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Customs duty

About Customs duty

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What is Customs duty

Customs duty refers to the tax imposed on goods when they are transported across international borders. In simple terms, it is the tax that is levied on import and export of goods. The government uses this duty to raise its revenues, safeguard domestic industries, and regulate movement of goods.
 
The rate of Customs duty varies depending on where the goods were made and what they were made of.
 
Custom duty in India is defined under the Customs Act, 1962, and all matters related to it fall under the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC).

The Budget estimate of the government's customs revenue for the year 2020-21 was Rs 1,38,000 crore. The revised estimates of customs for the 2019-20 Budget came at Rs 1,25,000 crore, while the actuals for the 2018-19 Budget stood at Rs 1,17,812.85 crore.
 
Types of custom duty
  • Basic Customs Duty (BCD)
  • Countervailing Duty (CVD)
  • Additional Customs Duty or Special CVD
  • Protective Duty,
  • Anti-dumping Duty
Changes in Customs duty
 
In Budget 2019, the government announced a slew of changes to Customs duty in order to meet multiple objectives, including promotion of clean energy, curbing non-essential imports, boosting domestic manufacturing and raising revenue. Customs duty was cut on several inputs to incentivise domestic production and increased on finished products to garner additional revenues.
 
The government had said it was expecting a 19 per cent growth in Customs collection to Rs 1.5 trillion for 2019-20.
 

Latest Updates on Customs duty

FIMI pushes for 15% aluminium duty, flags import surge, poor-quality scrap

FIMI has urged the Finance Ministry to raise the basic customs duty on aluminium products to 15 per cent, citing rising imports, poor-quality scrap inflows and the pressure

Updated On: 20 Nov 2025 | 7:02 PM IST

Datanomics: Donald Trump's trade tariffs bring windfall gains for US

US customs revenue surged 153% in FY25 as tariff rates spiked to decade highs, lifting India's import share to a 10-year peak while China's slipped below 10% for the first time since 2015

Updated On: 29 Oct 2025 | 1:24 AM IST

Finance ministry rules out Customs duty relief for magnet PLI scheme

Finance ministry has ruled out customs duty exemption for REPM-making machinery, saying capital subsidy under the PLI scheme will offset high import costs amid China's export curbs

Updated On: 14 Oct 2025 | 10:40 PM IST

Dubai man takes Customs dept to court over Rolex: Here's what Delhi HC said

The Customs Department seized the Rolex watch of a Dubai resident, alleging that he had failed to declare it. The High Court, however, called the Customs order an error, but still upheld the fine

Updated On: 03 Oct 2025 | 4:00 PM IST

Wintrack shuts ops over Chennai Customs bribes; dept denies, MoF steps in

Wintrack Inc has stopped its India operations, citing alleged bribery and harassment by Chennai Customs; officials deny the claims, calling them false and misleading

Updated On: 02 Oct 2025 | 10:32 PM IST

Datanomics: India Post's move may further hamper its foreign business

India Post halts US services as de-minimis exemption ends, bringing customs duties on all low-value imports

Updated On: 03 Sep 2025 | 11:28 PM IST

India-UK FTA: Tariff cuts likely to weigh on Customs duty collections

For FY26, the Centre has budgeted Customs revenues to grow only 2.1 per cent to ₹2.4 trillion

Updated On: 27 Jul 2025 | 11:33 PM IST

US earns well on Trump's tariffs; country's custom revenues cross $100 bn

Increased customs revenue produced a surplus budget for America in June

Updated On: 25 Jul 2025 | 12:15 PM IST

DRI busts major multi-crore branded luxury furniture import racket

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence uncovers a multi-crore racket involving undervaluation and misdeclaration of luxury furniture, leading to significant customs duty evasion

Updated On: 22 Jul 2025 | 9:54 PM IST

Govt aims to clear SVB backlog in two years with bulk entry processing

The revamped framework aims to reduce paperwork and resolve valuation issues without lengthy disputes

Updated On: 29 Jun 2025 | 5:05 PM IST

CBIC simplifies procedure for temporary import of the air containers

Further, the CBIC has also decided to waive the transhipment permit fee for all transhipment movements with effect from April 24

Updated On: 25 Apr 2025 | 7:34 PM IST

Govt levies 10% duty on masur, offers free import of yellow pea till May 31

Through the notification, the government has imposed 5 per cent basic customs duty and 5 per cent Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) on lentils with effect from March 8

Updated On: 09 Mar 2025 | 11:53 AM IST

Useful initiatives from CBIC to simplify trade for importers, exporters

The CBIC Customs Manual 2025 explains in simpler words the role of the Customs, various legal provisions and gives the gist of relevant departmental instructions till February 1

Updated On: 23 Feb 2025 | 11:33 PM IST

NPPA directs pharma firms to update MRP after Budget 2025 duty exemptions

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority directs pharma firms to revise the MRP of medicines following customs duty exemptions in Union Budget 2025, ensuring consumers benefit from lower prices

Updated On: 19 Feb 2025 | 10:49 AM IST

Govt won't extend duty-free import of yellow peas beyond Feb: Joshi

The government had allowed the duty-free import of yellow peas in December 2023 and subsequently extended it thrice till February 28 to boost domestic supplies after the local crop failed

Updated On: 14 Feb 2025 | 12:16 AM IST

India's avg customs duty cut to 10.6%, now moving towards Asean level: CBIC

The 10-nation bloc ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

Updated On: 03 Feb 2025 | 2:54 PM IST

Customs duty cuts in certain areas to benefit American exports: GTRI

Among the key tariff reductions, India lowered the duty on fish hydrolysate for the manufacturing of aquatic feed from 15 per cent to 5 per cent, a move that directly impacts US exports

Updated On: 02 Feb 2025 | 3:03 PM IST

Budget 2025: FM cuts customs duty on 40 items to boost manufacturing

After a comprehensive review of the customs rate structure, the government has decided to remove seven tariff rates

Updated On: 01 Feb 2025 | 11:29 PM IST

Budget 2025: 'Made in India' energy transition gets boost with duty cuts

Customs duties on input goods for electric vehicles, solar panels slashed

Updated On: 01 Feb 2025 | 8:20 PM IST

Exide, Amara Raja stocks rise as Budget 2025 proposes custom duty exemption

Budget 2025 analysis: During the Union Budget 2025 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today that battery-related raw material will be exempted from custom duties

Updated On: 01 Feb 2025 | 12:30 PM IST