Govt asks jewellers to comply with central excise registration, to pay dues up to June

New Delhi: The government on Saturday asked the jewellers to settle the excise dues for March-May along with that of June and get themselves registered with the central excise department by July 1.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley had in Budget on February 29 imposed 1 percent excise duty on non-silver jewellery which led to widespread protests by jewellers.

The agitation, however, was temporarily called off on April 13 following assurances from the government that there will be no harassment by tax officials.

"Assessee jewellers may make payment of excise duty for months of March, April and May 2016, along with payment of excise duty for June 2016," the Finance Ministry said.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has also extended the time limit for taking central excise registration of an establishment by a jeweller up to July 1, 2016.

The jewellers, CBEC said, are liable to pay excise duty with effect from March 1, 2016.

The government has, meanwhile, set up a committee under former chief economic advisor Ashok Lahiri to look into demand of agitating jewellers and also into their grievances with regard to compliance and operating procedures for payment of excise duty.