Customs Act 1962

(As Amended By Finance Act, 2023)

Chapter I Preliminary

Section 1

 Short title, extent and commencement

Section 2

 Definitions

 Chapter II Officers of Customs

Section 3

 Classes of officers of customs

Section 4

 Appointment of officers of customs

Section 5

 Powers of officers of customs

Section 6

 Entrustment of functions of Board and customs officers on certain other officers

Chapter III Appointment of Customs Ports, Airports, etc

Section 7

 Appointment of customs ports, airports etc.

Section 8

 Power to approve landing places and specify limits of customs area

Section 9

Omitted Vide  Section 115 of the Finance Bill 2016

Power to declare places to be warehousing stations

Section 10

 Appointment of boarding station

Chapter IV Prohibitions on importation and exportation of goods

Section 11

 Power to prohibit importation or exportation of goods

Chapter IVA Detection of illegally imported goods and prevention of the disposal thereof

Section 11A

 Definitions 

Section 11B

 Power of Central Government to notify goods 

Section 11C

 Persons possessing notified goods to intimate the place of storage, etc. 

Section 11D

 Precautions to be taken by persons acquiring notified goods 

Section 11E

 Persons possessing notified goods to maintain accounts 

Section 11F

 Sale, etc., of notified goods to be evidenced by vouchers 

Section 11G

 Sections 11C, 11E and 11F not to apply to goods in personal use

Chapter IVB Prevention or Detection of Illegal Export of Goods 

Section 11H

 Definitions

Section 11I  

 Power of Central Government to specify goods

Section 11J

 Persons possessing specified goods to intimate the place of storage, etc.

Section 11K

 Transport of specified goods to be covered by vouchers

Section 11L

 Persons possessing specified goods to maintain accounts

Section 11M

 Steps to be taken by persons selling or transferring any specified goods

Chapter IVC Power to exempt from the provisions of Chapters IVA and IVB

Section 11N

 Power to exempt

Chapter V Levy of, and Exemption from, Customs Duties

Section 12

 Dutiable goods

Section 13

 Duty on pilfered goods

Section 14 

 Valuation of goods for purposes of assessment

Section 15

Date for determination of rate of duty and tariff valuation of imported goods

Section 16

 Date for determination of rate of duty and tariff valuation of export goods

Section 17

 Assessment of goods

Section 18

 Provisional assessment of duty

Section 19

 Determination of  duty where goods consist of articles liable to different rates of duty

Section 20

 Re-importation of goods

Section 21

 Goods derelict, wreck, etc.

Section 22

 Abatement of duty on damaged or deteriorated goods

Section 23

 Remission of duty on lost, destroyed or abandoned goods

Section 24

 Power to make rules for denaturing or mutilation of goods

Section 25

 Power to grant exemption from duty

Section 25A Inward processing of goods
Section 25B Outward processing of goods

Section 26

 Refund of export duty in certain cases

Section 26A

Refund of import duty in certain cases

Section 27

 Claim for refund of duty

Section 27A

 Interest on delayed refunds

Section 28

Recovery of duties not levied or short-levied or erroneously refunded. 

Section 28A

 Power not to recover duties not levied or short levied as a result of general practice

Section 28AA

 Interest on delayed payment of duty

Section 28AAA

 Recovery of duties in certain cases.

Section 28AB

Omitted Vide Section 43 of the Finance Act 2011

Interest on delayed payment of duty in special cases

Section 28B

 Duties collected from the buyer to be deposited with the Central Government

Section 28BA

Provisional attachment to protect revenue in certain cases.

Section 28BB

Time limit for completion of certain actions.

Chapter VA Indicating amount of duty in the price of goods, etc., for purpose of refund

Section 28C

 Price of goods to indicate the amount of duty paid thereon

Section 28D

 Presumption that incidence of duty has been passed on to the buyer

Chapter VAA Administration Of Rules of Origin Under Trade Agreement

Section 28DA

 Procedure regarding claim of preferential rate of duty

Chapter VB Advance Rulings
Section 28E Definitions
Section 28EA Customs Authority for Advance Rulings
Section 28F Authority for advance rulings

