“Assistant Collector of Customs” means an officer appointed as such under section of the Customs Act having jurisdiction under the said Act over Delhi;

“Central Excise Officers” has the same meaning as in the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944;

“Collector of Customs” means an officer appointed under section 4 of the Customs Act as Collector of Customs, Delhi or Additional Collector of Customs, Delhi;

“Collector of Customs (Appeals)” mans an officer appointed as such under section 4 of the Customs Act;

“tax” means the inland air travel tax leviable under Chapter V of the Act;

The Reserve Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), or any branch of the State Bank of India constituted under section 3 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955 (23 of 1955), or a bank constituted under section 3 of the banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970), or under section 3 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980), wherein the Central Government has an account in this behalf.  

The tax shall be collected by a carrier authorised under sub-section (2) of section 42 of the Act at the time of issuing a ticket to a passenger or his agent for embarking on inland journey:

Provided that in a case where due to some reasons tax is not collected at the time of issuing a ticket, the tax  shall be collected by the carrier before a passenger embarks on inland journey.  

The amount of tax collected under sub-rule (1) shall be indicated separately by the carrier on the ticket issued to a passenger or his agent for embarking on inland journey.]*

In a case where a passenger, having purchased a ticket, decides not to embark on an inland journey, the amount of tax collected for such a journey shall be refunded to him or his agent in full by the carrier in the same manner as the fare is refunded.

In any other case, a passenger or his agent claiming refund of any tax paid by him to the carrier may move an application to the carrier for refund of such tax before the expiry of a period of two years from the date of payment of the tax or the last date of the journey in respect of which refund is being claimed, whichever is later.

On receipt of an application under sub-rule (2), if the carrier is satisfied that the amount of tax paid has been erroneously collected and should be refunded, he may refund the amount to the passenger or his agent accordingly.

Where a carrier, having paid into the treasury an amount by way of tax, finds that the same has been paid erroneously, he may prefer a claim by making an application for refund of such amount to the Assistant Collector of Customs, before the expiry of a period of two year from the date of payment of the tax in respect of which the refund is claimed.

If on receipt of an application under sub-rule (4), the Assistant Collector of Customs is satisfied that the amount of tax erroneously paid should be refunded, he may make an order accordingly.  

Where any tax due has, for any reason, either not been paid or has not been paid in full by a passenger or his agent, the carrier may, within two years from the last date of the journey, make a demand in writing to the passenger or his agent to pay the amount.

Where any tax collected by a carrier has, for any reason, either not been paid or has not been paid in full into the treasury under rule 6 or has been erroneously refunded under sub-rule (3) of rule 4, the Assistant Collector of Customs may, within a period of two years from the relevant date, serve notice upon the carrier concerned requiring him to show cause why he should not pay **[ the amount of tax specified in the notice and the interest, if any, payable thereon]**:

Provided that where any tax had not been paid or has not been paid in full or has been erroneously refunded by reason of collusion or any willful mis-statement or suppression of facts by the carrier, the provisions of this sub-rule shall have effect as if for the words “ two-years’, the words “ five years” were substituted.

The Assistant Commissioner of Customs, after considering the representation, if any, made by the carrier on whom notice is served under sub-rule(1), shall determine the amount of tax to be paid by such carrier( not being in excess of the amount specified in the notice) and thereupon such carrier shall pay **[the amount of tax so determined and the interest, if any, payable thereon.]**

For the purpose of sub-rule (2), the expression “relevant date” means-

in case where the tax has not been paid, or has not been paid in full, the date of commencement of the inland air journey to which the non-payment or the under-payment, as the case may be, relates, or , the date on which the carrier files the relevant return under these rules, whichever is later;

in a case where the tax has erroneously been refunded under rule 4, sub-rule(4) of the date on which the refund was made.

Tax to be paid into the treasury.- The tax collected in any month by any carrier shall be paid by such carrier before the expiry of ***[ fifteen days] ***  from the end of that month into the treasury.  

[ Note: *** Substituted vide notification No. 1/2002- IATT, dated 4-1-2002 – the time period of thirty days was reduced to fifteen days].

