Customs and Excise laws in India are governed by various statutes, including the Customs Act, 1962, the Central Excise Act, 1944, the Service Tax Act, 1994, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017. These laws regulate the import, export, manufacture, and sale of goods and services in India.

Customs Law in India: The Customs Act, 1962 governs the customs law in India. It empowers the Central Government to levy and collect duties on goods imported into and exported out of India. The law also regulates the procedure for clearance of goods through customs ports, and the penalties for violations of customs laws.

Customs duty is levied on goods imported into India based on the value of the goods, the rate of duty applicable to the goods, and any additional charges such as countervailing duty, anti-dumping duty, and safeguard duty. Customs duty is also levied on certain goods that are exported out of India.

The Customs Act also provides for penalties for violations of customs laws. These penalties may be in the form of confiscation of goods, imposition of fines, or prosecution.

Excise Law in India: The Central Excise Act, 1944 governs the excise law in India. It empowers the Central Government to levy and collect duties on the manufacture of goods in India. The law also regulates the procedure for registration, assessment, and payment of excise duty.

Excise duty is levied on the manufacture of goods in India based on the value of the goods, the rate of duty applicable to the goods, and any additional charges such as education cess and secondary and higher education cess.

The Central Excise Act also provides for penalties for violations of excise laws. These penalties may be in the form of confiscation of goods, imposition of fines, or prosecution.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) Law in India: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017 governs the GST law in India. GST is a unified tax system that replaced the multiple taxes such as excise duty, service tax, and VAT that were earlier levied by the Central and State Governments.

GST is levied on the supply of goods and services in India. It is based on the value of the goods or services supplied and the GST rate applicable to the goods or services. GST is levied at multiple rates, including 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%.

The GST Act also provides for penalties for violations of GST laws. These penalties may be in the form of confiscation of goods, imposition of fines, or prosecution.

In conclusion, Custom and Excise law in India is a complex area that requires careful navigation to ensure compliance with the law. Engaging the services of experienced solicitors and advocates such as Indlex can help businesses to navigate the legal landscape and avoid costly penalties for non-compliance.