Last updated: February 4th, 2020 4:52 PM

IGST Exemption List

The GST Council on 18th and 19th May 2017 regulated the IGST exemption list. The Integrated Goods and Service Tax under GST replaces CVD, SAD, CESS etc. The GST Council provisioned IGST as fully refundable. In this article, let us look at goods, which are fully exempt from IGST.

Imports by Privileged Persons, Organizations, Authorities, and Foreigners

The following goods imported by Privileged Persons, Organizations, Authorities and Foreigners are exempt from IGST, keeping in mind various multilateral and bilateral commitments.

1. Exemption of import duties for goods imported by Diplomatic missions in India and their families, their personal and household effects, etc.
2. All the equipments and consumable samples imported into India, by the Inspection Team of the Organization of Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, subject to the condition, inter alia, that such equipment shall be exported within six months of their import.
3. IGST exemption to Pedagogic materials imported by educational institutions, etc. in pursuance of the Customs Convention on the temporary importation of pedagogic material, subject to the condition that the goods are re-exported within 6 months from the date of importation.
4. Exemption to the temporary import of Scientific equipment etc. by non-profit-making scientific and educational institutions in pursuance of the Customs Convention on the temporary importation of scientific equipment, subject to the condition of re-exporting the goods within 6 months from the date of importation.
5. Exemption to specified goods imported for display or use at specified event such as meetings, exhibition, fairs or similar show or display, etc. held in public interest and is sponsored or approved by the Government of India (GoI) or the ITPO [Schedule II events] or events organised by other organisations [Schedule III events] subject to the condition, inter alia, that the import of goods shall apply as per ATA Carnet for temporary admission and
6. subject to the condition of re-exporting the goods within 6 months from the date of importation.
7. Exemption to:
   • Foodstuffs, medicines, medical stores of perishable nature, clothing and blankets, imported by a charitable organization as free gift to it from abroad and meant for free distribution to the poor and the needy;
   • Goods imported by the Red Cross Society for purposes of relief to distressed persons;
   • Drugs, medicines and medical equipments required for the treatment of the victims of the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster.
   • Goods imported by the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere Incorporated (CARE) under the Agreement between the President of India and CARE. The imported supplies and equipment shall be re-exported when no longer required for the purposes and cannot be sold to a third party;
   • Goods imported into India for relief and rehabilitation purposes, in accordance with the terms of any agreement in force between the GoI and any foreign Government. These goods cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of in India except with the prior approval or subject to conditions prescribed by the GoI.
   • Articles of food and edible material supplied as free gifts to the GoI by the agencies approved by the UNO or the EEC.
   • Articles donated to the GoI for use of defence personnel or donated to the National Defence Fund and dispatched by the Indian Mission in the country where they were donated;
   • Goods gifted or supplied free of cost under a bilateral agreement between the GoI and a Foreign Government.
8. Exemption to:
   • Samples in accordance with the International Convention to facilitate the importation of Commercial Samples and Advertising material drawn up at Geneva and dated the 7th day of November 1952;
   • Price lists supplied free of charge in accordance with the Convention mentioned above;
   • Commercial samples up to Rs.3 lakh in value in case of gem and jewellery industry and Rs.1 lakh in case of any other industry, and not exceeding 50 units in number in a year, imported as personal baggage by bona fide commercial travellers or businessmen or imported by post or air;
   • Prototypes of engineering goods imported as samples for executing or for use in connection with securing export orders subject to mutilation / re-export;
   • Bonafide commercial samples and prototypes of value up to Rs.10,000 and supplied free of charge.
9. Exemption to containers of durable nature subject to re-export within 6 months from the date of their importation.
10. Exemption to:
    • Paper money;
    • Wool, woollen fabrics and woollen apparels received as gifts by the Indian Red Cross.
11. Exemption to:
    • Fuel in the tanks of the aircraft of an Indian Airline or of the Indian Air Force subject to the condition, inter alia, that the quantity of the said fuel is equal to the quantity of the same type of fuel which was taken out of India in the tanks of the aircraft of the same Indian Airline or of the Indian Air Force, and on which the duty of Customs or Central Excise had been paid; and the rate of duty of customs (including the additional duty leviable under the said section 3) or the rate of duty of Central Excise, as the case may be, leviable on such fuel is the same at the time of the arrivals and departures of such aircraft;
    • Lubricating oil, imported in the engines of any aircraft registered in India or of any aircraft of the Indian Air Force;
    • Specified goods imported by the United Arab Airlines which will be carried on individual aircraft for use in hangars and which are flown back on the same aircraft;
    • Aircraft equipment, engines and spare parts imported by the Air India International or the Indian Airlines having been borrowed by the aforesaid airlines for fitment to their aircraft from foreign airlines outside India or from the foreign manufacturers of the prime equipment subject to the condition, that the said goods are being imported for fitment and re-export; and the said goods are re-exported within one month from the date of their importation into India.
12. Exemption to printed ticket stocks, airway bills, any printed material which bears the insignia of the importing airline printed thereon including baggage tags, publicity material for distribution free of charge when imported into India by a designated airline.
13. Exemption to specified goods, when imported into India for display or use at any specified event specified subject to the condition, inter alia, that the specified event is being held in public interest and is sponsored or approved by the Government of India or the India Trade Promotion Organization; and that the said goods are imported under a FICCI/TAITRA Carnet issued in accordance with the Agreement between the India-Taipei Association in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India on the FICCI/TAITRA Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods signed on 20th March 2013 and the Carnet is guaranteed by the Federation IGST Exemptions/Concessions under GST [As per discussions in the GST Council Meeting held on 18th/19th May 2017] of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (hereinafter referred to as FICCI ).
14. Exemption to goods imported by the Vice President of India on appointment or during his tenure of office:
    • Articles for personal use;
    • Food, drink, tobacco for the consumption of Vice President’s household
    • Articles for furnishing;
    • Motor cars for Vice-President’s use
15. IGST Exemption to foodstuffs and provisions (excluding fruit products, alcohol and tobacco) when imported into India by a person residing in India, not being a citizen of India subject to the condition, inter alia, that the CIF value of such goods imported in a year does not exceed Rs.1 lakh.
16. Exemption to imports relating to defence and internal security forces.
    • Medals and decorations imported directly by the GoI in the Ministry of Defence.
    • Personal effects of the persons on duty out of India with the naval, military or air forces or with the Indian Navy or Central Para Military Forces if imported for delivery to the next of kin of such person if he dies or is wounded, is missing or is taken prisoner of war.
    • Bonafide gifts from donors abroad when imported for the maintenance of war graves by an institution subject to certification by the Ministry of Defence.
    • Imported stores purchased out of bonded stocks lying in a warehouse intended to be supplied free by the Government for the use of the crew of a ship of the Coast Guard Organization.