Payment of collection charges.- The Collector of Customs shall as soon as may be after the end of each financial year, pay to a carrier, collection charges at the rate of five per cent. of the amount of tax paid by the carrier during that year as reduced by refund of the tax, if any, made to the passengers during that year by the carrier. ]****  

[Note: **** Inserted vide notification No. 9/89-IATT, dated 6^th October, 1989 and later substituted vide notification No. 21/91-IATT, dated 25^th July, 1991]  

Return regarding tax collected, etc.– Every carrier required under rule 6 to pay the tax into the treasury shall file, in respect of every month before the expiry of thirty days from the end of that month, before the Collector of Customs, a return in that Form annexed to these rules, showing the amount of tax collected, amount refunded and the amount paid into the treasury:

Provided that the Collector of Customs may, having regard to the number of flights operated by a carrier may exempt such carrier from filing Part-B of the said form.] $

Filing of Passengers’ manifest.- The Collector of Customs may require a carrier authorised under sub-section (2) of section 42 of the Act to file a copy of the passengers’ manifest in such form, in such manner and before such officer, as may be specified by him, in respect of each flights carrying passengers on an inland journey.  ] $$

Preservation of records by carrier.- Copies of all treasury challans or vouchers against which a amounts collected as tax are paid into the treasury returns and all other documents relating  to any inland journey shall be preserved by the carrier for a period of five years from the date on which such challans voucher return or other document was prepared  $$$ [ and such challlan, voucher, return or other document shall be produced before an officer of customs as and when required to do so]$$$  :

Provided that the Collector of Customs may, by order in writing and for reasons to be recorded therein, require any carrier to preserve for a longer period than the said period of five years any such copy of challan, voucher, return or other document and the carrier against whom such order is made shall comply with such order.  

any  carrier who fails to indicate the amount of tax collected on the ticket issued to a passenger or his agent shall be liable to a  penalty of rupees five hundred for each such ticket where the amount of tax has not been indicated.

Any carrier who fails to file a return showing the amount of tax collected, amount refunded and the amount paid in the treasury in the manner as specified under rule 7 shall be liable to a penalty which shall not be less than rupees two thousand but which may extend to rupees twenty thousands and to a further penalty not exceeding rupees five hundred for each day after the date when the return was due to be filed in accordance with the provisions of the said rule.

Any carrier who fails to file a copy of the passengers’ manifest in the manner required under rule 7A shall be liable to a penalty which shall not be less than rupees two thousand but which may extend to rupees twenty thousand and to a further penalty not exceeding rupees five hundred for each day after the date when manifest was due to be filed in accordance with the provisions of the said rule.]x

Adjudication of penalties.- In every case in which any person is liable to penalty under section 46 of the Act, such penalty may be adjudged by the Assistant Collector of Customs.  

Issue of show cause notice before levy of penalty.- No order imposing any penalty on any person shall be made unless such person-

is given a notice in writing informing him of the grounds on which it is proposed to impose a penalty,

is given an opportunity of making a representation in writing within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice, against the grounds for imposition of the penalty mentioned therein; and

Provided that the notice referred to in clause (a) and the representation referred to in clause (b) may, at the instance of the person concerned, be oral.  

Any person aggrieved by any decision or order passed under the Act, or these rules, by the Assistant Collector of Customs may, within three months from the date of communication of such decision or order, appeal to the Collector of Customs (Appeals), Delhi:

Provided that the appellate authority may, if satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from presenting the appeal within the aforesaid period of three months, allow it to be presented within a further period of three months.

The appellate authority may, after giving an opportunity to the appellant to be heard if he so desires, and after making such inquiry as may be necessary, pass such order as it thinks fit confirming modifying or annulling the decision or order appealed against:

Provided that no order enhancing any penalty shall be passed by the appellate authority:

Provided further that where the appellate authority is of the opinion that any tax has not been paid or has not been paid in full into the treasury under rule 6 or has been erroneously refunded under sub-rule (4) of rule 4, no order directing the payment of such tax shall be passed unless the appellant is given notice within the time limit specified in sub-rule (2) of rule 5 to show cause against the proposed order.  

