NBR makes online bond operations mandatory from January 1

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has announced that all bond-related activities will become fully mandatory through the online Customs Bond Management System (CBMS) starting January 1.

The decision was confirmed in a press release issued on Monday (December 1).

According to the NBR, the CBMS software has been introduced to modernise, streamline, and digitise the country’s bond management system. Although 24 online modules are already active across three Customs Bond Commissionerates, most institutions are still relying on manual processes to obtain Utilisation Permission (UP), with only a limited number adopting the online system.

NBR noted that usage of the platform has remained below expectations over the past 11 months due to the absence of mandatory requirements. However, the system has since been upgraded and made more user-friendly based on user feedback.

Under the new directive, no UP-related service—either application or issuance—will be accepted outside the CBMS platform from 1 January. The mandatory shift is aimed at ensuring faster, more transparent services for licensed bonded-warehouse operators.