7. Provisional assessment.-

(1) Where the assessee is unable to determine the value of excisable goods or determine the rate of duty applicable thereto, he may request the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, in writing giving reasons for payment of duty on provisional basis and the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, may order allowing payment of duty on provisional basis at such rate or on such value as may be specified by him.

(2) The payment of duty on provisional basis may be allowed, if the assessee executes a bond in the form prescribed by notification by the Board with such surety or security in such amount as the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, deem fit, binding the assessee for payment of difference between the amount of duty as may be finally assessed and the amount of duty provisionally assessed.

(3) The Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise or the Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be, shall pass order for final assessment, as soon as may be, after the relevant information, as may be required for finalizing the assessment, is available, but within a period not exceeding six months from the date of the communication of the order issued under sub-rule (1):

Provided that the period specified in this sub-rule may, on sufficient cause being shown and the reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended by the Commissioner of Central Excise for a further period not exceeding six months and by the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise for such further period as he may deem fit.

(4) The assessee shall be liable to pay interest on any amount paid or payable on the goods under provisional assessment, but not paid on the due date specified under sub-rule (1) of rule 8 and the first proviso thereto, as the case may be, at the rate specified by the Central Government, vide, notification under section 11AA of the Act, for the period starting with the first day after the due date till the date of actual payment, whether such amount is paid before or after the issue of order for final assessment.

Explanation. - For the removal of doubt, it is hereby declared that goods under provisional assessment, cleared in the month of January, 2015, say a provisional duty of Rs 5000 is paid on the 6th February, 2015 [due date under sub-rule (1) of rule 8], a further duty of Rs 9000 is paid on the 15th April, 2015, and on the same day the documents for final assessment are submitted by the assessee. Final assessment order is issued on the 18th June, 2015, assessing the duty payable on goods as Rs.15000, and consequently the assessee pays a duty of Rs 1000 on the 30th June, 2015, then no interest shall be payable on Rs 5000, interest shall be payable on Rs 9000 from the 7th February, 2015, till the 15th April, 2015, and interest shall be payable on Rs 1000 from the 7th February, 2015, till the 30th June, 2015 as due date for payment of duty of Rs 15000 is the 6th February, 2015.

(Above sub-rule (4) has been substituted vide NTF. NO. 08/2016-CE (NT), DT. 01/03/2016 )

[OLD- (4) The assessee shall be liable to pay interest on any amount payable to Central Government, consequent to order for final assessment under sub-rule (3), at the rate specified by the Central Government by notification issued under section 11AA  [Omitted- or section 11 AB ]of the Act from the first day of the month succeeding the month for which such amount is determined, till the date of payment thereof. ]

(In above sub-rule (4) the words, figures and letters "or section 11 AB"  has been omitted vide NTF. NO. 22/2012-CE (NT), DT. 30/03/2012)

(5) Where the assessee is entitled to a refund consequent to an order of final assessment under sub-rule (3), then, subject to sub-rule (6), there shall be paid an interest on such refund as provided under section 11BB of the Act.

(Above sub-rule (5) has been substituted vide NTF. NO. 02/2013-CE (NT), DT. 01/03/2013)

[OLD- (5) Where the assessee is entitled to a refund consequent to order for final assessment under sub-rule (3), subject to sub-rule (6), there shall be paid an interest on such refund at the rate specified by the Central Government by notification issued under section 11 BB of the Act from the first day of the month succeeding the month for which such refund is determined, till the date of refund. ]

(6) Any amount of refund determined under sub-rule (3) shall be credited to the Fund:

Provided that the amount of refund, instead of being credited to the Fund, be paid to the applicant, if such amount is relatable to-

(a) the duty of excise paid by the manufacturer, if he had not passed on the incidence of such duty to any other person; or

(b) the duty of excise borne by the buyer, if he had not passed on the incidence of such duty to any other person.