FM: No rollback of 1% excise duty on jewellery

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 28

Firm on its decision to levy 1% excise duty on non-silver (gold and diamond) jewellery, the Centre today said luxury items could not be kept out of the tax ambit forever. Replying to a calling attention motion on the contentious move in the Rajya Sabha today, FM Arun Jaitley was clear: “tax yes, harassment (to jewellers) no”.

Countering the charge that the levy would kill the trade, Jaitley said if items of common use like baby food, soap, toothpaste etc could be taxed why luxury items be kept out of the ambit.