Karnataka Budget Reforms Liquor Tax System; AIB-Based Excise Duty to Begin in April 2026
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the State Budget 2026-27, announced a major reform in the state’s liquor taxation system with the introduction of Alcohol-in-Beverage (AIB) based excise duty, which will come into effect from April 2026. The move aims to rationalise excise taxation by linking duty to the actual alcohol content in beverages rather than the current structure based largely on price categories.
Under the new system, taxation will be determined by the percentage of alcohol present in beverages, a model that many experts believe could make the tax framework more transparent and scientifically structured. However, detailed operational guidelines on how the system will be implemented across manufacturers and retailers are expected to be issued by the Excise Department in the coming months.
Major Excise Policy Reforms Announced
The state government also announced several structural reforms in the excise sector.
• Uniform excise duty framework to replace the current fragmented structure.
• Additional excise duty linked to ex-factory price slabs.
• Government-administered liquor price fixation to be fully deregulated.
• Pricing slabs reduced from 16 to 8, simplifying the taxation structure.
• Blockchain-based digital tracking system to prevent revenue leakage in the liquor supply chain.
• Validity of various excise licences extended from one year to five years.
The government has set an excise revenue target of ₹45,000 crore for 2026-27, reflecting the sector’s significant contribution to the state’s finances.
Other Revenue Targets in the Budget
The budget also outlined revenue expectations across several departments.
• Commercial tax revenue target: ₹1,25,000 crore
• Stamp and Registration revenue target: ₹29,000 crore
• Motor vehicle tax revenue target: ₹15,500 crore
• Mining tax revenue target: ₹3,000 crore
• Mining royalty revenue target: ₹11,000 crore
Additionally, the government announced a reduction in sales tax on LNG from 14.34% to 5%, aimed at encouraging cleaner fuel adoption and supporting the state’s energy transition.
The tax reforms outlined in the budget are expected to strengthen revenue mobilisation while modernising regulatory systems through digital tracking and simplified duty structures.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಬಜೆಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮದ್ಯ ನೀತಿ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ: Alcohol-in-Beverage ಆಧಾರಿತ ತೆರಿಗೆ ಜಾರಿ
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