Customs Furnishing of Information explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The Customs (Furnishing of Information) Rules, 2017 are four short rules that tell certain classes of persons what information they must send to customs, to whom, and in what manner. They are made under section 108A read with section 156 of the Customs Act, 1962, and in force from 1 January 2018.
This article reads the Rules as amended up to the CBIC text updated 14 December 2017 (Notification No. 114/2017-Customs (N.T.) dated 14 December 2017; no amendment found in CBIC's 2023-2026 lists). Later notifications should be checked, as no official consolidated text exists beyond the CBIC text.
The Rules require information under section 108A(1) to be furnished electronically by the class of person named in the Table in rule 3, in respect of all transactions of the stated nature that the person has recorded or received. The only entry in the Table is a banking company within section 45A(a) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, which furnishes details of foreign exchange transactions made or received by any person, as per Annexure-I. The information is verified and signed by an authorised person.
Rule 1: title and commencement
Rule 1 gives the short title, Customs (Furnishing of Information) Rules, 2017, and brings the Rules into force on the 1st day of January, 2018. For the Act provision, see our article on sections 108A and 108B, which also covers the obligation and the consequence of not complying.
Rule 2: definitions
| Term | Meaning as printed |
|---|---|
| Authorised person | Any person authorised by the class of person referred to in column (2) of the Table in rule 3 |
| Information-Administrator | The proper officer specified by the Board for purposes of receipt of the information under section 108A from the authorised person |
| Information Receiving Authority | An authority referred to in column (4) of the Table in rule 3, to receive the information from the class of person in column (2) |
Words not defined in the Rules but defined in the Customs Act carry the Act's meanings.
The structure is therefore a three-party arrangement: the class of person furnishes the information through an authorised person; the Information-Administrator receives it and runs the day-to-day administration; and the Table names the receiving authority.
Rule 3: the information to be furnished
Rule 3 says the information required under section 108A(1) shall be furnished electronically by a person mentioned in column (2) of the Table, in respect of all the transactions of the nature specified in column (3) of the corresponding entry, recorded or received by him, to the receiving authority named in column (4).
The Table
| Sl. No. | Class of person | Nature of transaction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Banking Company within the meaning of clause (a) of section 45A of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 | Details of foreign exchange transactions made or received by any person, as per Annexure-I |
Three points follow from the printed text.
- One class of person. Only banking companies are listed. The Rules do not name importers, exporters, customs brokers or other intermediaries, and this article does not suggest they are covered.
- All transactions of that nature. The words "all the transactions" mean the bank reports every foreign exchange transaction of the stated kind that it recorded or received, not a selection.
- Annexure-I. The data fields are in Annexure-I, which is not reproduced in the text consulted, so this article describes it by its reference only. The receiving authority named in column (4) is also not legible in that text. Check the official text of the Rules for both before building any compliance procedure.
For banks and their compliance teams, the foreign exchange side of such transactions is regulated separately. For that, see our compliance documentation service, which can help set up the record-keeping and reporting trail that these Rules assume.
Rule 4: format, periodicity and manner
Rule 4(a). The Information-Administrator may receive the information and may issue necessary instructions on the day-to-day administration of furnishing it. The Information-Administrator may specify:
- mandatory or non-mandatory fields in the format;
- the periodicity and manner of furnishing the information;
- the procedures, data structure and standards for secure capture and transmission of data; and
- appropriate security, archival and retrieval policies, evolving and implementing them.
Proviso. Until the Information-Administrator specifies the modalities for secure capture and transmission of data, the information may be furnished through a secure electronic medium to the Information-Administrator.
Rule 4(b). The information referred to in rule 3 shall be verified and signed by the authorised person.
Note what the Rules leave to the administrator: the periodicity (how often), the field list and the technical standards are not fixed in the Rules themselves. The Rules print no period, so none can be stated here. A reporting entity should therefore watch for instructions issued by the Information-Administrator rather than look for a deadline in the Rules.
Example. Corbel Bank, a banking company within section 45A(a), records foreign exchange transactions for its customers. Under rule 3 it furnishes details of all such transactions, as per Annexure-I, electronically. Its compliance head, Manoj, is the authorised person and signs the verification under rule 4(b). Until the Information-Administrator specifies the modalities, Corbel sends the file through a secure electronic medium to the Information-Administrator, as the proviso to rule 4(a) allows. If the administrator later issues instructions on mandatory fields or periodicity, Corbel follows them.
The Rules at a glance
| Rule | Subject | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Title and commencement | In force 1 January 2018 |
| 2 | Definitions | Authorised person; Information-Administrator; Information Receiving Authority |
| 3 | Information to be furnished | Electronically; Table lists a banking company and foreign exchange transactions |
| 4 | Format and manner | Administrator specifies fields, periodicity, manner and security; information verified and signed |
For the wider picture of how customs examines records after clearance, see our article on the Customs Audit Regulations, 2018. For the Rules that tell the public what customs publishes, see our article on publication of names and daily lists, and for the allowance side of currency carried by travellers, our article on rules 7 to 9 of the Baggage Rules, 2026.
Need help with information returns?
If your organisation is asked for information under section 108A or you are designing a reporting process, our compliance documentation team can help put the procedure, sign-off and record trail on paper.
Key takeaways
- The Rules are made under section 108A read with section 156 and have been in force since 1 January 2018.
- Information is furnished electronically, for all transactions of the nature in the Table.
- The only class of person printed in the Table is a banking company within section 45A(a) of the RBI Act, 1934.
- The Information-Administrator fixes fields, periodicity, manner and security standards; until then a secure electronic medium may be used.
- The information is verified and signed by the authorised person.
Read next
- Customs Publication of Names Rules, 1975 and Daily Lists Rules, 2004
- Rules 7–9 of the Baggage Rules, 2026: transfer of residence, currency and pets
- Sections 108A and 108B of the Customs Act: obligation to furnish information and penalty
- Customs Audit Regulations, 2018: regulations 1 to 7
Disclaimer: Based on the customs rules named above as published on the CBIC Tax Information Portal and, for sets amended since 2023, the amending notifications (read through a TaxClue consolidated reading text; no official consolidated text exists), as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later notifications, rates and the Customs Act, 1962 provisions referred to should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.