Online shopping and getting stuff into India (Customs)
Well it is an important question in the world of today, more and more Indians are purchasing stuff online and importing it into India. But the question most people ask is the same. What about the customs duty?
Well to be frank with you, anything you have bought abroad and are bringing into India is chargeable as far as custom duties go except some duty free items like IT Products (Digital Camera, LCD Monitors,RAM,Processors etc., confirm the list though).
Seasoned ebay sellers and other online stores try to ensure that loyal Indian customers aren’t forced to shed customs at all. Remember you don’t need an IEC number to import stuff for personal use.
Here is what most companies do so that you don’t have to pay customs for importing stuff into India :
1. They mark the product as a gift on the customs declaration form of the package. This is illegal by the way , but there is no way to detect whether the thing is a gift or not. Unless the other person leaves an invoice inside the so called gift š
2. Even after declaring the commodity as a gift, Indian customs will still charge it if the price is above Rs.10000 , so these ebay sellers under-declare the value of goods. This is a double edged sword, as if the product is stolen it would mean that you would not get the right price from insurance, so this can lead to losses.
Now both these steps do save duty to the importer, but you should realise they are probably illegal and be ready for consequences. Also keep in mind the more expensive the courier, the more closely the customs will examine your package. They know that EMS and DHL aren’t used for low value items, hence these packages are scrutinised more than others. On the same time Airmail and Registered Airmail is more prone to theft especially in India.
Now the fact is most genuine importers don’t mind paying a little duty on the products they are importing into India, but the customs are so notorious that most try to circumvent them, because they know if their package is caught by Indian customs, there will be a lot more paying up to do! Also if you are importing in bulk and you don’t have an IEC, you are in big trouble.
Another question people have is what happens if the customs find your item chargeable, dont worry no one will send you to jail unless you are importing prohibited stuff. If your item is found chargeable, your package will be seized by customs and you will be sent a letter usually asking you for purpose of import etc. Be truthful while replying. If customs are satisfied with your reply, then they will calculate the appropriate customs duty and send the postman to your home who collects the duty and delivers your shipment. As easy as that. There is a small fine too for mis-declarations. Frequent mis-declarations will get you in trouble though. So be on the right side of the law. In case you have questions, feel free to ask via comments. Also this is not legal advice, hire a lawyer if you need legal advice.
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Hi, for my own use, I purchased 3 whey protein from boydbuilding.com and it is in customs at Mumbai. Do they charge customs duty on the same ? If so at what rate ? did anyone experience any difficulty in getting cleared through customs, regards Suni
what is the customs charge on mobile shipped from china at 100 $
Hi WiseTechie
I have recently ordered 6-7 clothing items from a chinese website. also paid a shipping amount Rs.2070/- to ship via DHL. They had no other shipping option. Fedex was way more expensive.
I would like to know approximately how much taxes/custom charges will I have to pay further?
Total value of package is Rs.5245/- including shipping.
Please help.
Regards,
Gitika
hi sir
i won a bid in ebay.com -hong kong -(mobile @ 152$) and also 18$ shipping charge
i am planning to buy this from the seller
seller said me it will send as a gift and mention the price as 46 $ with no bill included in the box.
will it caught by customs . if they found it is not gift , will i get punishable
please help me sir.
Hi WiseTechie,
I have ordered clothes from online website us, it coasted around $600 with shipping its coming through DHL, do I need to pay any custom duty on this??
hi sir,
i have recently imported watches from china from the website aliexpress.com .
they are just fancy ladies watches and the invoice value is 80$ quantity is 100 nos.
i dont have any import license .
what will be the custom charges?
Hi WiseTechie,
Your informations are so much useful for understanding customs procedures.
1 months back i ordered a tablet from online. And it was couriered via DHL. i received my tablet one week back at my door step. But i received a letter from customs to submit below document within 10 days.
1. Invoice & mode of payment details.
2. Brochure / Product catalogue / Technical Write up / Test report
3. Import Export Code Certificate
Also in case if i wish to claim exemption from the customs duties, they requested me to submit relevant documents.
Please advice. i ordered first time online from outside of India and i want to come out of this ASAP. it was marked as gift. How i will submit these document to them? by post or by directly going to their office?
Are IT products like Graphics Card,Processors,Motherboards still duty free?
Hi,
I have purchased a graphics card from Ebay USA last month (Value including shipping is $185) and the seller has shipped it on the 3rd of June.but still i have not got it. I’m in Visakhapatnam and want to know how i can get it and if it is held at customs.
