India may cut gold import duty to sideline smugglers

INDIA is expected to slash the import duty on gold to undercut smugglers who have been offering hefty discounts as illicit imports boom after Covid-19, denting the market share of banks and refiners, government and industry officials said.

A cut in the import duty by the world's second-biggest consumer could lift retail sales by making gold cheaper ahead of peak demand season and support global prices.

It could also revive operations of domestic gold refineries, who have seen their business wither over the past two months as they are unable to compete with grey-market operators.

‘The government is aware of problems created by the higher duty structure and they will be fixed soon,' said one government official, who declined to be identified, in response to a question about the possibility of a cut in the import duty.

Grey market operators, who smuggle gold in from overseas and sell it for cash to avoid duties, got a boost in July when the government raised the basic import duty on gold to 12.5 percent from 7.5 percent to bring down the trade deficit and support the rupee.

The effective duty is now 18.45 percent, which includes the 12.5 percent import duty, 2.5 percent agriculture infrastructure development cess and other taxes.

Another official said the government was considering bringing the effective rate down to below 12 percent, adding: 'We will take a final call soon.'

The finance ministry declined to comment while the trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An official at the Ministry of Commerce said it was in favor of cutting the import duty on gold and had asked the finance ministry to do so.