Section 28G

Omitted Vide Section 95 of Finance Act, 2017

Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings
Section 28H Application for advance ruling
Section 28I Procedure on receipt of application
Section 28J Applicability of advance ruling
Section 28K Advance ruling to be void in certain circumstances
Section 28KA Appeal
Section 28L Power of Authority
Section 28M Procedure of Authority

Chapter VI Provisions relating to conveyances carrying imported or exported goods

Section 29

 Arrival of vessels and aircrafts in India

Section 30

 Delivery of import manifest or import report

Section 30A

Passenger and crew arrival manifest and passenger name record information

Section 31

 Imported goods not to be unloaded from vessel until entry inwards granted

Section 32

 Imported goods not to be unloaded unless mentioned in import manifest or import report

Section 33

 Unloading and loading of goods at approved places only

Section 34

 Goods not to be unloaded or loaded except under supervision of customs officer

Section 35

 Restrictions  on goods being water borne

Section 36

 Restrictions on unloading and loading of goods on holidays, etc.

Section 37

 Power to board conveyances

Section 38

 Power to require production of documents and ask questions

Section 39

 Export goods not to be loaded on vessel until entry outwards granted

Section 40

 Export goods not to be loaded unless duly passed by proper officer

Section 41

 Delivery of export manifest or export report

Section 41A Passenger and crew departure manifest and passenger name record information

Section 42

 No conveyance to leave without written order

Section 43

 Exemption of certain classes of conveyances from certain provisions of this Chapter

Chapter VII Clearance of imported goods and export goods 

Section 44

 Chapter not  to apply to baggage and postal articles

Clearance of Imported goods

Section 45

 Restrictions on custody and removal of imported goods

Section 46

 Entry of goods on importation  

Section 47

 Clearance of goods for home consumption

Section 48

 Procedure in case of goods not cleared, warehoused, or transshipped within thirty days after unloading

Section 49

 Storage of imported goods in warehouse pending clearance

Clearance of export goods

Section 50

 Entry of goods for exportation

Section 51

 Clearance of goods for exportation

CHAPTER VIIA Payments through electronic cash ledger And Electronic Duty Credit Ledger

Section 51A Payment of duty, interest, penalty, etc.
Section 51B Ledger for duty credit

 Chapter VIII Goods in Transit

Section 52

 Chapter not to apply to baggage, postal articles and stores

Section 53

 Transit of certain goods without payment of duty

Section 54

 Transshipment of certain goods without payment of duty

Section 55

 Liability of duty on goods transited under Section 53 or transshipped under Section 54

Section 56

 Transportation of certain classes of goods subject to prescribed conditions

Chapter IX Warehousing

Section 57

Licensing of public warehouses

Section 58

 Licensing of private warehouses

Section 58A  Licensing of Special warehouses
Section 58B Cancellation of Licence

Section 59

 Warehousing bond

Section 60

Permission for removal of goods for deposit in warehouse

Section 61

 Period for which goods may remain warehoused

Section 62

Omitted Vide Section 126 of the Finance Bill 2016

 Control over warehoused goods

Section 63

Omitted Vide Section 126 of the Finance Bill 2016

 Payment of rent and warehouse charges

Section 64

 Owner's right to deal with warehoused goods

Section 65

 Manufacture and other operations in relation to goods in a warehouse

Section 66

 Power to exempt imported materials used in the manufacture of goods in warehouse

Section 67

 Removal of goods from one warehouse to another

Section 68

 Clearance of warehoused goods for home consumption

Section 69

 Clearance of warehoused goods for exportation

Section 70

 Allowance in case of volatile goods

Section 71

 Goods not to be taken out of warehouse except as provided by this act

Section 72 Goods improperly removed from warehouse, etc.

Section 73

 Cancellation and return of warehousing bond

Section 73A Custody and Removal of warehouse goods

Chapter X Drawback

Section 74

 Drawback allowable on re export of duty paid goods

Section 75

 Drawback on imported materials used in the manufacture of goods which are exported

Section 75A

 Interest on drawback

Section 76

 Prohibition and regulation of drawback in certain cases

Chapter XI Special provisions regarding baggage, goods imported or exported by Post or Courier, and stores

Baggage

Section 77

 Declaration by owner of baggage

Section 78

 Determination of rate of duty and tariff valuation in respect of baggage

Section 79

 Bonafide baggage exempted from duty

Section 80

 Temporary detention of baggage

Section 81  Regulations in respect of baggage
Goods imported or exported by post

Section 82

Omitted Vide Section 104 of Finance Act, 2017

 Label or declaration accompanying goods to be treated as entry

Section 83

Rate of duty and tariff valuation in respect of goods imported or exported by post

