Excise Duty

Taxation plays a vital role in the economy and makes a significant contribution to it. In India, the tax structure encompasses different types of taxes and duties like excise duty. To streamline the process of paying taxes and claiming returns, it is essential for individuals whose income comes under a taxable bracket to become familiar with the different types of taxes and duties. 

Following is a look at the fundamentals of excise duty meaning to help gain valuable information about it.

What is Excise Duty?

Fundamentally, excise duty is a tax levied on domestically produced goods. Generally, it is charged on their production and sale and is also known as CENVAT or Central Value Added Tax.

Central Excise duty is an indirect form of taxation and is collected from a customer by a retailer or an intermediary. It is paid when goods are transferred from the production unit to a warehouse. 

This particular tax is governed by two sets of acts – Central Excise Act, 1944 and Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985. Ideally, the Central Board of Excise and Customs is responsible for the collection of excise duty. 

With the introduction of GST, several indirect taxes have been subsumed, including excise tax. Nonetheless, it is still applicable to a few items like petroleum, liquor, etc.  

When Should You Pay Excise Duty

Excise duty must be paid at the time the items are removed. Assessees must pay excise duty on items manufactured or produced. Excise duty should be paid on the fifth day of the following month from the date the products were taken from the warehouse or factory for the purpose of sale, according to Rule no. 8 of the Central Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2002. 

If excise duty is paid online through netbanking, the payment is due on the sixth day of the next month. If the payment is paid in March, it must be made by March 31.

Types of Excise Duty

In a broader sense, there are 3 distinct types of excise duty, namely –

• Basic Excise Duty

This type of excise duty is levied on goods that come under schedule one of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985. It is imposed on all excisable goods except salt. 

• Additional Excise Duty

It is a tax levied on all goods that are scheduled under Section 3 of the ‘Additional Duties of Excise Act’ of 1957. This tax collected is shared between the state and central government and is levied instead of sales tax. 

• Special Excise Duty

This category of tax is levied on those goods listed under the Second Schedule of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985.

One must note that individuals are exempted from paying taxes. However, such a benefit can be availed based on –

• Value of turnover in a given financial year.
• Raw materials used.
• Process involved. 

Regardless, individuals who cannot avail of these exemptions should make it a point to pay the excise duty on time. 

Who Should Pay Excise Duty?

These three parties have to pay an excise duty – 

1. Manufacturers of goods.
2. Entities who got the goods in question manufactured by hired labourers.
3. Entities who have goods in question manufactured by other parties.

Implications of Not Paying Excise Duty 

As per Central Excise Act, individuals are subject to pay penalty in the form of fines if they fail to pay excise duty. Typically, the penalty ranges from 25% to 50% of the evaded tax amount. To avoid it, one must pay this tax on time and also ensure that the filed tax amount is accurate. 

Steps to Pay Excise Duty 

With the help of Electronic Accounting System in Excise and Service Tax (EASIEST), the payment gateway of CBEC, one can pay excise duty in a few steps. These are discussed below –

Step 1 – Go to EASIEST and select the option for e-payment.

Step 2 – Enter the allotted Assessee number and verify it online.

Step 3 – Provide details like – address, name and information related to the jurisdictional commissionerate among others.

Step 4 – Navigate to the menu for tax-type and then choose the Codes for Excise.

Step 5 – Once the accounting code is selected, proceed to select the financial institution through which one can make payment.

Step 6 – Verify the information shared and then make requisite payments.

Step 7 – With the help of user-ID and password, log in to the gateway for net banking.

Step 8 – Enter the tax to be paid and the account for making payment.

Step 9 – Once payment is made, a Challan Counterfoil will be generated. 

Such a challan contains CIN which serves as a proof of payment.

Step 10 – Use the Challan Status Inquiry feature to verify the payment status on EASIEST portal. 

Often individuals tend to confuse excise duty with other types of taxes like – custom duty. To ensure the same is charged and treated accurately, taxpayers need to become familiar with more than excise duty meaning. For instance, they should also check out the fundamental differences between GST and excise tax, or excise duty and customs duty, among others.

Penalty of Not Paying Excise Duty

If you fail to pay excise tax or commit an infraction involving an excisable commodity, the duty chargeable on that product exceeds Rs.50 lakh, then the defaulter faces imprisonment for a term of up to 7 years. 

A fine will also be levied against the defaulter. Depending on the circumstances, the sentence might be up to three years in prison, with or without a fine.

Differences between Custom Duty and Excise Duty

These pointers below highlight differences between custom duty and excise duty –

Differences between GST and Excise Duty 

This table below enumerates the fundamental differences between GST and excise duty –