Deposit, pending appeal of tax and interest demanded or penalty levied.- where any appeal under rule 11 relates to any tax and the interest, if any, payable thereon, or any penalty levied under the Act or these rules, the person desirous of appealing against such decision or order shall, pending the appeal , deposit with the Assistant Collector of Customs, the tax demanded and the interest, if any, payable thereon, or the penalty levied:

Provided that where in any case the Collector (appeals) is of the opinion that the deposit of tax demanded and the interest, if any, payable thereon, or the penalty levied would cause an undue hardship to such person, the Collector (Appeal) may dispense with such deposit subject to such conditions as he may deem fit to impose so as to safeguard the interests of revenue. ] xx

Collector of Customs may, of his own motion or on the application of any aggrieved person, call for and examine the record of any proceedings in which an Officer of Customs subordinate to him has taken any decision or passed an order under the Act or these rules (not being an order passed in appeal under rule 11 for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the legality or propriety of any such decision or order and may pass such order thereon as he thinks fit:

Provided that no order enhancing any penalty shall be passed under this rule unless the person affected by the proposed order has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against it:

Provided further that where the Collector of Customs is of the opinion that any tax has not been paid or has not been paid in full into the treasury under rule 6 or has been erroneously refunded under sub-rule (4) of rule 4, no order directing the payment of such tax shall be made unless the person affected by the proposed order is given notice to show cause against it within the time limit specified in sub-rule (2) of rule 5.

No proceeding shall be initiated under this rule in respect of any decision or order after expiry of a period of one year from the date of such decision or order.

An Officer of Customs appointed as Additional Collector of Customs under section 4 of the Customs Act shall not be competent to exercise any powers of revision under this rule.  

The Central Government may, of its own motion or on the application of any person aggrieved by any order passed under rule 11 or rule 12, annul or modify such order.

An application under sub-rule (1) shall be made within six months from the date of the communication to the applicant of the order against which the application is being made:

Provided that the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause for presenting the application within the aforesaid period of six months, allow it to be presented within a further period of six months.

No order enhancing any penalty shall be passed under this rule, unless, within one year from the date of the order sought to be annulled or modified, the person affected by the proposed order has been given a notice to show cause against it.

Where the Central Government is of the opinion that any tax has not been paid or has not been paid in full into the treasury under rule 6 or has been erroneously refunded under sub rule (4) of rule 4, no order directing the payment of such tax shall be made under this rule, unless the person affected by the proposed order has been given notice to show cause against it within the time limit specified in sub-rule (2) of rule 5. 

where any tax, interest or penalty is not paid by a carrier, the Assistant Collector of Customs may, after the tax, interest or penalty has been determined under the rules, proceed to recover the amount of said tax, interest or penalty by one or more of the modes specified in sub-rule (2) or sub-rule (3) or sub-rule (4).

The Assistant Collector of Customs may require any person, from whom any amount is due to the carrier, to deduct the tax, interest or penalties so determined from the said amount and such person shall comply with the requisition by the Assistant Collector of Customs and shall pay the amount so deducted to the credit of the Central Government:

Provided that nothing in this sub rule shall apply to any part of the amount exempt from attachment in execution of a decree of a civil court under section 60 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).

The Assistant Collector of Customs may prepare a certificate signed by him specifying the amount due and send it to the Collector of the district in which the carrier owns property or resides or carries on business and the said Collector, on receipt of such certificate, shall proceed to recover from the said carrier or other person, the amount specified hereunder as if it were an arrear of land revenue

On a specific authorization being granted by the Collector of Customs, the Assistant Collector of Customs may distrain or arrest any aircraft and any other property belonging to, or under the control of, the carrier, and detain the same until the tax, interest or penalty so determined is paid; and in case any part of the tax, interest or penalty or of the cost of the distress or arrest or of the keeping of the aircraft or other property distrained or arrested, remains unpaid for the space of thirty days next after any such distress or arrest, may cause the said aircraft or other property to be sold and with the proceeds of such sale may satisfy the tax, interest or penalty and the costs including the cost of sale remaining unpaid, and shall render the surplus, if any, to the carrier.] xxx

Every Officer of Customs authorised in this behalf by a special or general Order of a gazetted Officer of Customs shall for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the requirements of the Act or these rules have been complied with, at any reasonable time, have access to any premises of any carrier and have powers  to require any person found therein, who for the time being is in-charge thereof to produce of him for his inspection any books of accounts, returns or other documents and to furnish to him such other information as he may reasonably required  for the purpose  of ascertaining whether the requirements of the Act or these rules have been complied with.

Every such officer shall also have free access to any aircraft engaged in the carriage of passengers on an inland journey and have powers to require any person on board to produce any of the aforesaid documents and to furnish the aforesaid information for the said purpose.  

If an Officer of Customs not below the rank of an Assistant Collector of Customs has reason to believe that any document which in his opinion will be useful or relevant to any proceeding under the Act or these rules are secreted in any aircraft or any premises of a carrier, he may authorise any Officer of Customs or Central Excise Officers to search for such documents.