Section 84

Regulations regarding goods imported or to be exported by post

Stores

Section 85

Stores may be allowed to be warehoused without assessment to duty

Section 86

Transit and transhipment of stores

Section 87

Imported stores may be consumed on board a foreign going vessel or aircraft

Section 88

Application of section 69 and Chapter X to stores

Section 89

Stores to be free of export duty

Section 90

Concessions in respect of imported stores for the Navy

Chapter XII Provisions relating to coastal goods and vessels carrying coastal goods

Section 91

 Chapter not to apply to baggage and stores

Section 92

 Entry of coastal goods

Section 93

 Coastal goods not to be loaded until bill relating thereto is passed, etc.

Section 94

 Clearance of coastal goods at destination

Section 95

 Master of a coasting vessel to carry an advice book

Section 96

 Loading and unloading of coastal goods at customs port or coastal port only

Section 97

 No coasting vessel to leave without written order

Section 98

 Application of certain provisions of this Act to coastal goods, etc.

Section 98A

 Power to relax

Section 99

 Power to make rules in respect of coastal goods and coasting vessels

CHAPTER XIIA Audit
Section 99A Audit
CHAPTER XIIB Verification of identity and compliance
Section 99B Verification of identity and compliance thereof

 Chapter XIII Searches, seizure and arrest

Section 100

 Power to search suspected persons entering or leaving India, etc.

Section 101

 Power to search suspected persons in certain other cases

Section 102

 Persons to be searched may require to be taken before gazetted officer of customs or magistrate

Section 103

 Power to screen or X - ray bodies of suspected persons for detecting secreted goods

Section 104

 Power to arrest

Section 105

 Power to search premises

Section 106

 Power to stop and search conveyances

Section 106A

 Power to inspect

Section 107

 Power to examine persons

Section 108

 Power to summon persons to give evidence and produce documents

Section 108A Obligation to furnish information
Section 108B Penalty for failure to furnish information return

Section 109

 Power to require production of order permitting clearance of goods imported by land

Section 109A Power to undertake controlled delivery

Section 110

 Seizure of goods, documents and things

Section 110A

Provisional release of goods, documents and things seized pending adjudication

Section 110AA

Action subsequent to inquiry, investigation or audit or any other specified purpose

Chapter  XIV Confiscation of goods and conveyances and imposition of penalties

Section 111

 Confiscation of improperly imported goods, etc.

Section 112

 Penalty for improper importation of goods, etc.

Section 113

 Confiscation of goods attempted to be improperly exported, etc.

Section 114

 Penalty for attempt to export goods improperly, etc.

Section 114A

 Penalty for short levy or non levy of duty in certain cases

Section 114AA

Penalty for use of false and incorrect material

Section 114AB Penalty for obtaining instrument by fraud, etc
Section 114AC Penalty for fraudulent utilisation of input tax credit for claiming refund

Section 115

 Confiscation of conveyances

Section 116

 Penalty for not accounting for goods

Section 117

 Penalties for contravention, etc., not expressly mentioned

Section 118

 Confiscation of packages and their contents

Section 119

 Confiscation of goods used for concealing smuggled goods

Section 120

 Confiscation of smuggled goods notwithstanding any change in form, etc.

Section 121

 Confiscation of sale proceeds of smuggled goods

Section 122

 Adjudication of confiscations and penalties

Section 122A

Adjudication procedure

Section 123

 Burden of proof in certain cases

Section 124

 Issue of show cause notice before confiscation of goods, etc.

