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Published on:

September 8, 2025

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Tall Oil: GST Rates & HSN Code 3808 Overview

Understanding GST compliance is essential for companies operating in the chemical, agricultural, and industrial supply industries. HSN Code 3803 for Tall Oil and HSN Code 3808 for Pesticides and Disinfectants are two of the hundreds of classifications that frequently lead to misunderstanding.

Considering both are essential industrial items, it is frequent and expensive to confuse the two. Accurate pricing, invoicing, and tax credits depend on knowing the proper categorization and GST rate, which is 18% for both.

Everything you need to know about both HSN codes will be explained in this article. After discussing Tall Oil's applications and particular GST consequences (3803), we'll give you an in-depth overview of the several items that fall within the scope of pesticides and disinfectants (3808) so that your company can distinguish between them with confidence and maintain compliance.

What is Tall Oil?

Tall Oil (short for “talloil” or “tallolja” from Swedish, meaning pine oil) is a secondary product of the Kraft pulping process of coniferous trees like pine.

Key Features:

1. Extracted during the wood pulping process.

2. Contains a mix of rosin acids, fatty acids, and neutral materials.

3. Acts as a sustainable alternative in multiple industrial applications.

Common Uses of Tall Oil:

1. Adhesives & coatings

2. Printing inks

3. Lubricants & fuel additives

4. Emulsifiers and surfactants

5. Rubber and plastic modification

In India, Tall Oil demand is steadily growing due to eco-friendly industrial needs and its value in specialty chemicals.

HSN Code 3803 – Classification of Tall Oil

Tall Oil and its derivatives are covered under HSN Code 3803, which includes products that control the growth of the plant, such as insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting agents, and disinfectants. It is not a pesticide per se, but its derivatives and use in chemicals and surfactants classify it as such.

Product Type	HSN Code	Description	GST Rate
Tall Oil & Derivatives	3803	Industrial chemical mixtures, surface-active agents	18%

(As per CBIC GST rate notifications)

GST Rates on Tall Oil

The applicable GST rate for Tall Oil under HSN 3803 is 18%.

GST Breakdown:

CGST: 9%

SGST: 9% (for intra-state supply)

GST: 18% (for inter-state or imports)

Purchasing Tall Oil for your manufacturing process can directly improve your business's finances. The GST you pay on this raw material can be claimed back as a credit (ITC), which reduces your overall tax liability and results in better cash flow for your operations.

Documentation and Compliance

For businesses dealing in Tall Oil, compliance is essential.

Invoicing Rules:

1. Must clearly mention HSN Code 3803.

2. GST rate (18%) must be printed on invoices.

3. Exporters must classify under IGST (18%) for exports.

GST Return Filing:

1. Tall Oil traders must file GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B monthly/quarterly.

2. HSN-wise summary reporting is mandatory for businesses above turnover thresholds.

A Comprehensive Classification of HSN Code 3808

HSN code 3808 is one of the most important categories under the heading "Miscellaneous chemical products," which is covered in HSN Chapter 38. A wide variety of completed goods prepared or packaged for retail sale are included.

The official description includes the following:

Fungicides, Herbicides, insecticides, Rodenticides, Disinfectants, Anti-sprouting products, and products that regulate plant development.

Let's break what goes under this code in a table.

Items That Fall Under HSN Code 3808

6 Digit HSN Code	Product Category	Common Example
3808 91	Insecticides	Mosquito Repellent, Agricultural Insecticides, Ant Spray, Cockroach Killers.
3808 92	Fungicides	Products used to control mold, mildew and plant rust
3808 93	Herbicides & Plant Growth Regulators	Weed Killers, Anti-Sprouting Agent for Potatoes and Rooting Hormones
3808 94	Disinfectants	Surface Disinfectants, Phenyl, Hospital Grade Cleaning Solutions, Hand Sanitizers.
3808 99	Others	Rodenticides (rat poissons), and Mollusccides, Similar Pest Control Products.

GST Rate for HSN Code 3808

For all products coming under HSN Code 3808, the appropriate GST rate is 18%. All of this code's subcategories have the same rate.

GST Distribution:

CGST: 9%

SGST: 9% (for supplies within the state)

IGST: 18% (for imports or interstate supplies)

Input Tax Credit (ITC) claimed for the GST paid while buying certain goods to resell or use as raw material. This enhances cash flow and lowers your overall tax obligation.

