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Duty drawback is a trusted government-based scheme that enables exporters to get a refund of internal taxes, service tax and customs duties and transportation costs while exporting goods as a finished product or in an unused form. This effective scheme helps to alleviate tax burden, thereby promoting exports and spurring India’s economy.
This article will highlight what is duty drawback in export in India and all particularities related to claiming export duty drawbacks in India.
Duty drawback is a waiver of customs duties paid on either unused or manufactured products meant for exportation. The Ministry of Finance implemented a duty drawback scheme under Sections 74 and 75 of the Customs Act 1962 to help exporters claim refunds and cut down on their expenses that they incur from export process.
This scheme encompasses two significant components: All Industry rate (AIR) and Brand Rate. Under this scheme, exporters can claim a rebate on the input that was required for production of exportable products.
The primary objective of the Duty Drawback Scheme is to claim a refund or reimbursement for customs duty, excise charges and service tax paid for raw materials or input services that are required to manufacture export goods.
Let’s understand the various types of duty drawbacks in India and the essence of it:
Exporters can recover or reclaim import duty when an imported good or material is further utilised to manufacture a product for it to be exported. For instance, one imports machinery and integral parts of a car which will be later exported.
In such a scenario, exporters can claim a refund for the duties paid to import goods.
If the imported goods are exported directly without being used, the amount of import duty paid in that case can be claimed for a refund. However, it is necessary to track the paid import duty for exporters to claim duty drawback.
For instance, a business entity had imported precious stones to manufacture embedded stones and export them. In such a case, the import duty that is paid during the importation can be claimed for rebate under the duty drawback scheme.
If any unused material or goods which were commercially interchanged with goods for which import duty was paid and is further exported, manufacturers can still claim the import duty for shipping an unused product.
Individuals must adhere to the following minimum eligibility criteria to claim duty drawbacks:
Even the goods that are to be exported must cater to the eligibility parameters.
Here are the documents that are needed to get duty drawbacks on export:
Duty Drawback Scheme proves effective in boosting the revenue of a company, enabling them to save on expenses, thereby accelerating business cash flow. Even companies can file duty drawbacks for three consecutive years if they have not claimed any drawbacks.
It also boosts global competitiveness. Also, another important provision is that the scheme enables domestic suppliers of imported products or raw materials to shift their domestic rights, allowing exporters to get a 99% refund of the paid customs duties.
Besides knowing what duty drawback is in export in India, one must also know how it is calculated.
Here are the following factors based on which duty drawback is evaluated:
If the amount of the duty drawback is more or equal to that of the duty drawback minimum amount, exporters or manufacturers will use the following formula:
Drawback amount which is equivalent to or more than the export value * minimum percentage of duty drawback/100
In case the duty drawback amount is equal to or less than the minimum amount of duty drawback, then manufacturers will have to abide by the following conditions:
The amount of duty drawback which is less than export value * minimum percentage of the duty drawback/100
Exporters can claim duty drawbacks on exports of products by opting for any of the two ways:
Here are the following factors to keep in mind while claiming Duty Drawback:
Here are the following percentages of Duty Drawback Rates that the Central Government of India fixes. The rates are set depending on the type of goods in respect of how they are used after importation and products which have been out of customs.
The import duty percentage that has to be paid as a duty drawback is also dependent on the time span between the date of clearance and the date when the products or goods are placed below the customs control for exports.
Here is the tabular representation of the time period between the clearance date for home consumption and the date the goods passes under the custom controls for export:
Duration Between the Date of Clearance for Home Consumption and the Date When Goods Undergo Customs Controls for Export |
Rate of Duty Drawback |
Less than three months |
95% |
More than three months; however, less than six months |
85% |
More than six months; however, less than nine months |
75% |
More than nine months; however, less than 12 months |
70% |
More than 12 months; however, less than 15 months |
65% |
More than 15 months; however, less than 18 months |
60% |
Above 18 months |
Nil |
Those claiming duty drawbacks for the first time must keep the following pointers in mind before doing so.
Duty Drawback is integral to international trade law, under which exporters can enjoy refund duties, taxes and fees they must pay while importing merchandise and exporting the qualified products. A duty drawback scheme is implemented to reduce costs and incentivise exports, enabling business bodies to scale the growth curve.
The above-mentioned sections state what is duty drawbacks in export in India and the intricacies related to it, helping exporters reap the maximum benefit of the duty drawback scheme.