Section 125

 Option to pay fine in lieu of confiscation

Section 126

 On confiscation, property to vest in Central Government

Section 127

 Award of confiscation or penalty by customs officers not to interfere with other punishments

Chapter XIVA Settlement of cases

Section 127A

 Definitions

Section 127B

 Application for settlement of cases

Section 127C

 Procedure on receipt of application under Section 127B

Section 127D

 Power of Settlement Commission to order provisional attachment to protect revenue

Section 127E

 Power of Settlement Commission to reopen completed proceedings

Section 127F

 Power and procedure of Settlement Commission

Section 127G

 Inspection, etc., of reports

Section 127H

 Power of Settlement Commission to grant immunity from prosecution and penalty

Section 127I

 

 Power of Settlement Commission to send a case back to the proper officer

Section 127 J

 Order of settlement to be conclusive

Section 127 K

 Recovery of sums due under order of settlement

Section 127 L

 Bar on subsequent application for settlement in certain cases

Section 127 M

 Proceedings before Settlement Commission to be judicial proceedings

Section 127N

 Applications of certain provisions of Central Excise Act

Chapter XV Appeals and Revision

Section 128

Appeals to Commissioner (Appeals)

Section 128A

Procedure in appeal

Section 129

Appellate Tribunal

Section 129A

 Appeals to the Appellate Tribunal

Section 129B

Orders of Appellate Tribunal

Section 129C

Procedure of Appellate Tribunal

Section 129D

Powers of Committee of Chief Commissioners of Customs or Commissioner of Customs to pass certain orders

Section 129DD

Revision by Central Government

Section 129E

Deposit, pending appeal, of duty and interest demanded or penalty levied

Section 129EE

Interest on delayed refund of amount deposited under section 129E

Section 130

Appeal to High Court

Section 130A

Application to High Court

Section 130B

Power of High Court or Supreme Court to require statement to be amended

Section 130C

Case before High Court to be heard by not less than two judges

Section 130D

Decision of High Court or Supreme Court on the case stated

Section 130E

Appeal to Supreme Court

Section 130F

Hearing before Supreme Court

Section 131

Sums due to be paid notwithstanding reference, etc.

Section 131A

Exclusion of time taken for copy

Section 131B

Transfer of certain pending proceedings and transitional provisions

Section 131BA

Appeal not to be filed in certain cases

Section 131C

Definitions

Chapter XVI Offences and Prosecutions

Section 132

 False declaration, false documents, etc.

Section 133

 Obstruction of officer of customs

Section 134

 Refusal to be X rayed

Section 135

 Evasion of duty or prohibitions

Section 135A

 Preparation

Section 135AA

 Protection of data

Section 135B

 Power of court to publish name, place of business, etc., of persons convicted under the Act

Section 136

 Offences by officers of customs

Section 137

 Cognizance of offences

Section 138

 Offences to be tried summarily

Section 138A

 Presumption of culpable mental state

Section 138B

 Relevancy of statements under certain circumstances

Section 138C

 Admissibility of micro films, facsimile copies of documents and computer printouts as documents and as evidence computer printouts as documents and as evidence

Section 139

 Presumption as to documents in certain cases

Section 140

 Offences by companies

Section 140A

Application of section 562 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958

Chapter XVII Miscellaneous

Section 141

 Conveyances and goods in a customs area subject to control of officers of customs

Section 142

Recovery of sums due to Government

Section 142A

Liability under Act to be first charge

Section 143

Power to allow import or export on execution of bonds in certain cases

Section 143A

Omitted Vide Chapter IV of Finance bill 2013

Duty deferment

Section 143AA Power to simplify or provide different procedure, etc., to facilitate trade

Section 144

Power to take samples

Section 145

Owner, etc., to perform operations incidental to compliance with customs law

Section 146

Licence for customs brokers

Section 146A

Appearance by authorized representative

Section 147

Liability of principal and agent

Section 148

Liability of agent appointed by the person in charge of a conveyance

Section 149

Amendment of documents

Section 150

Procedure for sale of goods and application of sale proceeds

Section 151

Certain officers required to assist officers of customs

Section 151A

Instructions to officers of customs

Section 151B Reciprocal arrangement for exchange of information facilitating trade

Section 152

Delegation of powers

Section 153

Service of order, decision, etc.

Section 154

Correction of clerical errors, etc.

Section 154A

Rounding off of duty, etc.

Section 154B

Publication of information respecting persons in certain cases

Section 154C

Common Customs Electronic Portal

Section 155

Protection of action taken under the Act

Section 156

General power to make rules

Section 157

General power to make regulations

Section 158

Provisions with respect to rules and regulations

Section 159

Rules, certain notifications and orders to be laid before Parliament

Section 159A

Effect of amendments, etc., of rules regulations, Notifications or orders

Section 160

 Repeal and savings

Section 161

 Removal of difficulties