CBIC sets up interim boards for settling customs and excise disputes after CECSC abolition

New Delhi: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Wednesday announced the establishment of four interim boards to take care of pending applications filed to settle customs and excise related matters before the Customs Central Excise Settlement Commission, which stands abolished from April 1.

The move is in line with an announcement in this regard in the last budget.

The boards are expected to operate temporarily until a permanent dispute resolution framework is finalised.


The four interim boards will be operational in Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, the CBIC said.

The Customs Central Excise Settlement Commission was created to give taxpayers a chance to settle their dues without lengthy litigations and to encourage those who may have evaded duty payments to come up clean.

However, the frequently asked questions (FAQs) accompanying the Finance Bill, 2025 said that due to the existing provisions for compounding offences and graded penalties under the customs law, the commission had become redundant.