Documentation and Compliance

Strict compliance is necessary for companies that sell goods covered by HSN 3808.

Invoicing Rules:

1. The precise 6-digit or 8-digit HSN Code (for example, 3808 91 for pesticides) must be included explicitly on invoices.

2. All invoices must accurately break down and print the 18% GST rate.

Filing GST Returns:

1. Manufacturers and traders are required to submit GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B on a monthly or quarterly basis.

2. Businesses that have a turnover over the specified limits are required to submit an HSN-wise summary of sales.

Distinguishing Between HSN 3808 and HSN 3803 (Tall Oil)

This is an important detail that frequently causes confusion. You could encounter the industrial chemical Tall Oil incorrectly listed under HSN number 3808. But 3808 is just for the above-mentioned disinfectants and insecticides.

The official materials from the GST Council are rather explicit:

HSN 3808 is the correct code for pesticides and disinfectants.

HSN 3803 is the correct code for tall oil, which includes both refined and unrefined varieties.

Although products that function as surfactants may include derivatives of tall oil, tall oil is not a pesticide and is classified differently. Serious compliance problems may arise if these two codes are confused.

Typical Errors & Compliance Concerns to Prevent

1. Inaccurate HSN Code: Common mistakes that might cause warnings include classifying a disinfectant under a general cleaning product category or using 3803 for a pesticide.

2. Inaccurate GST Rate: Liability problems and interest payments may arise if 12% or 28% is charged in place of the usual 18%.

3. Missed ITC Claims: Higher costs for operation arise when inputs are not claimed for ITC because of insufficient paperwork.

Outlook for Indian Markets and International Trade

The increasing demand for sustainable materials throughout the world offers the Indian market enormous potential. To take advantage of this, though, perfect trade compliance is necessary, and this depends on utilizing the right HSN codes.

Businesses must realize that Tall Oil is correctly assigned under HSN Code 3803, which shows its usage as a raw industrial resource made from wood pulp. However, Code 3808 is only applicable to finished retail goods like disinfectants and insecticides. This difference is unavoidable for Indian importers and exporters.

Use of wrong code might lead to cargo rejections, penalties, and a negative image in the global market, while the correct code (3803) guarantees efficient customs clearance and proper duty payments.

In Conclusion

To ensure smooth GST compliance, companies dealing in industrial chemicals must understand HSN codes. Knowing the different categories is essential. As an instance, HSN Code 3808 is for completed goods such as disinfectants and insecticides, but HSN Code 3803 is the right code for Tall Oil, a raw industrial component.

Although the two categories are subject to the 18% GST charge, it is not negotiable to use the appropriate code for each individual goods. Businesses may stay ahead of the competition, prevent tax conflicts, and obtain their fair ITC advantages by making sure this categorization is proper. To make sure your business stays compliant for both of these significant but very distinct product categories, you must keep up with the most recent GST notifications.

FAQs

1. What is Tall Oil's GST rate in India?

18 percent (18 percent IGST + 9% CGST + 9% SGST).

2. What is Tall Oil's correct HSN code?

Code for HSN 3803.

3. Can companies claim an ITC on the GST they paid for buying Tall Oil?

Yes, if utilized for commercial reasons, ITC is available.

4. Does India produce much Tall oil?

Although there is a growing need for local processing, the majority of tall oil is still imported.

5. What occurs if I assign the incorrect HSN to Tall Oil?

It might cause fines, notifications, and ITC refusal.

6. What comes under HSN Code 3808?

It applies to pesticides and other sanitation products that are packaged for retail sale.

7. Which HSN Code covers repellents for mosquitoes?

Mosquito repellents are classified as pesticides under HSN 3808 91, which has an 18% GST tax.

8. How much does GST cost in India for hand sanitizers?

Hand sanitizers are categorized under HSN Code 3808 94 as disinfectants. 18% is the appropriate GST rate.

9. What makes HSN codes crucial for GST?

The significance of HSN codes is based on standardized good categories that result in appropriate tax rates for precise adherence to such tax-resulting code requirements and goods

10. What is the structure of HSN Code?

HSN codes are in an eight-digit format. The first two represent the chapter, the next two the heading, the next two the subheading, and the last two the product details.