Budget 2017 – Customs (Tariff)

Budget 2017 – Customs (Tariff)

BUDGET 2017 –
CUSTOMS (TARIFF)

      In the budget 2017, Customs Duty rate in respect of certain commodities have been changed.  All these changes are effective from 2nd of February, 2017.  The Chapter wise changes in Rates of Duty are as under:-

Chapter 1 to 19: No change

Chapter 20:

1) Basic Customs duty rate on Cashew nut, roasted, salted or roasted and salted [20081910] is increased from 30% to 45% by increasing the tariff rate from 30% to 45%.

Chapter 21 to 25: No change

Chapter 26:

1. The Second Schedule (Export Tariff) to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 is amended so as to prescribe a tariff rate of export duty of 30% for all goods falling under tariff item 2606 00 90, namely, ‘Other aluminium ores and concentrates’. Clause 110 of the Finance Bill, 2017 refers. By virtue of declaration under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931, this change will come into force with immediate effect.

2. Export duty is imposed at an effective rate of 15% on ‘Other aluminium ores, including laterite’ falling under tariff item 2606 00 90. However, goods other than the said goods falling under tariff item 2606 00 90 (concentrates) will continue to attract Nil export duty.

Chapter 27:

1) Basic Customs Duty on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) falling under tariff item 2711 11 00 is reduced from 5% to 2.5%.

Chapter 28:

1) Concessional 5% Basic Custom Duty is extended to Clay 2 Powder (Alumax) [2818 20 90], for use in ceramic substrate for catalytic convertors, subject to actual user condition.

Chapter 29:

1. Basic Customs Duty on o-Xylene [2902 41 00] is reduced from 2.5% to Nil.

2. Basic Customs Duty on 2-Ethyl Anthraquinone [2914 69 90] for use in manufacture of Hydrogen Peroxide, is reduced from 7.5% to 2.5%, subject to actual user condition. Further, the concessional 2.5% BCD on Anthraquinone [2914 61 00] prescribed in Budget 2015-16, is restricted to Anthraquinone [2914 61 00] for use in manufacture of Hydrogen Peroxide, subject to actual user condition.

3. Basic Customs Duty on Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), Medium Quality Terephthalic Acid (MTA) and Qualified Terephthalic Acid (QTA), falling under tariff item 2917 36 00, is rationalized at 5%.

Chapter 30 to 31: No change

Chapter 32:

1) Basic Customs Duty on Wattle extract [3201 20 00] and Myrobalan fruit extract [3201 90 20] is  reduced from 7.5% to 2.5%.

Chapter 33: No change

Chapter 34:

1) Basic Custom Duty on Vinyl Polyethylene Glycol falling under tariff item 3404 20 00 for use in manufacture of Poly Carboxylate Ether is  reduced from 10% to 7.5%, subject to actual user condition.

Chapter 35 to 37: No Change

Chapter 38 and 39:

1)   Basic Custom Duty (BCD) is  reduced from 7.5% to 5% on Catalyst [3815 90 00] and Resin [3909 40 90] for use in the manufacture of cast components of Wind Operated Electricity Generator [WOEG], subject to actual user condition.

2)   SAD is  exempted on Catalyst [3815 90 00] and Resin [3909 40 90] for use in the manufacture of cast components of WOEG, subject to actual user condition. Exemption from SAD will be valid till 30th June, 2017.

Chapter 40 to 53: No change

Chapter 54:

1) Basic Customs Duty on Nylon Monofilament yarn falling under Customs Tariff Item 5404 19 90 for use in Monofilament long line systems for tuna fishing is  reduced from 7.5% to 5%, subject to certain conditions.

Chapter 55 to 69: No change

Chapter 70:

1) Basic Customs Duty (BCD) is  reduced from 5% to Nil on solar tempered glass or solar tempered (anti-reflective coated) glass for manufacture of Solar cells/panels/modules, subject to actual user condition.

Chapter 71:

1) CVD exemption [under S.No.324 of notifcation No.12/2012-Customs, dated 17.03.2012] on silver medallions and coins having silver content not below 99.9%, other semi-manufactured forms of silver or articles of silver is  withdrawn. Simultaneously, articles of silver are  excluded from the scope of CVD exemption under this S. No.

Chapter 72:
1)  Basic Customs duty on Hot Rolled Coils falling under heading 7208 for use in the manufacture of welded tubes and pipes falling under heading 7305 or 7306 is  reduced from 12.5% to 10%, subject to actual user condition.
2)  Basic Customs duty on Magnesium Oxide (MgO) coated cold rolled steel coils falling under tariff item 7225 19 90 for use in the manufacture of cold rolled grain oriented steel (CRGO) falling under 7225 11 00 is reduced to 5%, subject to actual user condition.
3)  Exemption from Basic Customs duty (BCD) on Co-polymer coated MS tape/ stainless steel tape for manufacture of telecommunication grade optical fibres or optical fibre cables is withdrawn. Accordingly, item No. 23 of List 5 [against S. No 149] of Notification No.12/2012-Customs, dated 17th March, 2012 is omitted. List 5 of Notification No. 12/2012-Customs, dated 17th March, 2012 as amended vide Notification No.6/2017-Customs, dated 2nd February, 2017 refers
4)  Simultaneously, 10% concessional BCD is prescribed on Co-polymer coated MS tape/stainless steel tape for manufacture of telecommunication grade optical fibres or optical fibre cables, subject to actual user condition.

