Where HSN 3208 20 30 Sits
Use the eight-digit code on the bill of entry, the shipping bill and, where your turnover requires it, on the GST invoice. The first four digits are the heading; the last four narrow it to this line.
- Chapter
- 32 · Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints, varnishes; putty, other mastics; inks
- Heading
- 3208 · Paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium; solutions as defined in note 4 to this chapter
- Group
- Based on acrylic or vinyl polymers
- Tariff item
- 3208 20 30 · Varnishes
- Unit
- kg.
GST Rate on HSN 3208 20 30
GST on goods is fixed by the entries of Notification No. 9/2025-Central Tax (Rate), in force from 22 September 2025 and amended up to 30 April 2026. The entries below are the ones that reach this code. Match the goods to the description in the entry before you invoice.
| GST rate | Entry | Codes named | Goods covered by the entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18% | Schedule II, S. No. 50 | 3208 | Paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium; solutions as defined in Note 4 to this Chapter |
| 5% | Schedule I, S. No. 242 | 32 | Wattle extract, quebracho extract, chestnut extract (chapter-wide entry) |
| 18% | Schedule II, S. No. 639 | Any Chapter | Goods which are not specified in Schedule I, III, IV, V, VI or VII (residual entry) |
Goods that fall under no specific entry take the residual entry, unless they are exempt under the exemption notification issued with the rate notification.
Customs Duty on HSN 3208 20 30
An import pays basic customs duty at the tariff rate, social welfare surcharge at 10% of that duty (unless exempted for the goods), and IGST at the GST rate on the value plus both duties.
- Basic customs duty at
- Social welfare surcharge, 10% of the duty
- IGST at on value plus both
- Total duty and tax
- As a share of the value
Standard rates only: no exemption notification, anti-dumping or safeguard duty, or trade-agreement rate is applied, and the surcharge is taken at 10% although some goods are exempted from it. A registered importer takes credit of the IGST.
Export Policy and RoDTEP for HSN 3208 20 30
Schedule 2 of ITC(HS) 2022 marks this tariff item Free. Appendix 4R gives RoDTEP at 0.7% of FOB value for exports from the domestic tariff area and 0.4% for Advance Authorisation, SEZ and EOU exports. The scheme continues up to 31 December 2026.
- Current RoDTEP schedule takes effectAppendix 4R and 4RE notified by Notification 32/2024-25.
- All rates and caps limited to 50%Notification 60/2025-26, with immediate effect.
- Full rates restoredNotification 66/2025-26 and its corrigendum: the rates of 22 February 2026 apply again from 23 March.
- Scheme continued to 30 September 2026Notification 74/2025-26, rates unchanged.
- Scheme continued to 31 December 2026Notification 41/2026-27: rates and caps as on 30 September 2026 continue.
Other Codes Under HSN 3208
| Tariff item | Description | Basic customs duty |
|---|---|---|
| 3208 10 10 | EnamelsBased on polyesters | 10% |
| 3208 10 20 | LacquersBased on polyesters | 10% |
| 3208 10 30 | VarnishesBased on polyesters | 10% |
| 3208 10 90 | OtherBased on polyesters | 10% |
| 3208 20 10 | EnamelsBased on acrylic or vinyl polymers | 10% |
| 3208 20 20 | LacquersBased on acrylic or vinyl polymers | 10% |
| 3208 20 30 | VarnishesBased on acrylic or vinyl polymers | 10% |
| 3208 20 90 | OtherBased on acrylic or vinyl polymers | 10% |
| 3208 90 11 | Nitrocellulose lacquersBased on cellulose nitrate or other cellulose derivatives | 10% |
| 3208 90 19 | OtherBased on cellulose nitrate or other cellulose derivatives | 10% |
| 3208 90 21 | Synthetic enamel, ultra white paintsEnamels | 10% |
| 3208 90 22 | Synthetic enamel, other coloursEnamels | 10% |
| 3208 90 29 | OtherEnamels | 10% |
| 3208 90 30 | LacquersEnamels | 10% |
| 3208 90 41 | Insulating varnishVarnishes | 10% |
| 3208 90 49 | OtherVarnishes | 10% |
| 3208 90 50 | Slip agentsVarnishes | 10% |
| 3208 90 90 | OtherVarnishes | 10% |
- The item-wise import policy (Free, Restricted or Prohibited) of ITC(HS) Schedule 1.
- Exemption notifications, anti-dumping and safeguard duties, and preferential rates under trade agreements. The duty shown is the tariff rate.
- The GST exemption notification. Goods exempt under it pay no GST even if a rate entry names the code.
Official documents behind this page
- Notification No. 9/2025-Central Tax (Rate), 17 September 2025GST rate Schedules I to VI, in force from 22 September 2025, as amended by Notification No. 19/2025-Central Tax (Rate) of 31 December 2025 (Schedule VII omitted from 1 February 2026) and No. 01/2026 of 30 April 2026.
- Customs Tariff, First ScheduleCBIC Customs Tariff as on 30 June 2024, with the First Schedule amendments of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024, the Finance Act, 2025 and the Finance Act, 2026 applied.
- ITC(HS) 2022, Schedule 2, Export PolicyDGFT: the export policy and policy condition of each tariff item.
- Appendix 4R and Appendix 4RE, RoDTEP ScheduleDGFT, with effect from 10 October 2024 (Notification No. 32/2024-25); the 2026 changes are in Notifications 60, 66 and 74 of 2025-26 and 41 of 2026-27.
Disclaimer: This guide is general information based on the law and notifications in force when it was last updated. It is not professional advice for your case — rates, thresholds and due dates change, so check the current position or speak to our CA team before you act on it.