Over the years, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has been conducting raids to seize smuggled cigarettes from the international borders
After 5 years of decline, cigarette industry expected to post volume growth under GST framework
Thanks to stable tax rates on the cigarette industry across the states in the country and the Centre's recent seemingly soft stance on the sector, the cigarette industry in India is poised for a five per cent volume growth in the coming fiscal year.For the past three years, except Rajasthan, no other states have toyed with the value added tax (VAT) rate in the tobacco sector. While states like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, which together accounts for six per cent of the total cigarette consumption, charge an average 40 per cent VAT on tobacco consumption in their respective state, West Bengal, which accounts for eight per cent of the sales volume charge as low as 12 per cent on consumption. Chattisgarh, which accounts for three per cent of the sales volume charge half a per cent more than West Bengal."Over the years, the states have realised that they need to rationalise taxes on cigarette so that they will not lose revenue to non-duty paid ones on account ..
Govt wants manufacturers to cover 85% of a cigarette pack's surface in health warnings, up from 20% now