New Delhi: The government will pay 6% interest on pre-deposit amount paid by a taxpayer if the taxpayer wins appeal against the tax department before the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), a senior official said. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had proposed changes in the Excise Act to introduce pre-deposit of a small part of the duty or penalty demanded as a necessary condition to entertain appeals. The existing provision required businesses to deposit whatever pre-deposit the Commissioner (Appeals) or the tribunal would order the businesses to pay.