Circular No. 34/2020-Customs
Circular No. 34/2020-Customs
To,
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs/ Customs (Preventive),
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central tax,
All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs/ Customs (Preventive),
All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs & Central tax,
Madam/Sir,
Subject: 2 nd phase of All India roll-out of Faceless Assessment – reg.
Kind reference is invited to Board Circular No.28/2020-Customs and Instruction No. 09/2020, both dated 05.06.2020 on the 1 st phase of All India roll-out of Faceless Assessment under the umbrella of the Turant Customs programme. The 1st phase was begun from 08.06.2020 at Bengaluru and Chennai Customs Zones for items of import primarily covered by Chapters 84 and 85 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. As earlier informed, the 1st phase marked the beginning of the pan India rollout of Faceless Assessment, in different phases covering other ports and items of import, leading up to this mode of Customs assessment becoming the norm across the country from 01.01.2021.
2. Board has reviewed the 1st phase of Faceless Assessment at Bengaluru and Chennai and resolved few technical and administrative issues that arose. Board also noted that on expected lines the Faceless Assessment ushered in a smooth and faster clearance process with uniformity in the assessment. Accordingly, the Board has decided to begin the 2nd phase of All India roll-out of Faceless Assessment w.e.f. 03.08.2020 by including Delhi and Mumbai Customs Zones and extending the scope of Faceless Assessment at Chennai and Bangalore Customs Zones. It is clarified that the Customs Zones and the imports already covered under the 1st Phase would continue and be treated as subsumed under the 2nd phase. Thus, the 2nd phase of Faceless Assessment will cover the following specified Customs Zones and the imports primarily under the specified Chapters of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975:-
| S.No. | Chapter(s) of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 | Appraisement Group | Customs Zones | Remarks |
| 1. | 84 | 5 | Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi | Bengaluru and Chennai Zones were covered in 1 st phase. Delhi Zone is newly covered. |
| 2. | 85 | 5A | Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi | |
| 3. | 89 to 92 | 5B | Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi | Pilot programme has been running in Delhi Zone since September 2019 and now Bengaluru and Chennai are newly covered. |
| 4. | 50 to 71 | 3 | Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi | Pilot programme has been running in Chennai Zone since September 2019 and now Bengaluru and Delhi are newly covered. |
| 5. | 29 | 2A | Mumbai I, Mumbai II and Mumbai III | Newly introduced Zones |
3. Further, for monitoring and ensuring speedy and uniform assessments in the Customs Zones at S.Nos. 1 to 4 of the above table, in regard to Bills of Entry assigned by the Customs Automated System to the officers of the Faceless Assessment Groups, Board hereby nominates the following officers as Nodal Commissioners:-
| S. No. | Designation |
| 1. | Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs, Bengaluru City, Bengaluru |
| 2. | Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs, Airport and Air Cargo Complex, Bengaluru |
| 3. | Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs (II), Chennai |
| 4. | Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs (VII), Air Cargo Complex Chennai |
| 5. | Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs, ICD Tughlakabad, Import. |
| 6. | Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs, Air Cargo Import, Delhi. |
3.1. For the Customs Zones at S.No.5 of the table in para 2 above, Board hereby nominates the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs, Import-II, New Custom House, Mumbai, the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs, Nhava Sheva-I, Jawaharlal Nehru Customs House, Mumbai and the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs(III), Import, Air Cargo Complex, Sahar, Mumbai as Nodal Commissioners who shall be administratively responsible for monitoring and ensuring speedy and uniform assessments in the three Customs Zones, in regard to Bills of Entry assigned by the Customs Automated System to the officers of the Faceless Assessment Groups.
4. Further, Notification No.63/2020-Customs (N.T.) dated 30.07.2020 is issued for the purpose of empowering the jurisdictional Commissioners of Customs (Appeals) at Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai to take up appeals filed in respect of Faceless Assessments pertaining to imports made in their jurisdictions even though the assessing officer may be located at the other Customs station. To illustrate, Commissioners of Customs (Appeals) at Bengaluru would decide appeals filed for imports at Bengaluru though the assessing officer is located at Delhi. Similarly, Commissioners of Customs (Appeals) at Mumbai-I would decide appeals filed for imports at Mumbai-I even though the assessing officer is located at Mumbai-II.
5. All other clarifications and guidelines on Faceless Assessment, as provided vide Circular No.28/2020-Customs and Instruction No.09/2020-Customs, both dated 05.06.2020 may be kindly referred to.
6. The concerned Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners are requested to issue Public Notices and guide the trade suitably to ensure the smooth rollout of Phase 2 of Faceless Assessment.
7. Any difficulties faced in the implementation may please be brought to the notice of the Board.
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