Eight wheeler tank wagons of pay-load not exceeding 60 tonnes

Eight-wheeler tank wagons, payload not exceeding 60 tonnes

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 8606 10 20 (Eight wheeler tank wagons of pay-load not exceeding 60 tonnes) is subject to compulsory advance registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 86 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020. The registration number, obtained online on payment of ₹500, is valid for 75 days from the date of grant. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) classification guidance also applies where dual-mode road-rail vehicles are presented under this heading.

What this is

HSN code

8606 10 20

Chapter

86 · Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings

Primary regulator

SIMS · Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 86, ITC (HS); DGFT Notification 33/2015-20

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Classification declaration to CBIC

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Apply for SIMS registration through the DGFT online portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the import consignment, pay the registration fee of ₹500, and obtain the automatic registration number before filing the bill of entry. The registration number is valid for 75 days.
DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · DGFT Notification 28/2023 dated 28-08-2023 · Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 86, ITC (HS)
2
Confirm at the bill-of-entry stage that the consignment does not constitute a dual-mode road-and-rail vehicle classifiable under Chapter 87 per CBIC Circular 14/2012-Cus dated 11-06-2012. Misclassification of a dual-mode vehicle under Chapter 86 results in reclassification, re-assessment of duty, and potential detention.
CBIC Circular 14/2012-Cus dated 11-06-2012
3
If the steel component is being re-imported for packaging purposes only, or if the transaction is a DTA-to-SEZ-to-DTA movement, confirm that SIMS registration is not required for those transactions. Document the basis of the exemption claim at the bill of entry.
DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is missing the SIMS registration window: the application must be filed no more than 60 days before expected arrival, and the 75-day validity window means that delayed shipments departing after the window has lapsed require a fresh registration. A consignment arriving without a valid SIMS registration number is detained at the port of entry pending post-facto compliance, attracting demurrage and ground rent; no retrospective SIMS registration is granted once the vessel has berthed.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8606 10 20 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers railway tank wagons under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 86 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020.

Has the minimum 15-day advance registration requirement under SIMS been abolished?

Yes. The requirement for advance registration of a minimum 15 days before the expected date of arrival was abolished by DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022; the application window is now open from 60 days before expected arrival with no minimum lead-time floor.

Is SIMS registration required when tank wagons are re-imported from a Special Economic Zone into the Domestic Tariff Area?

No. Per DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022, DTA-to-SEZ-to-DTA movements — whether with or without value addition — do not attract the SIMS registration requirement, nor do re-imports of steel items solely for packaging purposes.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: SIMS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.