Latest amendments in the Customs Act – A double-edged sword

The recent amendments to India’s Customs Act, 1962, aim to facilitate trade but have a double-edged impact. On one hand, the amendments introduce provisions like Section 18A, allowing importers to revise bill of entry entries voluntarily, and Section 18(1B), which prescribes a two-year limit for finalizing provisional assessments. On the other hand, a new explanation to Section 27 may restrict refund claims, potentially contradicting the “ease of doing business” spirit. According to the authors, the new explanation may lead to absurdity and manifest arbitrariness, requiring government intervention to resolve the conundrum.

The article is authored by Shareen Gupta (Partner), and Rajan Mishra (Principal Associate), published in Bar and Bench.

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