Chapter 73 to 74: No change

Chapter 75:

1) Basic Customs duty on Nickel and articles thereof is  reduced from 2.5% to Nil.

Chapter 76 to 83: No Change

Chapter 84 and 85:

1. Basic Customs duty on Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane element for household type filters falling under tariff item 8421 99 00 is increased from 7.5% to 10%. Clause 109 (a) of Finance Bill, 2017 refers. By virtue of declaration under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1931, this increase will come into force with immediate effect.

2. However, all other goods falling under tariff item 8421 99 00 will, continue to attract BCD at 7.5%.

3. Concessional Basic Customs duty of 2.5% is  extended to Ball Screws [8483 40 00], Linear Motion Guides [8466 93 90] and CNC Systems [8537 10 00] for use in the manufacture of all types of CNC machine tools falling under headings 8456 to 8463, subject to actual user condition.

4. Populated PCBs of mobile phones are  excluded from the purview of Nil SAD under S. No. 1 of Notification No. 21/2012-Customs [which exempts SAD on items, which are exempt from BCD and CVD].  Simultaneously, 2% concessional SAD is  prescribed on populated PCBs for use in manufacture of mobile phones, subject to actual user condition. The concessional SAD will be valid till 30th June, 2017.

5. Basic Custom Duty (BCD), CVD (by way of excise duty exemption) and consequently SAD are exempted on Micro ATMs as per standards version 1.5.1, fingerprint reader / scanner, and Iris Scanner. Further, BCD, CVD (by way of excise duty exemption) and consequently SAD are also exempted on parts and components for manufacture of these devices, subject to actual user condition. Notification No. 12/2012-Customs, dated 17th March, 2012 as amended vide Notification No.6/2017- Customs, dated 2nd February, 2017, [new S. No. 408A] refers.

6. Basic Custom Duty (BCD), CVD (by way of excise duty exemption) and consequently SAD are exempted on miniaturised POS card reader for mPOS (other than Mobile phone or Tablet Computer). Further BCD, CVD (by way of excise duty exemption) and consequently SAD are also exempted on parts and components for manufacture of miniaturised POS card reader for mPOS [other than Mobile phone or Tablet Computer], subject to actual user condition.

Chapter 86 to 97: No change

Chapter 98

1) Goods imported through postal parcels, packets and letters, of CIF value not more than one thousand rupees per consignment are  exempted from BCD, CVD and consequently from SAD.

Miscellaneous:

1) Condition No.40A [S.No.357A] of notification No.12/2012-Customs dated 17.03.2012 is amended so as to allow the goods imported for petroleum or coal bed methane operations by availing of the benefit of the exemption, which are no longer required for the said purpose, to be disposed of on payment of applicable customs duties, on the depreciated value calculated as per straight line method (subject to depreciated value not  less than 30% of the original value) of such goods. Condition No.40A of notification No.12/2012-Customs, dated 17th March, 2012, as amended by notification No.6/2017-Customs, dated 2nd February, 2017 refers. Further, it is also clarified that this relaxation shall, mutatis mutandis, apply for domestically manufactured goods supplied against International Competitive Bidding at Nil excise duty under notification No.12/2012- Central Excise, dated 17.03.2012 [S.No.336, Condition No.41]. It is also clarified that goods allowed to be cleared on payment of duty under this provision include unused, surplus, condemned and obsolete items.

2) The exemption limit for duty free imports [exempted from BCD, CVD, and SAD] of Buckles; ‘D’ rings; eyes; rivets; studs; etc. imported by a manufacturer of leather footwear or synthetic footwear or other leather products for exports by that manufacturer is increased from 3% of the FOB value of goods exported during the preceding financial year to 5% of the FOB value of goods exported during the preceding financial year.

3) 5% concessional basic custom duty (BCD) is prescribed on all parts for use in the manufacture of LED lights or fixtures including LED Lamps, subject to actual user condition.

4) 5% concessional BCD is also prescribed on imports of inputs for use in the manufacture of LED (Light Emitting Diode) driver or MCPCB (Metal Core Printed Circuit Board) for LED lights and fixtures or LED Lamps, subject to actual user condition.

5) Basic Customs Duty (BCD) is reduced from 10%/7.5% to 5% on all items of machinery, including, instruments, apparatus and appliances, transmission equipment and auxiliary equipment (including those required for testing and quality control) and components, required for initial setting up of fuel cell based system for generation of power or for demonstration purposes subject to certain conditions.
6) Basic Customs Duty (BCD) is reduced from 10%/7.5% to 5% on all items of machinery, including, instruments, apparatus and appliances, transmission equipment and auxiliary equipment (including those required for testing and quality control) and components, required for balance of systems operating on biogas or bio-methane or by­product hydrogen subject to certain conditions.