<p data-path-to-node="7" id="p-rc_940ae8a399519df8-179" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="26" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-342 citation-end-342" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Maritime Association of Nationwide Shipping Agencies (MANSA)<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2901175073="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2901175073="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span></b> has formally reached out to senior officials of the <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="139" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Income Tax Department</b> to resolve operational delays arising from the mandatory requirement of physical <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="242" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Demand Drafts (DDs)</b> for obtaining vessel <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="283" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">No Objection Certificates (NOCs)</b> under Section 172 of the Income-tax Act at Mumbai Port.<sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c627362957="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c627362957="" _nghost-ng-c822424761="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="8" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Representing ship agents across Mumbai Port and the Nhava Sheva (JNPA) maritime complex, MANSA highlighted that mandating physical paper demand drafts for tax deposit reconciliations creates friction in vessel turnarounds. In an era of automated port single-window systems, 24/7 banking clearing cycles, and real-time electronic governance, the association is seeking an urgent consultative meeting to transition vessel clearance protocols to electronic payment mechanisms, including <b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="484" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">RTGS, NEFT, and direct online tax challan portals</b>.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="10" style="font-family: "Google Sans", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Key Operational Highlights & Industry Concerns</h3><ul data-path-to-node="11" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Friction in Pre-Sail Clearances:</b> Under Section 172 of the Income-tax Act, non-resident shipping lines must pay or guarantee estimated freight taxes to secure a Port Clearance / NOC prior to vessel departure. The insistence on manual Demand Draft submissions during bank holidays, weekends, or late hours creates administrative bottlenecks, risking unnecessary ship demurrage.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,1,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Misalignment with Digital India & Ease of Doing Business:</b> MANSA emphasized that major maritime trade gateways have transitioned customs duty payments, port dues, and berth charges to electronic clearing systems. A manual paper draft process for tax NOCs contradicts the Centre's Ease of Doing Business benchmarks.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,2,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Advocating Integrated E-Challan Verifications:</b> The ship agents' body has urged the tax department to accept e-tax payment receipts (Challan ITNS 280/281) with instant online verification by assessing officers, which would allow instantaneous issuance of vessel clearances without waiting for physical bank drafts.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,3,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Mitigating Vessel Turnaround Dwell:</b> Port productivity benchmarks demand round-the-clock clearance capability. Physical instrument dependencies complicate operations for tramp vessels, tankers, and container feederships operating on tight coastal and international port call schedules.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,4,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,4,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Collaborative Industry Dialogue:</b> The association has requested a joint technical meeting between its executive representatives and the Directorate of Income Tax (International Taxation) in Mumbai to formulate a secure, fraud-proof digital standard operating procedure (SOP).</p></li></ul>
MANSA Seeks Meeting with Income Tax Department Over Demand Draft Norm for Vessel NOCs
The Maritime Association of Nationwide Shipping Agencies (MANSA) has formally reached out to senior officials of the Income Tax Department to resolve operational delays arising from the mandatory requirement of physical Demand Drafts (DDs) for obtaining vessel No Objection Certificates (NOCs) under Section 172 of the Income-tax Act at Mumbai Port.
