Date for determination of rate of duty and tariff value :

For imported goods [section 15]: Section 15 of the Customs Act, 1962 specifies that the relevant date for determining the rate of duty and tariff valuation of imported goods. They are different for different situations as given below:

(a) Goods are entered for home consumption under section 46 – The relevant date for the three modes of transport as laid down by section 15(1)(a) read with proviso would be as follows:

(i) For goods imported by vehicle at land customs station – the relevant date is the date of filing the B/E under section 46 or date of arrival of vehicle, whichever is later.

(ii) For goods imported by a vessel at a customs port – the relevant date is the date of filing the B/E under section 46 or date of entry inwards to vessel under section 31, whichever is later.

(iii) For goods imported by aircraft at a customs airport – the relevant date is the date of filing the B/E under section 46 or date of arrival of aircraft, whichever is later.

(b) Goods cleared from a warehouse under section 68 – the relevant date is the date on which a bill of entry for home consumption in respect of such goods is presented.

(c) In the case of any other goods – the relevant date is the date of payment of duty.

These provisions relating to determination of relevant date do not apply to baggage and imports by post, in which sections 78 and 83 apply respectively.

For export goods [section 16]: The relevant date for export goods is determined as per section 16. However, the provisions do not apply to baggage and imports by post.

The provisions are as follows:
(a) In case of goods entered for export (irrespective of the mode of transport) – the relevant date is the date of the ‘let export‘ order of the proper officer permitting export and loading of cargo on board under section 51.

(b) In case of any other goods – the relevant date is the date of payment of duty.