Circular No. 23/2025- Customs, Dated 23-09-2025
1.Introduction
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued a circular clarifying the requirement of Document Identification Number (DIN) for official communications dispatched through the eOffice platform. DIN was introduced to ensure transparency and traceability in tax administration, and the new clarification adapts its use to align with digital workflows under eOffice.
2. Online Verification Utility
To strengthen authenticity, the CBIC has developed an online verification utility accessible at https://verifydocument.cbic.gov.in. This platform enables recipients to confirm the genuineness of eOffice communications by entering the system-generated unique ‘Issue number.’ The utility provides key details such as the file number, date of issue, type of communication, issuing office, and masked recipient information, thereby assuring stakeholders of the integrity of documents.
3. Role of Officers and Metadata Accuracy
The circular emphasizes that officers generating communications in eOffice must carefully and accurately fill in the metadata fields when creating documents. The accuracy of these details is critical, as they directly impact the ability of the verification utility to display authentic information. Proper use of metadata will ensure that the documents issued are verifiable, tamper-proof, and trustworthy for recipients.
4. DIN Requirement for Public Option Communications
For communications dispatched using the public option in eOffice, the system-generated ‘Issue number’ will now be deemed to be the DIN. This eliminates the need to generate or quote a separate DIN for such communications, simplifying compliance for officers and reducing duplication of work. However, the circular clarifies that for all other communications not sent via the public option, the DIN requirement will continue to apply without exception.
5. Conclusion
Through this clarification, the CBIC has streamlined the process of authenticating eOffice communications while preserving the integrity of the DIN system. By allowing the eOffice-generated Issue number to serve as the DIN for public communications and mandating its continued use in other cases, the circular enhances efficiency, reduces redundancy, and ensures transparency. The amendments also modify earlier circulars—No. 37/2019 and No. 43/2019-Customs—to bring them in line with the updated framework.
