GST · Notice
MOV-07: Notice on detention of goods in transit
Goods or the conveyance have been detained in transit and a penalty is proposed before release. What to do: act the same day — the goods are idle, then check whether the defect is technical. Time to reply: 7 days from the date of the notice; a customary default, so the period on your notice governs.
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Key facts
Goods or the conveyance have been detained in transit and a penalty is proposed before release.
| Form | MOV-07 (Notice on detention of goods in transit) |
|---|---|
| Issued by | The GST officer named on the document |
| Issued under | Section 129 r/w Rule 138, CGST Act & Rules 2017 |
| What it asks of you | A reply, within the time allowed |
| Your time to act | 7 days from the date of the notice; a customary default, so the period on your notice governs. |
| If it is ignored | Goods and the conveyance stay detained until the penalty is paid or security furnished. |
Time allowed
Reply: 7 days from the date of the notice. This is a customary default, not a period fixed by statute. The law fixes no reply period, but the officer must pass the order within 7 days of serving this notice (Section 129(3)), so reply well within that time.
The date stated on your notice always wins.
What to do now
Act the same day — the goods are idle
Notice must be issued within 7 days of detention and the order within 7 days of that notice. Commercial cost usually exceeds the penalty.
Check whether the defect is technical
A clerical slip in the e-way bill is argued differently from goods moving without documents; our expert team checks the CBIC guidance that applies to your case.
Reply to the notice, or pay to release the goods
Paying within 7 days of the notice, before the order, concludes the case through DRC-03 and DRC-05 (Rule 142(3)). How a payment after the order affects an appeal under Section 107 against the order in MOV-09 is for our expert team to advise before you pay.
What a reply contains
A reply usually covers the points below. This is an outline, not a draft: our expert team writes it on your own records.
- Reference: the MOV-07 notice's reference number and date, your GSTIN and the period it covers.
- An answer to each point the notice raises, in the same order, saying what you accept and what you dispute.
- Evidence for each point: the returns, books and documents each answer relies on.
- Where it is filed: as stated on the notice.
If it is ignored
- Goods and the conveyance stay detained until the penalty is paid or security furnished.
- Unresolved detention can lead to confiscation proceedings under Section 130.
Official sources
Sources checked on 24 October 2026.
- CGST Act 2017, section 129 (detention, seizure and release of goods in transit) · read 24 October 2026
- CBIC Circular No. 41/15/2018-GST, 13 April 2018: inspection of goods in movement, MOV forms (form names and sequence only) · read 24 October 2026
- CGST Rules 2017, rule 142 (notice and order for demand: DRC-01A, DRC-03, DRC-04, DRC-05) · read 24 October 2026
Any provision named on this page but not listed here is to be confirmed by our expert team.
Frequently asked questions
What is a GST MOV-07 notice?
Goods or the conveyance have been detained in transit and a penalty is proposed before release.
How much time do I have to act on a GST MOV-07 notice?
Reply: 7 days from the date of the notice. This is a customary default, not a period fixed by statute. The law fixes no reply period, but the officer must pass the order within 7 days of serving this notice (Section 129(3)), so reply well within that time. The date stated on your notice always wins.
What happens if I ignore a GST MOV-07 notice?
Goods and the conveyance stay detained until the penalty is paid or security furnished. Unresolved detention can lead to confiscation proceedings under Section 130.
Related guides
- GST E-Way Bill Detention: Response Kit
- MOV-09: Order of demand of tax and penalty — goods in transit
- INS-05: Release of perishable or hazardous seized goods
- E-Way Bill Detention and Section 129: MOV-01 to MOV-11, Penalties, Deadlines and Release
- E-Way Bill Rules for MSMEs: the ₹50,000 Limit, Part A and B, Validity, Exemptions and Penalties
- Where this sits: Reply and personal hearing
General information from the provisions this notice is issued under, not legal advice. The dates and periods stated on your notice always win. Our expert team can read the full notice with you.