc. will be required.
 
15. At the time of shipment, proper INCOTERMS @ 2020 should be used.
 
16. Shipping Bill is to be filed.
 
17. Exporter will be under statutory obligation to realise the export proceeds from overseas within stipulated period.