Domestic tariff area

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Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) or Domestic Tariff Zone (DTZ) means an area within India that is outside the Special Economic Zones and EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP.^[1]

The units operating under certain specific schemes such as EPZ/SEZ/EOU are expected to carry out their activities within a customs bonded area. Any area which is not under the jurisdiction of a custom bonded area is called a Domestic Tariff Area.^[2]

Supplies from the DTA to a SEZ unit or developer without payment of central excise duty shall be on the cover of ARE-1,^{[clarification needed]} as is the case for normal exports out of India, i.e. under a bond or undertaking executed by the DTA supplier with the jurisdictional central excise officer.^[3]

A bill of export needs to be filed by the DTA supplier or the unit/developer on behalf of DTA to the authorized officer for assessment before the arrival of goods.^[4]

If the goods arrive before the bill of export is filed, they shall be kept in a place meant for keeping such goods and shall be released only after the assessment of the bill of export.

A copy of ARE-1 and the bill of export need to be forwarded to the central excise officer having jurisdiction over the DTA within 45 days.

The developer or unit can claim drawback or a duty entitlement pass book if the bill of export has been filed under it and if the unit or developer does not intend to claim, a disclaimer to this effect shall be given to the DTA supplier for claiming such benefits, provided the Duty Entitlement Pass Book DEPB scheme may be claimed by the DTA supplier.

The unit or developer may procure goods from the DTA without availing himself of exemptions, drawbacks and concessions on the basis of an invoice or transport document issued by the supplier.

A SEZ unit or developer may also procure:

• Goods from international exhibitions held in India
• Goods or services without payment of duty from an EOU/STP/BTP.
• Goods or services from another unit located in the same or any other SEZ.

The goods declared into a SEZ shall be used by the Unit or the Developer only for carrying out the authorized operations.

The goods can be utilized for purposes other than for the authorized operations or if the Unit or Developer fails to account for the goods as provided under these rules, duty shall be chargeable on such goods as if these goods have been cleared for home consumption.

If the unit is unable to utilize the goods imported or procured from the Domestic Tariff Area, it may export the goods or sell the same to another Unit or to an Export-oriented industrialization Unit or Electronics Technology Park Unit or Software Technology Park Unit or Biotechnology Park Unit, without payment of duty, or dispose of the same in the Domestic Tariff Area on payment of applicable duties on the basis of an import license submitted by the Domestic Tariff Area buyer

All documents for acceptance of goods into and out of a SEZ should be filed before the Authorized Officer of Customs.

A Unit can sell goods and services including rejects or wastes or scraps or remnants or broken diamonds or by-products arising during the manufacturing process or in connection therewith, in the Domestic Tariff Area on payment of Customs duties or Excise Duties, as the case may be.

A SEZ Unit on behalf of Domestic Tariff Area buyer shall file a Bill of Entry for home consumption giving a complete description of the goods and/or services, along with an invoice and packing list with the Authorized Officers.

A Unit may remove capital goods to Domestic Tariff Area after use in a SEZ on payment of duty.

Goods supplied by a Unit to Domestic Tariff Area on payment of duty may be brought back to the Unit for the purpose of repair within a period of six months from the date of clearance.

The Unit may temporarily remove the following goods to a Domestic Tariff Area without payment of duty:

• Capital goods and parts thereof for repairs and return;
• Goods for display, export promotion, exhibition;
• Goods for job work, test, repair, refining and calibration;
• Laptop or notebook computers or video projection systems for use by authorized employees of a Unit or developer;
• Any other goods with the prior approval of the Authorized Officer.

• Multi-Product SEZ with Domestic Tariff Area
• Central Excise Notification to sell surplus power in Domestic Tariff Area

• Exporters in domestic tariff area seek taxation parity
• SEZ developers want CST removed on domestic sale
• Domestic tariff area sales to EOU