Windfall tax for domestic crude oil slashed to Rs 4,100 per tonne; no duty on export of diesel, petrol, ATF

Windfall tax for domestic crude oil slashed to Rs 4,100 per tonne; no duty on export of diesel, petrol, ATF

The center revised the windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil, cutting the tax rate to Rs 4,100 per tonne from Rs 6,400 per tonne. During its last revision, the government scrapped the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on export of diesel from Rs 0.5 per litre to nil which is to continue. The windfall tax exemptions for the export of petrol and ATF (aviation turbine fuel) will also remain in place. These changes in the tax rates will be implemented from Tuesday, 2 May onwards, according to a notification released by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. The windfall tax rates are revised every fortnight based on global crude oil prices. What is windfall tax, why is it imposed?

On July 1 2022, windfall profit taxes were first imposed on Indian companies as the country joined a growing number of nations that tax supernormal profits of energy firms. However, international oil prices have cooled since then, eroding the profit margins of both oil producers and refiners. The government levies tax on windfall profits made by oil producers on any price they get above a threshold of USD 75 per barrel. The levy on fuel exports is based on cracks or margins that refiners earn on overseas shipments. These margins are primarily the difference between the international oil price realised and the cost.

Crude oil price

Oil prices fell in thin early Asian trade on Tuesday as the market digests weak economic data from China and expectations of another U.S. interest rate hike. Brent crude fell by 2 cents to $79.29 a barrel by 0021 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 2 cents to $75.64. Both benchmarks fell by more than $1 last session.