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Customs Duties (Import Duty and Export Tax)

Customs Duty is a type of indirect tax levied on goods imported into India as well as on goods exported from India. Taxable event is import into or export from India. Import of goods means bringing into India of goods from a place outside India. India includes the territorial waters of India which extend upto 12 nautical miles into the sea to the coast of India. Export of goods means taking goods out of India to a place outside India.


In India, the basic law for levy and collection of customs duty is Customs Act, 1962. It provides for levy and collection of duty on imports and exports, import/export procedures, prohibitions on importation and exportation of goods, penalties, offences, etc.


The Constitutional provisions have given to Union the right to legislate and collect duties on imports and exports. The Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) is the apex body for customs matters. Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) is a part of the Department of Revenueunder the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It deals with the task of formulation of policy concerning levy and collection of customs duties, prevention of smuggling and evasion of duties and all administrative matters relating to customs formations. The Board discharges the various tasks assigned to it, with the help of its field organizations namely the Customs, Customs (preventive) and Central Excise zones, Commissionerate of Customs, Customs (preventive), Central Revenues Control Laboratory and Directorates. It also ensures that taxes on foreign and inland travel are administered as per law and the collection agencies deposit the taxes collected to the public exchequer promptly.

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What is the taxable event for customs duty in India?
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Basics of Customs Duty  Type of Customs Duties

Notes – Buyer who is manufacturer, is eligible to avail Cenvat Credit of D and I above.

A buyer, who is service provider, is eligible to avail Cenvat Credit of D above. .

A trader who sells imported goods in India after charging

Vat/sales tax can get refund of Special CVD of 4% i.e. ‘I’ above

Customs duty on imports and exportsCustoms duty is on imports into India and export out of India. Section 12 of Customs Act, often called charging section, provides that duties of customs shall be levied at such rates as may be specified under ‘The Customs Tariff Act, 1975′, or any other law for the time being in force, on goods imported into, or exported from, India.
Similarity between excise and customsThere are many common provisions and/or similarities in provisions Central Excise and customs Law. Administration, Settlement Commission and Tribunal are common. Provisions of Tariff, principles of valuation, refund, demands, exemptions, appeals, search, confiscation and appeals are similar.
Taxable event in importsIn case of imports, taxable event occurs when goods mix with landmass of India – Kiran Spinning Mills v. CC1999(113) ELT 753 = AIR 2000 SC 3448  (SC 3 member bench).In case of warehoused goods, the goods continue to be in customs bond. Hence, ‘import’ takes place only when goods are cleared from the warehouse – confirmed in UOI v. Apar P Ltd. 112 ELT 3 = 1999(6) SCC 118 = AIR 1999 SC 2515 (SC 3 member bench).- followed in Kiran Spinning Mills v. CC 1999(113) ELT 753 = AIR 2000 SC 3448  (SC 3 member bench).
Taxable event in exportsIn case of exports, taxable event occurs when goods cross territorial waters of India – UOI v. Rajindra Dyeing and Printing Mills (2005) 10 SCC 187 = 180 ELT 433 (SC)
Territorial waters and exclusive economic zoneTerritorial waters of India extend upto 12 nautical miles inside sea from baseline on coast of India and include any bay, gulf, harbour, creek or tidal river. (1 nautical mile = 1.1515 miles = 1.853 Kms). Sovereignty of India extends to the territorial waters and to the seabed and subsoil underlying and the air space over the waters.‘Exclusive economic zone‘ extends to 200 nautical miles from the base-line. Area beyond that is ‘high seas’.
Indian Customs WatersIndian Customs waters extend upto 12 nautical miles beyond territorial waters. Powers of customs officers extend upto 12 nautical miles beyond territorial waters.
Basic customs duty

Basic customs duty levied u/s 12 of Customs Act is generally 10% of non-agricultural goods, w.e.f. 1-3-2007.

