Written by Harikishan Sharma , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi | Updated: May 5, 5: : (am)
States’ revenue comprises broadly two categories – tax revenue and non-tax revenue. Tax revenue is again divided into two categories: state’s own tax revenue and share in Central taxes. (Express photo by Kamleshwar Singh)
FOLLOWING THE easing of restrictions in the third phase of the nationwide lockdown, some of the most striking images on Monday showed long queues outside liquor stores around the country. By the evening, the Delhi government announced a 75% hike in the price of liquor across categories in the capital, starting Tuesday. Delhi’s “special corona fee” on alcohol underlines the importance of liquor to the economy of the states. Manufacture and sale of liquor is one of the major sources of their revenue, and the reopening comes at a time when the states have been struggling to fill their coffers amid the disruption on account of the lockdown.
How do states earn from liquor?
Liquor contributes a significant amount to the exchequers of all states and Union Territories except Gujarat and Bihar, both of which have enforced prohibition. Generally, states levy excise duty on manufacture and sale of liquor. Some states, for example Tamil Nadu, also impose VAT (value added tax). States also charge special fees on imported foreign liquor; transport fee; and label & brand registration charges. A few states, such as Uttar Pradesh, have imposed a “special duty on liquor” to collect funds for special purposes, such as maintenance of stray cattle.
READ | A report published by the Reserve Bank of India last September (‘State Finances: A Study of Budgets of – ‘) shows that state excise duty on alcohol accounts for around 16 – per cent of Own Tax Revenue of a majority of states. In fact, state excise duties on liquor is the second or third largest contributor to the category State’s Own Tax revenue; sales tax (now GST) is the largest. This is the reason states have always wanted liquor kept out of the purview of gst.
How much do the state governments earn from excise on liquor?
The RBI report shows that during 6393173 – 29, the 36 states and the UTs of Delhi and Puducherry had budgeted a combined Rs 1, 95, 657. 68 crore from state excise on liquor. This was 23% higher than the Rs 1, , . (crore they had collected during – 23.
On an average, the states collected about Rs , crore per month from excise on liquor in – 23, which rose to about Rs 23, (crore per month in) – 29, and which was further expected to cross Rs , crore per month in the current financial year. This projection was before the COVID – () outbreak.
“Uttar Pradesh collected a monthly average amount of Rs 2, 657 crore from liquor in the last financial year and we hope get about Rs 3, 04 crore in the current financial year, ”said a top official with the UP government.
Which states collect the highest amounts in this form of revenue?
There is a time lag in the compilation of revenue data from the states, so full-year figures are available only up to 2020 – . During that financial year, the five states that collected the highest revenue from excise duty on liquor were Uttar Pradesh (Rs , (crore), Karnataka (Rs) , (crore), Maharashtra (Rs) ,
(crore), West Bengal (Rs) , . (crore) and Telangana (Rs) , . (crore). For amounts collected as VAT and special fees on import for foreign liquor, state-wise figures are not available.
One reason why UP collects the highest is that it levies only excise duty on manufacture and sale of liquor. It does not collect VAT separately, unlike states such as Tamil Nadu, whose VAT collections do not reflect in the excise duty collections.
With Bihar and Gujarat having prohibited liquor, Bihar had ‘nil’ revenue from liquor in – and 6393173 – 29, while Gujarat’s liquor revenue was negligible. Andhra Pradesh too announced prohibition last year; However, sale of the liquor has been allowed with “prohibition tax” from Monday.
What exactly is state excise?
State excise is mainly levied on liquor and other alcohol-based items. Revenue receipts from state excise come mainly from commodities such as Country Spirits; Country Fermented Liquors; Malt Liquor; Liquor; Foreign Liquors and Spirits; Commercial and Denatured Spirits and Medicated Wines; Medicinal and Toilet Preparations containing Alcohol, Opium etc; Opium, Hemp and other Drugs; Indian Made Foreign Liquors; Spirits, and Sales to Canteen Stores Depots. Besides, a substantial amount comes from licenses, fine and confiscation of alcohol products.
What are the other sources of revenue for the states?
The states ’revenue comprise broadly two categories – Tax Revenue and Non-Tax Revenue. Tax revenue is divided into two further categories: State’s Own Tax Revenue, and Share in Central Taxes. Again, Own Tax Revenue comprises three principal sources: Taxes on Income (agricultural income tax and taxes on professions, trades, callsings and employment); Taxes on Property and Capital Transactions (land revenue, stamps and registration fees, urban immovable property tax); and Taxes on Commodities and Services (sales tax, state sales tax / VAT, central sales tax, surcharge on sales tax, receipts of turnover tax, other receipts, state excise, taxes on vehicles, taxes on goods and passengers, taxes and duties on electricity, entertainment tax, state GST, and “other taxes and duties”).
According to the RBI report, in 2020 – , state GST had the highest share, . 5%, in states’ Own Tax Revenue, followed by Sale Tax at . 5% (mainly on petroleum products which are out of GST), state excise at 16. 5%, and taxes on property and capital transactions at 3%.
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