How to File RTI with Customs / CBIC — Seized Goods, Import Duty, IGST Refund

Customs clearance disputes, seized goods, unexplained import duty enhancements, stalled IGST refunds, and long-pending drawback claims are among the most financially consequential problems faced by importers and exporters in India. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and its field formations — Custom Houses and Commissionerates at major ports, airports, and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) — are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. This means every citizen, importer, and exporter has a statutory right to ask for information held by these offices.

An RTI application is not a substitute for a legal appeal, but it is a powerful tool to surface the written record — the assessment order, the reason for a hold, the status of an auction, the stage of an adjudication — so that you can make informed decisions and create an official paper trail.

What Can You Achieve with RTI to Customs / CBIC?

• Get the current status of seized goods — whether adjudication has started, whether an auction is scheduled, and the redemption conditions
• Obtain a copy of the import duty assessment order (final Bill of Entry) and the reasons for any value enhancement or reclassification
• Find out why your IGST refund on exports is stuck — whether the Shipping Bill was transmitted to GSTN, whether there is a data mismatch, and on which date the refund was or should have been processed
• Track the status of a pending customs drawback claim, the amount sanctioned, and the reason for any short-sanction or delay
• Get the name and designation of the officer handling your matter for direct follow-up or escalation
• Build the documentary record needed before filing an appeal before the Commissioner (Appeals) or the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT)

Where to File: Finding the Right Custom House or Commissionerate

CBIC is the apex body under the Ministry of Finance that administers the Customs Act, 1962, the Central Excise Act, 1944, and parts of the CGST Act, 2017. Its field formations — called Custom Houses or Commissionerates of Customs — are located at every major point of entry and exit in India: seaports (JNPT/Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Kandla, Cochin, Visakhapatnam), international airports (Delhi IGI, Mumbai CSIA, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata), and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) at major trade hubs.

File your RTI with the CPIO of the Custom House or Commissionerate where your matter is pending — not with CBIC headquarters unless your matter relates to a policy or a decision made at the apex level.

On the RTI Online portal, navigate to: Ministry of Finance → Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) → Custom House / Commissionerate, Port/Airport Name.

If you are unsure which Custom House to address, look at your import Bill of Entry or export Shipping Bill — the port of loading/discharge and the Custom House code are printed on those documents.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Documents and Reference Numbers

Depending on your query, collect the relevant reference numbers before drafting your RTI:

• Seized goods: Seizure Memo / Panchnama number and date; description of goods
• Import duty dispute: Bill of Entry number, date, port, and a brief description of the goods
• IGST refund: Shipping Bill number, date, and port of export
• Drawback claim: Shipping Bill number, date, and port of export
• Your IEC (Importer Exporter Code) and GSTIN if applicable

Step 2: Draft a Precise, Specific Application

Customs RTI applications are most effective when they ask for specific documents or specific facts — not open-ended questions. Ask for the assessment order, the SCN number and date, the transmission date to GSTN, or the reason for the hold. Vague questions are more likely to receive vague answers.

Important caveat on Section 8(1)(h): If your goods are under an active customs investigation or prosecution, the CPIO may invoke Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, which allows withholding of information that would impede the process of investigation, apprehension, or prosecution of offenders. To reduce the risk of a blanket refusal, include a clear note in your RTI application stating that you are not seeking details of any investigation or prosecution strategy — only procedural status information, such as the stage of adjudication, the auction schedule, or the redemption process. This narrows the scope of any valid exemption claim.

Step 3: File on the RTI Online Portal

1. Visit rtionline.gov.in
2. Click Submit Request
3. Select: Ministry of Finance → Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) → Custom House / Commissionerate at the relevant port/airport/ICD
4. Paste your application text (keep it under 3,000 characters; if longer, attach as a document)
5. Pay ₹10 online (no fee for BPL cardholders — upload a copy of your BPL card)

You will receive a registration number immediately upon submission. Save this number for all future follow-up and appeals.

Step 4: Track and Follow Up

The Custom House has 30 days from the date of receipt to respond under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. If your matter involves life or liberty, the response must be provided within 48 hours.

If there is no response within 30 days, or the response is incomplete, evasive, or unsatisfactory, you have a statutory remedy:

• First Appeal: File under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — typically the Additional Commissioner or Joint Commissioner of Customs at the same Custom House — within 30 days of the expiry of the 30-day period or the date of the unsatisfactory response.
• Second Appeal: If the FAA fails to respond or the response is still inadequate, file under Section 19(3) with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date it should have been made.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

For Seized Goods

1. Current status of goods seized vide Seizure Memo / Panchnama No. XXX dated DD/MM/YYYY
2. The specific provision(s) of the Customs Act, 1962 under which the goods were seized
3. Whether a Show Cause Notice (SCN) has been issued — if yes, the SCN number and date
4. Whether auction of the seized goods has been scheduled — if yes, the date, time, and venue
5. The process and eligibility conditions for redemption, including any fine or redemption amount assessed
6. Name and designation of the adjudicating officer handling the matter

For Import Duty Assessment Disputes

1. Copy of the Assessment Order / final Bill of Entry for Bill of Entry No. XXX
2. The Customs Tariff Heading (CTH) and rate of duty applied, and the basis of valuation adopted
3. If the declared transaction value was rejected or enhanced — the specific reason and the rule under the Customs Valuation (Determination of Value of Imported Goods) Rules, 2007 that was invoked
4. Whether any Show Cause Notice has been issued in connection with this Bill of Entry — if yes, the SCN number, date, and the provision cited

For IGST Refund on Exports (Shipping Bill Route)

1. Whether the Shipping Bill No. XXX dated DD/MM/YYYY has been transmitted to GSTN for IGST refund processing — if yes, the date of transmission
2. Current status of the refund claim on ICEGATE
3. If the refund has been sanctioned — the date, amount sanctioned, and UTR / payment reference number
4. If the refund is pending or held — the specific reason for the hold, with reference to any data mismatch flag or standing instruction

For Customs Drawback Claims

1. Current status of the Drawback claim for Shipping Bill No. XXX dated DD/MM/YYYY
2. Whether the claim has been sanctioned — if yes, the date of sanction, amount credited, and UTR / payment reference
3. If the claim is pending or has been short-sanctioned — the specific reason, with reference to the applicable provision of the Customs Act, 1962 or the Customs and Central Excise Duties Drawback Rules
4. Name and designation of the officer currently handling this claim