Ad Valorem - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition ad-valorem

Definition :

Ad valorem, a term used in speaking of the duties or customs paid on certain goods (see e.g. (English) Import Duties Act, 1932 (22 Geo. 5, c. 8); the duties on some Articles are paid by the number, weight, measure, tale, etc., and those on others are paid ad valorem--that is, according to their value. The term is used also of stamp duties, which, in many cases--e.g., in the case of an award, a bill of exchange, a conveyance or transfer, and a lease--are payable under the Stamp Act, 1891, according to the value of the subject-matter of the particular instruments or writings. See STAMP DUTIES.

The phrase 'ad valorem' appearing in the column 'rate of duty' in the Schedule appended to the Act refers to the value of the excisable goods and, therefore, it will have to be worked out by applying the formula as laid down in s. 4(4)(d) of the Central Excise Act, State of Goa v. Calfox Laboratories, (2004) 9 SCC 83 (98): AIR 2004 SC 45. [Central Excise Act, 1944, s. 4(4)(d)]