What is Excise Tax?
Excise Tax is more commonly known as Excise Duty and is one of the most well-known forms of taxation in India. Any manufacturer of excisable products is liable to pay this tax and is levied on a wide variety of commodities manufactured in India.
For the Indian central government this duty is an important source of revenue. The Excise Tax is required to be paid before the goods leave the factory, as a result of which the small-scale industries do not pay Excise Tax up to the specified value of goods cleared from the factory. The state governments are liable to levy excise duty on a few commodities including liquor, provided the central government fails to do so. At times when the manufactured goods are exported excise drawback is available.
Types of Excise Taxes:
In India, the three types of Central Excise Taxes being collected include the Basic Excise Duty, Additional Duty of Excise, and Special Excise Duty.
The Basic Excise Duty is charged under the Section 3 of the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944. According to this all excisable goods other than salt produced or manufactured in India, has to pay the rates given in the schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985.
As per the Section 3 of the Additional duties of Excise Act, 1957 it is authorized that only the goods described in the Schedule to this Act are liable for Excise Tax payments. Generally these are imposed under different categories like medicinal and toilet preparations, sugar and other industries development.
The Special Excise Duty following the Section 37 of the Finance Act, 1978 was imposed on all excisable goods that are also subjected to Basic excise Duty under the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944. However, the Finance Act provisions regarding the said fiscal year specify the levy and collection of the Special Excise Duty.