Page 1 of 4
Circular No.34/2020-Customs
F. No.450/26/2019-Cus IV(Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
*****
Room No.227B, North Block,
New Delhi, dated the 30
th
of July , 2020.
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 1
st
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 1
st
phase marked
the beginning of the pan India roll out of Faceless Assessment, in different phases covering other
ports and items of import, leading upto this mode of Customs assessment becoming the norm
across the country from 01.01.2021.
2. Board has reviewed the 1
st
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 assessment. Accordingly, Board has decided to begin the 2
nd
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 1
st
Phase would
continue and be treated as subsumed under the 2
nd
phase. Thus, the 2
nd
phase of Faceless
Page 2 of 4
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 Newly
Page 3 of 4
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
II and Mumbai III introduced
Zones
Page 4 of 4
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 roll out of Phase 2 of
Faceless Assessment.
7. Any difficulties faced in the implementation may please be brought to the notice of the
Board.
Yours faithfully,
(Ananth Rathakrishnan)
Deputy Secretary (Customs)
