By Admin 
Cigarette Excise Duty Hike: Smokers got a shock on the first day of the year when the Government of India imposed new excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco. After this decision of the government, cigarette prices will increase from 1 February 2026. It is being told that after the increase in excise duty, the prices of cigarettes may increase by 20-30 percent.
Under the new rule, excise duty on cigarettes will be decided on the basis of their length. In simple words, the longer the cigarette, the higher the tax on it. This is about our country, but do you know how much duty fee has to be paid for bringing cigarettes, tobacco products or liquor from abroad and what are the rules for it?
Often we get to see multiple stores at airports in the country or abroad. Many of these also have branded liquor shops. In such a situation, a person often feels tempted to buy liquor or cigarettes from those stores and bring them with him. But do you know what are its rules and how much quantity of liquor or cigarettes you can bring with you and how much duty fee has to be paid for it.
duty fee cigarette limit
According to Indian customs rules, liquor or cigarettes can be brought into the country after purchasing it from abroad, but there is a limit on this too. If it exceeds this, you may have to pay higher fees. As per the prescribed rules, passengers can bring with them 100 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 125 grams of tobacco per person under the duty-free allowance.
As per customs guidelines, these can be brought as personal belongings or gifts. If the quantity is more, the duty will be higher accordingly. Generally, if you bring more cigarettes than the duty-free limit, you have to pay cess along with 100% basic custom duty. Due to this the price of cigarettes more than doubles.
What are the rules for bringing alcohol?
Similarly, passengers can bring up to 2 liters of liquor (spirit or wine) duty-free per person. However, if the limit exceeds this, then approximately 150 percent custom duty is levied on the price. In this also, separate duty fees are charged on whiskey and beer. For bringing more than the beer limit, 100% basic custom duty and up to 3% additional cess is levied.
The rules regarding whiskey are even stricter. If you bring whiskey in excess of the limit, you will be required to pay 150% basic custom duty and up to 4% additional custom duty (ACD). There is no cess on this. The thing to keep in mind is that many times the goods purchased from the duty fee shop are also included in the total limit.
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