    • Goods imported for trial, demonstration or training before any authority under the MoD or MHA in the GoI subject to certification by MoD or MHA and subject to the condition that the goods are re-exported within a period of 2 years from the date of importation.
    • Goods imported by the National Technical Research Organization (NTRO). This exemption is valid till 31.12.2018.
17. Exemption to:
    • Articles of foreign origin for repairs and return;
    • Theatrical equipment including costumes for use by a foreign theatrical company or dancing troupe and reexported thereafter;
    • Photographic, filming, sound-recording and radio equipment, raw films, videotapes and sound recording tapes imported in public interest and has been sponsored by the GoI and subject to certification by the Ministry of I&B and subsequent re-export;
    • Mountaineering equipment, materials, clothing, foodstuffs and provisions (excluding alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and tobacco), medical stores, imported by a mountaineering expedition and subject to re-export;
18. Exemption to research equipment imported by:
    • Public funded research institutions or a university or an Indian Institute of Technology or Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore or Regional Engineering College, other than a hospital;
    • Research institutions, other than a hospital;
    • Departments and laboratories of the Central Government and State Government, other than a hospital;
    • Regional Cancer Center (Cancer Institute), subject to, inter alia, registration with the DSIR.
19. Exemption to goods imported for display or use at a specified event [fair, exhibition] subject to re-export within 6 months from the date of clearance of the imported goods.
20. Exemption to:
    • Articles of a gift received from any foreign government by Union or State Ministers and specified public servants and imported as baggage;
    • Articles of gift imported into India by a foreign dignitary, visiting India for any official purposes, as part of his baggage and to be gifted to Union or State Ministers and specified public servants.
21. Exemption to:
    • Challenge Cups and Trophies awarded to an Indian team in connection with its participation in a tournament outside India and brought by it into India for being kept with an Official Sports Association;
    • Medals and trophies awarded to members of Indian teams for their participation in international tournaments or competitions outside India;
    • Prizes won by any member of an Indian Team if the team has participated in any international tournament or competition in relation to any sport or game, with the approval of the GoI in the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports;
    • Trophy, when imported into India by the National Sports Federation, recognized by the Central Government or any Sports Body for being awarded to the winning team in the international tournament including bilateral tournament and World Cup event to be held in India.
22. Exemption to specified goods on which a manufacturing process was undertaken in India and which were exported out of India for carrying out further manufacturing process of coating, electroplating or polishing or a combination of one or more of these processes, as the case may be, when re-imported into India after completion of the said processes, from the customs duty leviable on the value of goods which were exported i.e. customs duty is leviable on the value of the fair cost of the said processes carried out abroad (whether such cost is actually incurred or not) and insurance and freight, both ways.
23. Exemption to Challenge cups and trophies:
    • Won by any unit of the Defence Forces in India or by a particular member or members of such unit in a competition; or
    • Re-imported and which before being exported has been won by any such unit or member or members of a unit in a competition; or
    • Sent by donors resident abroad for presentation to or competition among such units or members of such units.
24. Exemption to articles re-imported by or along with a unit of the Army, the Navy or the Air force or a Central Para Military Force on the occasion of its return to India after a tour of service abroad subject to satisfaction of the Commissioner of Customs that these articles were exported by or along with such unit on the occasion of its departure from India on such tour.
25. Goods not produced or manufactured in India, which are private personal property and which prior to their import into India have been exported therefrom and re-imported within three years from the date of export.
26. Exemption to:
    • Goods manufactured in India and parts of such goods whether of Indian or foreign manufacture and reimported into India for repairs or for reconditioning.
    • Goods manufactured in India and re-imported for reprocessing or refining or remaking. Subject to the condition, inter alia, that goods are reimported within one / three years from the date of export [10 years in the case of Nepal and Bhutan]; that the re-exported goods shall re-import within 6 months, etc.
27. Exemption to goods [on their re-import] not produced or manufactured in India and on which the duty of customs leviable paid at the time of their importation into IGST Exemptions/Concessions under GST [As per discussions in the GST Council Meeting held on 18th/19th May 2017] India and which were exported out of India for the execution of a contract approved by the Reserve Bank of India in connection with any commercial and industrial (including constructional) activities. In the case of goods on which any alterations, renovations, additions or repairs have been executed subsequent to their export, IGST will be payable on the value equal to the cost of such alterations, renovations, additions or repairs while the goods were abroad.
28. Exemption to:
    • Re-import of goods exported under the claim of any export scheme [drawback, rebate, bond, DEEC or EPCG, DEPB],;
    • Any re-import of goods sent abroad for repairs etc.
    • Re-import of cut and polished precious and semiprecious stones sent abroad for some treatment [para 4A.20.1 of the FTP]
    • Import of parts components of aircraft replaced or removed during the course of maintenance in an SEZ.
29. Exemption to specified goods, when imported into India for carrying out repairs, reconditioning, reengineering, testing, calibration or maintenance (including service), subject to the condition, inter alia, that
    • The repairs, reconditioning, reengineering, testing, calibration or maintenance (including service), undertaken in accordance with the provisions of section 65 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), and
    • The goods repaired, reconditioned, reengineered, tested, calibrated or maintained (including service), exported and not cleared outside the Unit.
    • Exemption to:
      • Works of art including statuary and pictures intended for public exhibition in a museum or art gallery;
      • Works of art namely memorials of a public character displayed in a public place including, materials used or reserved for future use in their construction, whether worked or not;
      • Antiques intended for public exhibition in a public museum or national institution;
30. Exemption to re-import of unclaimed postal articles, originally posted in India and re-imported as unclaimed, refused or redirected.
31. Exemption to engines and parts of aircraft, when re-imported into India after exported, from the customs duty leviable on the value of exported goods [customs duty is leviable on the cost of repair], which includes the charges paid for the materials as well as for labour, insurance and freight) in the following cases:-
    • Engines and certain specified parts which fail abroad and re-imported.
    • Aircraft engines or certain specified parts sent abroad as a standby for replacement of a defective one and subsequently brought back to India in the same condition without installing on an aircraft.
    • Engines and certain specified parts lent by an Indian company to a foreign Company.
32. Exemption to catering cabin equipment and food and drink on re-importation by the aircraft of the Indian Airlines Corporation from foreign flights subject to the condition that the goods were not taken on board at any foreign port or place.
33. Exemption to catering cabin equipment and food and drink on re-importation by the aircraft of the Indian Airlines.