Hi,
I am planning to purchase some stuff from Aliexpress.com which i know is illegal in INDIA i cant provide details here hope you understand its listed under health products on Aliexpress.
If custom ask for duty i am ready to pay seller told me he will mark good as gift and value will be less then 5$ so i dont have to pay duty
Please Advice will custom open my shipment and check and what can be consequenses??
Hi
I am in IT field providing service/maintenance for almost 10 years, i ordered a 7Watt FM radio transmitter station from ebay.com( seller is from Hong Kong) some 3 days ago which i intended to sell to university on experimental basis so that they could setup campus radio station to reach students, scholars etc, yesterday i came to know that Radio Transmitters are prohibited under Indian Customs department rules, I sent message to seller via ebay if he can cancel this order due to the abovesaid reasons, but he said it has been shipped and if you dont collect it from Post office , it will automatically be returned to him, and he will refund. i do not have IEC
KINDLY let me know how serious this is, i don’t mind if custom people send it back or do whatever to it, shall i have to pay penalty even if i say to them truthfully that i didnt knew it was prohibited when i ordered it, and i dont need it. is prosecution/jail also possible š .
isn’t it duty of seller to intimate or post in their listing to check if the item he is selling is allowed or not in the buyers country, and also postal services deny services for such item.
very desperate i am, PLEASE REPLY SOON
I want to buy 20 watches from china but the package price is below 5000 Rs. , will i have to pay import duty on that. And also if i dont have IEC no and i wud be selling these watches online. With this wud be illegal ??
will i be charged if i order bodybuilding supplements from body building .com to india
as my package value is 5400 INR (the listed price)
but the original price with shipping would be 7700 INR
(in indian market these supplements are too much costly that’s why ordering from bodybuilding.com)
and i have ordered two supplements ( so duty will be calculated on total of both or individually?)
and all the shipments under 10000 INR can be considered as gift? whether mentioned or not?
confused help
(i dont want to pay customs)
On 11th July my cousin shipped from HONG KONG 2 sets of Mobile phone plastic cases (worth INR 3,400), the shipment reached India on 11th and the status has been Pending Customs Inspection its almost a week now and status still shows Pending Customs Inspection… Is this normal.. how many days do Customs take to clear such packages?
Hi Rohit,
The time taken by the customs depends on their load. In my experience they can take anything between three to 10 days to clear your stuff. I have never had stuff lying more than 10 days in Indian Customs Kolkata Air Office.
Hey sir,i have ordered two pacckets worth approx $10 each from different sellers from aliexpress.com…. Dis are imitation jewellery/accessories. Like ring earing chain….. Its coming with free shipping from china mainland thru china air post…what to u think wud i be asked to pay customs…??? if yes,then how much customs would i have to pay???
I’ve won a bid for iPhone (used) on ebay.com. The phone was shipped on 12th July and it reached India on 17th. The phone is with customs since then. The phone costs around 250$ including shipping. How much time does it take to clear the customs? Also can anyone please tell me how much tax do I have to pay?
hi Wise techie,
I ordered some motorbike parts for my personal use from aliexpress I received some of them and the remaining parts show in the tracking list as restriction on import due to import license and its sent back to the origin airport Calcutta
what do I do to get it my parts
pls help
I want to import engineering software online for around US$ 600-650
I will also opt for CD for the software.
Is it ok & is any taxes and duties applicable if I pay thru’ credit card?
Urgent
hey wisetechie
i want to import some trainers from UK shops online like JJB sports and others..the value of the item is 35-40 pounds..will there be charges by customss..i checked JJB website and interantional deliveries been handled by dhl with a cost of 13.99 pounds..i want to be sure about the customs in mumbai…
many thanks.
Hi,
I just wanted to ask that if I order football jerseys from aliexpress which will cost below $20.
Will there be any custom duty charged?
If the shipping method is standard airmail.
Thanks!
I am planning to order a Mophie iPhone 5S phone case (with built in battery backup) in US at a friend’s place. I want to know if the item costs 150$ in US how much will I have to pay over and above that in India. I understand courier cost to India will be there but what else other than that I should be prepared for? Also could you recommend how I should ask the friend to courier it to me? Also if you could recommend a courier which is cheap but reliable and I can get the product couriered to Mumbai (India)? Thanks in advance.
hi in one of the post you said that if the custom duty is too high and customer does not want take the goods it will be autioned by customs , so where does this custom auction this goods , also what value do custom think for auctioning the goods eg value of goods 1 lakh custom charges for the package 4 lakhs so what value will they auction the goods if i dont recieve the goods . thanks
I guys, i bought 3 Mi power bank from a USA online site,
Just wanted to know should i pay duty for customs, because the postman asking me to pay Rs 1850 where my product cost is only Rs 4500
Please reply with suggestion, what next is this rule or just cheating me.
