Rule 139, Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 [S10-JG5]
As at 6 September 2026. In force from 1 July 2017 by Notification No. 10/2017-Central Tax, dated 28-6-2017 [N10-0KR].
139. Inspection, search and seizure.—
(1) Where the proper officer Not below the rank of a Joint Commissioner has reasons to believe that a place of business or any other place is to be visited for the purposes of inspection or search or, as the case may be, seizure in accordance with the provisions of section 67, he shall issue an authorisation in FORM GST INS-01 authorising any other officer subordinate to him to conduct the inspection or search or, as the case may be, seizure of goods, documents, books or things liable to confiscation.
(2) Where any goods, documents, books or things are liable for seizure under sub-section (2) of section 67, the proper officer or an authorised officer shall make an order of seizure in FORM GST INS-02 .
(3) The proper officer or an authorised officer may entrust upon the the owner or the custodian of goods, from whose custody such goods or things are seized, the custody of such goods or things for safe upkeep and the said person shall Not remove, part with, or otherwise deal with the goods or things except with the previous permission of such officer.
(4) Where it is not practicable to seize any such goods, the proper officer or the authorised officer may serve on the owner or the custodian of the goods, an order of prohibition in FORM GST INS-03 that he shall not remove, part with, or otherwise deal with the goods except with the previous permission of such officer.
(5) The officer seizing the goods, documents, books or things shall prepare an inventory of such goods or documents or books or things containing, inter alia , description, quantity or unit, make, mark or model, where applicable, and get it signed by the person from whom such goods or documents or books or things are seized.
Defined terms in this text (11)
business: Section 2(17), Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017: "business" includes - (a) any trade, commerce, manufacture, profession, vocation, adventure, wager or any other similar activity, whether or not it is for a pecuniary benefit; (b) any activity or transaction in connection with or incidental or ancillary to sub-clause (a); (c) any activity or transaction in the nature of sub-clause (a), whether or not there is volume, frequency, continuity or regularity of such transaction; (d) supply or acquisition of goods including capital goods and services in connection with commencement or closure of business; (e) provision by a club, association, society, or any such body (for a subscription or any other consideration) of the facilities or benefits to its members; (f) admission, for a consideration, of persons to any premises; (g) services supplied by a person as the holder of an office which has been accepted by him in the course or furtherance of his trade, profession or vocation; (h) activities of a race club including by way of totalisator or a license to book maker or activities of a licensed book maker in such club; and (i) any activity or transaction undertaken by the Central Government, a State Government or any local authority in which they are engaged as public authorities;
business: Section 2, Bengal Indigo Contracts Act, 1836 [S10P0G] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "business" includes every trade, occupation and profession
business: Section 2, Stage-Carriages Act, 1861 [S1228A] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "business" includes every trade, occupation and profession
business: 11 more definitions.
Commissioner: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (14) "Commissioner" shall mean the chief officer-in-charge of the revenue administration of a division;
Commissioner: 46 more definitions.
document: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): "document" shall include any matter written, expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means which is intended to be used, or which may be used, for the purpose of recording that matter
goods: Section 2, Bengal Indigo Contracts Act, 1836 [S10P0G] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "goods" means every kind of movable property other than actionable claims and money, and includes stock and shares, growing crops, grass and things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before sale or under the contract of sale
goods: Section 2, Stage-Carriages Act, 1861 [S1228A] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "goods" means every kind of movable property other than actionable claims and money, and includes stock and shares, growing crops, grass and things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before sale or under the contract of sale
goods: Section 2, Commercial Documents Evidence Act, 1939 [S18EMR] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "goods" means every kind of movable property other than actionable claims and money, and includes stock and shares, growing crops, grass and things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before sale or under the contract of sale
goods: 36 more definitions.
mark: Section 2(1)(m), Trade Marks Act: "mark" includes a device, brand, heading, label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, shape of goods, packaging or combination of colours or any combination thereof;
Part: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (40) "Part" shall mean a Part of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;
person: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): "person" shall include any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not
person: 1 more definition.
place of business: Section 2(85), Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017: "place of business" includes- (a) a place from where the business is ordinarily carried on, and includes a warehouse, a godown or any other place where a taxable person stores his goods, supplies or receives goods or services or both; or (b) a place where a taxable person maintains his books of account; or (c) a place where a taxable person is engaged in business through an agent, by whatever name called;
section: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (54) "section" shall mean a section of the Act or Regulation in which the word occurs;
section: Rule 2, Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 [S10CS0] (In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires): (c) "section" means a section of the Act;
section: 362 more definitions.
sub-section: Section 3, General Clauses Act, 1897 [S100SN] (In this Act, and in all Central Acts and Regulations made after the commencement of this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context): (61) "sub-section" shall mean a sub-section of the section in which the word occurs;
unit: Section 2(zc), Special Economic Zones Act, 2005: "Unit" means a Unit set up by an entrepreneur in a Special Economic Zone and includes an existing Unit, an Offshore Banking Unit and a Unit in an International Financial Services Centre, whether established before or established after commencement of this Act;
unit: Section 2, Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 [S15DD4] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "unit" means a unit set up by an entrepreneur in a Special Economic Zone
unit: Section 2, Sugar Export Promotion Act, 1958 [S1F0QY] (In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—): "unit" means a unit set up by an entrepreneur in a Special Economic Zone
unit: 11 more definitions.
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