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WINE IMPORTS |
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All alcoholic beverages, including wines, may be imported into India under an Open General Licence (OGL) - meaning that no licence is really required to import wines into india. |
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An importer would need to be a company registered in India with an Import Export Code (IEC) issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce - not difficult to get. |
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Wines so imported can be stored in a Customs Bonded Warehouse (CBW) for upto 3 months without having to pay customs duty - best to tie-up with a C&F Agent beforehand to clear the goods and move them to the CBW of choice. | |
Imported wines may be sold either duty free (against a duty free licences held by a hotel or restaurant or embassy or duty free shops in airports) or duty paid (to licenced trade), after paying the customs duty applicable and debonding the stocks. |
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| CUSTOMS DUTIES - WINE |
Effective 1st July 2008 |
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| Customs Duties are currently the same on both Bottled In Origin (BIO) wines and wine imported in bulk (defined as any packing of 2.0 liters or more per container): |
| Duties are expressed as % of the CIF (Cost Insurance & Freight) rate, converted at the customs-notified rate of exchange |
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Rate |
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| Assessment Fee |
1% |
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| Basic Customs Duty |
150% |
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| Last Point Tax |
4%; |
On the cumulative amount - theoretically reimbursable |
| Total duties |
160.6% |
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| STATE TAXES |
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Alcoholic beverages are a state subject in India, so each state has it's own rules & reguations and duties & taxes on wine. In addition:
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All brands (whether imported or produced in India) have to be registered with the Excise Department of each state. Formalities may include submitting a cost-card of prices proposed to be charged down to the MRP (Maximum Retial Price) and payment of registration fees ranging from Rs. 5, to Rs, 20,000 per label per year.000
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Written permission ("Permits") need to be obtained from concerned excise authorities for movement of wines from winery/ CBW to the trade. Such permission is generally issued after payment of the state excise duties applicable; in case goods are being moved between two states, this would entail paying an Import Fee and an an Export Pass Fee.
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