Hi there
I would like to buy a phone from china (MI4) (around Rs 20k). I have a friend studying there and will be buying it with his help. Is there anything that can be done inorder to reduce custom duties while importing to India.
my post 727 is there any one who can advise me
Hi,
I would like to order a fossil watch $98 from USA.. how much excise it vl going to cost.. on the product ..if i asked the dealer to specify gift on the small parcel
Hello All,
I have parcel detained by Mumbai Customs which comtains 1 mobile phone from China. Sent via Singapore EMS speedpost. Its with customs since 2-Aug-2014, Also I have received notice from customs asking for documents i.e. Invoice copy,…. Which I have sent with Speedpost and they got it on 21-Aug-2014. but till today my parcel status is not changed.
Please suggest me what needs to be done here to get my parcel released.
Thanks
Aniruddha
Hi
I ordered 4 3doodlers (a kind of 3d printing pen) from the company itself (Wobble Works), and it was done as me and 3 of my friends all wanted it, and we thought we could reduce shipping cost this way. What category will this be put into at customs and what duty will I be charged?
Also, the package is being shipped by DHL Express and value is about $396. Is it likely to be classified under commercial import? And are DHL people reliable to be chosen as my customs clearing agents?
Thanks
Hi,
I have ordered a cell phone from Merimobiles.com and it has been sent via Singapore speed post (EMS). As I I have been informed by the seller the package has been marked with a lower value than the actual. The phone cost me around 327.90$ with shipping and has been declared as MP4 player with a value of 34$.
My Package has been detained by customs since 25th of August and in last week I received a letter from customs stating the parcel has been detained as it exceeds the permissible limit of 2000 Rs ( I believe 34$ price tag went a little above 2000 Rs).
They have now requested a list of documents as below
1. Import/Export code (I understand this won’t e applicable in my case as it is for personal use)
2. Commercial Invoice/ Price List/ Catalogue
3. Purpose of Import š
4. Description of the goods and usage.
5. Proof of payment
6. Evidence of value
7. Purchase bill
The problem is that the seller declared it as a MP4 player with a price tag of 34$ on the package. However, If I send the proof of payment done (PayPal transaction) and purchase bill it will show the real value to the customs and I don’t know what duties/penalties will be applicable on the phone.
Btw I did not gave any specific instructions to seller to mark it as lower valued item. I came to know about this when it was already held by the customs and I contacted the seller for the invoice details.
Guys, could you please help me out of this situation. Should I declare its original value and what would be the approx levied customs duty in this case.
Thanks
Hi,
My friend sent me 2 MK bags from the US as gifts on 21st August.
The USPS tracking shows that the bags reached indian custom clearance on the 26th aug. Then it again shows custom clearance on 1st sept. But I’m yet to receive this package. It’s to be shipped to gurgaon. What should I do… I’m worried about the package.
My EMS parcel from China is stuck in Customs since 5th of September.. When can I expect to get it if I do nothing about it? Does this usually Happen with EMS.? The parcel contains artificial jewellery real value 150 how much duty/bribe can I expect to pay? Can anyone share the contact of a good customs clearing agent? Please help guys.. Thanks in anticipation š
PS:tracking number EE976755068CN
Hi,
Let me first complement this great blog for the service provided.
I am planning to buy a Siglent 100MHz oscilloscope from ebay China for personal use.
I want to know whether an import license is required for this.Any other documents are required for customs clearance ?
The cost of the item is $390.
At what stage do I have to pay the duty on this and approximately how much can it be ?
Thanks in advance
sir,
i imported 2 gps trakers from china. cost no duty on it. second time i had to paid for duty.also. i imported paper 3d wall clocks -no duty.pen with camera -no duty.but spy gsm camera -i was charged duty. what is the exact rules of custom?? even each item marked as gift and very low value on it. kindly help. it will guide me in future.
ajay
amravati
india
My frnd in us send me opo mobile to india costing rs24000via usps.
