Chennai, June 8 (APAC Media): The Tamil Nadu government has introduced an additional fee on manufacturers supplying Indian-Made Foreign Spirits (IMFS), beer and wine to the state.
The move could bring in up to Rs 1,000 crore in extra revenue every year. However, officials said retail liquor prices will remain unchanged for now.
Authorities notified the revised fee structure on June 5 under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937. At the same time, they amended the rules governing the manufacture of liquor, beer and wine.
New Charges for Manufacturers
Under the revised system, manufacturers will pay:
- Rs 90 per standard case of IMFS
- Rs 40 per standard case of beer
- Rs 20 per standard case of wine
Companies must pay the fee before products leave their factories.
Officials estimate that the levy could generate between Rs 600 crore and Rs 1,000 crore every year. Meanwhile, Tasmac officials said consumers are unlikely to see any increase in prices.
Industry sources said the government wants certain costs to go directly to the state treasury. Earlier, manufacturers included these costs in pricing. However, the amount did not reach the government.
Liquor Sales Bring Huge Revenue
Liquor remains one of Tamil Nadu’s biggest sources of income.
During 2024-25, the state earned Rs 48,344 crore through excise duty and VAT on liquor sold through TASMAC. Out of this, Rs 11,020 crore came from excise duty. Another Rs 37,324 crore came from VAT.
Besides this, manufacturers already pay taxes on liquor supplied to the state. The excise duty rate stands at 58 per cent. VAT stands at 220 per cent.
Decision Came After Review Meeting
Sources said the government took the decision after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
Following the meeting, authorities introduced the new levy. They also directed manufacturers to follow regulations strictly. In addition, companies were asked to avoid unauthorised payments.
What Is a Standard Case?
For IMFS, a standard case can contain:
- Nine bottles of 1,000 ml each
- Twelve bottles of 750 ml each
- Twenty-four bottles of 375 ml each
- Forty-eight bottles of 180 ml each
Separate definitions also apply to beer and wine.
As a result, the fee will become part of the licence conditions. Therefore, manufacturers must pay the levy on every standard case before it leaves the factory.
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