Delayed customs refunds attract statutory interest after three months, with appellate refund orders also covered under the same mechanism. Interest is payable on delayed customs refunds where duty ordered to be refunded under section 27(2) is not returned within three months from receipt of the refund application. The interest runs from the day immediately after expiry of the three-month period until the date of refund, at a rate notified by the Central Government within the prescribed statutory range. A special proviso applies to certain pre-assent refund applications, and an explanation deems appellate and judicial refund orders to be orders under section 27(2) for this purpose.