Countervailing Duty (CVD)
  • CVD equal to excise duty is payable on imported goods u/s 3(1) of Customs Tariff Act to counterbalance impact of excise duty on indigenous manufactures, to ensure level paying field.
  • CVD is payable equal to excise duty payable on like articles if produced in India. It is payable at effective rate of excise duty.
  • General excise duty rate is 10.30% w.e.f. 27-2-2010 (10% basic plus 2% education cess and SAH Education cess of 1%).
  • CVD is payable on assessable value plus basic customs duty. In case of products covered under MRP provisions, CV duty is payable on MRP basis as per section 4A of Central Excise.
  • CVD can be levied only if there is ‘manufacture’.
  • CVD is neither excise duty nor basic customs duty. However, all provisions of Customs Act apply to CVD.
Special CVDSpecial CVD is payable @ 4% on imported goods u/s 3(5) of Customs Tariff Act. This is in lieu of Vat/sales tax to provide level playing field to Indian goods. Traders importing goods can get refund. CVD is not payable if goods are covered under MRP valuation provisions/
Customs Education CessEducation cess of customs @ 2% and SAH Education cess of 1% is payable.
Total customs dutyTotal import duty considering all duties plus education cess on non-agricultural goods is generally 29.44%
Other dutiesNCCD has been imposed on a few articles. In addition, on certain goods, anti-dumping duty, safeguard duty, protective duty etc. can be imposed. Cess is payable on some goods imported/export
Safeguard dutySafeguard duty can be imposed if large imports are causing serious injury to domestic industry. In addition, product specific safeguard duty on imports from China can be imposed.
Anti dumping duty
  • Antidumping duty is leviable u/s 9A of Customs Tariff Act when foreign exporter exports his good at low prices  compared to prices normally prevalent in the exporting country.
  • Dumping is unfair trade practice and the anti-dumping duty is levied to protect Indian manufacturers from unfair competition.
  • Margin of dumping is the difference between normal value (i.e. his sale price in his country) and export price( price at which he is exporting the goods).
  • Price of similar products in India is not relevant to determine ‘margin of dumping’.
  • ‘Injury margin’ means difference between fair selling price of domestic industry and landed cost of imported products. Dumping duty will be lower of dumping margin or injury margin.
  • Benefits accruing to local industry due to availability of cheap foreign inputs is not considered. This is a drawback.
  • CVD is not payable on antidumping duty. Education cess and SAH education cess is not payable on anti-dumping duty.
  • In case of imports from WTO countries, antidumping duty can be imposed only if it cause material injury to domestic industry in India.
  • Dumping duty is decided by Designated Authority after enquiry and imposed by Central Government by notification. Provisional antidumping duty can be imposed. Appeal against antidumping duty can be made to CESTAT.
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FAQs on Definition & Basic Concept of Custom Duty - Customs Act,1962, Indirect Tax Laws - Indirect Tax Laws - B Com

1. What is custom duty?
Ans. Custom duty is a type of indirect tax that is levied on goods imported or exported across international borders. It is usually imposed by the government of the importing country and is collected by the customs department at the point of entry or exit.
2. What is the Customs Act, 1962?
Ans. The Customs Act, 1962 is an Indian law that governs the levy of custom duty and regulates the import and export of goods to and from India. It empowers the customs officials to carry out the necessary checks and inspections to ensure compliance with the law.
3. How is custom duty calculated?
Ans. Custom duty is calculated based on the value of the goods, the country of origin, and the type of customs duty applicable (basic, additional, or special duty). The value of the goods is usually determined based on the transaction value, which is the price paid or payable for the goods.
4. Who is liable to pay custom duty?
Ans. The liability to pay custom duty depends on the terms of the trade agreement between the importer and exporter. In most cases, the importer is liable to pay the custom duty. However, in some cases, the exporter may be liable to pay the duty if it has been agreed upon in the terms of the trade agreement.
5. What are the consequences of non-payment of custom duty?
Ans. Non-payment of custom duty can result in penalties, fines, and even imprisonment in some cases. The customs officials may seize the goods and initiate legal proceedings against the importer/exporter. In addition, non-payment of custom duty can damage the reputation of the importer/exporter and affect their future trade prospects.
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