IGST Exemption for Goods to Nepal and Bhutan

Goods imported from a foreign country for the purpose of exports to Bhutan or Nepal is exempt from IGST. Also, Goods imported from Bhutan or Nepal into India for exports to foreign Country is exempt from IGST.

Miscellaneous IGST Exemptions

The following goods also enjoy IGST exemption:

• Television equipment, cameras and other equipment for making films, imported by a foreign film unit or television team.
• Photographic, filming, sound recording and radio equipment, raw films, videotapes and sound recording tapes of foreign origin, if imported into India, later exported therefrom.
• Importing goods to test in specified test centres.
• All goods under HSN code 85 namely aircrafts, helicopters, etc.,
• The following goods, namely :
  • Satellites and payloads;
  • Scientific and technical instruments, apparatus, equipment (including computers and computer software), accessories, parts, components, spares, tools, mockup and modules, raw materials and consumables required for launch vehicles and for satellites and payloads;
  • Ground equipment brought for testing;
• Used bona fide personal and household effects belonging to a deceased person
• Goods imported through postal parcels, packets and letters, the CIF value exceeding not more than one thousand rupees per consignment
• Archaeological specimens, photographs, plaster casts or antiquities, intended for exhibition for public benefit in a museum managed by the Archaeological Survey of India or by a State Government
• Goods specified in List 34 required in connection with:
  1. Petroleum operations undertaken under petroleum exploration licenses or mining leases, granted by the Government of India or any State Government to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation or Oil India 5% This will apply to domestic supplies also.

IGST Exemption for Passengers

• IGST exemption for goods imported by a passenger or a member of a crew in the baggage. [Does not apply to motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and tobacco products]
• Exemption of IGST for goods imported by a person of India origin on return to India.
• The IGST shall exempt one laptop imported by a passenger of 18 years and above.

IGST Exemption for SEZ

Imports by an SEZ unit or SEZ developer for authorized operations. To register a startup, one-person company or private limited company, click here