FBR Introduces Revised Procedure for Customs Agents’ Licenses

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated the process for granting and renewing customs agents’ licenses, focusing on a competitive selection process and stricter compliance standards. These changes were introduced through an amendment to the Customs Rules, 2001, notified via SRO.2071 on Friday.

Under the revised procedure, the FBR will advertise for applications annually on November 1 in prominent newspapers. Applications will be evaluated based on specific criteria, with eligibility determined through a qualification test conducted by an accredited institution.

The test will assess applicants’ knowledge of customs laws, related regulations, procedures, computer proficiency, and the customs computerized system, as detailed in an appendix to the rules. Existing provisional license holders must take the first test under the new rules, with failure to appear resulting in license cancellation.

Candidates will have two attempts to pass the qualification test. If they fail both, their provisional license will be blocked, with a final third chance given. To qualify, applicants must score at least 50%.

Licenses may also be blocked, revoked, or canceled if holders fail to file a goods declaration in the past year, do not appear for identification, or score zero aggregate points in the customs computerized system.

The updated rules aim to improve professionalism and efficiency by licensing only qualified individuals as customs agents.