Gone are the days of struggling with complicated workflows. Now Individuals, who are related directly or indirectly to GST-related activities or compliance don’t have to wander here and there. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has launched the Common Customs Electronic Portal for fine-tuning the workflow of various GST-related compliances and services. The aforesaid URL is https://www.icegate.gov.in/ — It is a common customer-centric platform for fine-tuning various GST-related compliances and services.
The various activities included in the workflow of GST related services are multiple which will now be fine-tuned: Registration, filing of Shipping bills, bills of entry, other related forms and documents that are mentioned in the Customs Act, 1962, or any other law in force or the rules or regulations.
“Payment of duty functions specified to be carried out through a common portal through the Customs Act, 1962 or rules made under section 156 of the said Act or regulations made under section 157 of the said Act and for data exchange with other systems within or outside India, the Board of CBIC announced this week.”
Indian Customs Electronic Gateway is the web portal of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes 
These types of taxes paid on Consumption by the consumer but they do not pay directly to the government (unlike income tax). For example, GST, Sales Tax, VAT, Custom Duty and Octroi Tax and Customs (CBIC). It facilitates e-filing services to the various trading partners electronically.
Interestingly, till date, nearly 43542 entities have been registered with ICEGATE who are directly or indirectly facilitating the workflow of 12.5 lacs importers/exporters. Emphasizing again, There are a host of services that will be facilitated by launching of https://www.icegate.gov.in :
- Filing electronically the Bill of Entry (i.e.import goods declaration),
- Electronic Payment of Customs Duty
- Shipping Bills (export goods declaration),
- E Sanchit — for Convenience in filing online supporting documents,
- Electronic Refund of IGST and so on.
Other than e-filing, ICEGATE provides the following facilities:
- Online registration Intellectual Property Rights.
- Conducting online verification of DES/DEPB/EPCG licenses
- 24X7 help desk for multiple trading partners
- Knowing IE Code Status
- Knowing refund status of IGST
- Paying Central Excise and Service Tax electronically
In essence, the aforesaid mechanism shall smoothen the work-flow for GST-related activities by providing a common platform to hundreds of users.
