Sanitiser case: High Court seeks tax department’s response

By LE Desk

Ahmedabad, March 17: The Gujarat High Court has asked the indirect tax department to submit its explanation after several companies that were importing a key raw material used in manufacturing sanitisers and disinfectants dragged the government to court following their inability to avail benefits under Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework.

Importers of “denatured ethyl alcohol,” a raw material used in hand sanitisers and disinfectants have been paying a lower or concessional rate of customs duty over the years as this was categorised as “excisable goods.”

The exporters in their petition told the court that under the GST framework a word “excisable goods” was added in the regulation that is causing certain issues in availing benefits, The Economic Times reported.

Till recently these importers have been only paying 2.5% duty on all their imports. Now, they have been asked to cough up an additional 2.5% duty on these imports.

Some of the companies had approached the Gujarat High Court and Bombay High Court in this regard.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sanitiser-case-hc-seeks-tax-depts-response/articleshow/81538028.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst