Introduction - CBEC's Customs Manual 2025 - Customs

Chapter 4: Faceless Assessment 1. Introduction: 1.1 Faceless Assessment, duly supported by Paperless and Contactless Customs clearance processes, is a critical reform. The pilot programme of Faceless Assessment was launched in Chennai on 14.08.2019 for primarily electrical machineries falling under Chapter 85 of the Customs Tariff Act,1975. This pilot programme was subsequently expanded to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mundra and Visakhapatnam for goods primarily falling under Chapters 39, 84, 86 to 92, 72 to 83 and 50 to 71 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. 1.2 These pilot programmes helped test Faceless Assessment, first in the same Zone (e.g. imports at Chennai seaport and air-cargo were assessed by Customs officers in either location instead of only in the port/air-cargo of import) and then across Zones (e.g. imports at Chennai sea/air-cargo were assessed by Customs officers at Bengaluru air-cargo/ICD and vice versa). 1.3 The pilot programmes were followed by the launch of Phase I of Faceless Assessment on 05.06.2020, cutting across the Customs formations in Chennai and Bengaluru for articles primarily falling under the Chapters 84 and 85 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. 1.4 Phase II of Faceless Assessment, which was begun on 03.08.2020 at Customs formations in Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, for goods falling under the Chapters 50 to 71, 84, 85 and 86 to 92 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 and at Customs formations in Mumbai, for goods failing under the Chapter 29 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. 1.5 Subsequently, the board rolled-out the Faceless Assessment at an All India level in all ports of import and for all imported goods by 31.10.2020. [Refer Circular No. 40/2020-Customs dated 04.09.2020]