How much duty i have to pay duty on it
Hi, I have send two set of parcels from UK to India, one to my home and one to my in laws as a gifts. They are clothes value of each parcel less than 5000 INR. Do you see this will be stopped at customs and attract duty. I have no problems in paying duty but how will they contact me for duty and are the timelines reasonable enough. Any advises or experience over this please.
Sir, my friend have sent me a phone from canada through air mail. I tacked the parcel it shows it recieved at mumbai IMBOC at date 27 September.its 3 October today but there is no track history changed from date 27 September. …my question is when will I receive my parcel
@All, you can use the calculator at https://www.icegate.gov.in/Webappl/ to calculate the custom duty that will be charged to you. Put a keyword like COMPUTER or PHONE to check applicable duty.
Hi
I want to order some cothes online from a US based website.
What will be the duties charged on import in India. They are for personal use and value below 100USD.
Hi guys!
i have ordered an i phone 6 plus from usa 128 gb,
which my relatives will be shipping me from usa ,
bill of that phone is around 1000 usd !
i just need some advice regarding the safest way to ship like ups, dhl , or fed ex.!
and also i want to pay minimum of custom duties !
plzz help guys and advice me !
how to pack that package and also how much value should i declare of the package in order to minimise the duties !
as i will be getting the phone after diwali ..will it be alrite if they label that package as a diwali gift ..will it be helpful in avoiding duties..!
reply (ASAP)
any advice will be greatly appreciated !
Thnx!
hi…
i want to buy some clothes and bags which will be under Rs.10000 from http://www.aliexpress.com, a china based shopping website through China post air mail. Please let me know whether i will face any custom issues in collecting my items. Also i would like to know whether i will receive my items at my place or i have to go to custom office to collect the same.
Reply asap.
Thanks!!!
hi everyone,
( first of all great article)
I have a small rental business in Manali ,Himachal Pradesh where I rent out dirt bikes, and other imported stuff. now I am planning on something new. The vehicle is a completely new concept , it has tracks instead of tyres. I am planning to order 3 and ship them with air to Delhi. Now my question is how do clear the 3 products and pay the least amount of duty. Do I need an IEC if am am not selling the item and using it for myself. Can someone help me out?
I wish to order 2 health products. When i added it in my cart its showing $298 and another $19 is added for shipping charges making it $319. I just want to confirm whether this amount includes all the taxes or will i be charged an extra amount or duty for receiving the package here in India???
@Hrishi, taxes are responsibility of the receiver and are never included in the total.
@monisha I bought some clothes from ali express but the total was not more than 50 USD. I received the parcel via China mail but it took more than a month. Now I have ordered for more than 15 k and now I am a bit worried after reading comments on this site as my parcel is coming via EMS. So I suggest keep the orders small and cheap.
i am ordering for refurbished nexus 4 from expansys.in, they are asking for $25 as shipping and saying that it will take just 2-3 days for them to deliver, i dont know if they are importing it from some other country, or have stock ready in india, im from hyderabad, the value of item is coming to around 9500 INR, including shipping, i remembered reading it somwhere that chiddu had increased mobile import duty from 1% to 6% for value greater than 2000 inr, so my question is will my package be held at customs or will they just levy the charge through postman.
and Expansys.in is shipping it via aramex, waiting for reply
Hi WT,
I bought a pair of shoes at US online site and for $92, total including shipping will be $122. Will there be any customs duty here, earlier I had bought shoes online but havent paid ant duty. Iam also not aware if the sender is labeling it as gift.\
Thanks & Advance.
Regards,
Jimmy
I bought a camera from Amazon India worth Rs 25000. I want to send it to my husband in Germany. What will be the import duty in Germany and also in India when he takes it back? What may be other complications in this case?
Please reply
Thanks for share your practical experience with customs clearance.
I also have same issue, due to not aware the Customs duty, I have place the order for smart Phone Android for Singapore for 140 $ (India 8500 INR). I have received the mail from customs asking us submit the documents.
List of Documents:
1. Commercial Invoice/Catalogue/Price List
3. Proof of payment/remittance/ Purchase Bill
4. Evidence of value
I called Mumbai EMS customs office they told me to come to office & clear the Parcel
If it more than 30$ you need to pay the penalty of 5000/-, I agree to pay import duty of 41% of 8500.
But not for penalty.
Kindly help us for below my query
1. I will ask to importer to modify the Invoice around 30$
2. Proof of Payment >> if I show my statement it will show around 10000INR (Phone+case+EMS charges) >> Pl suggested.
3. Evidence of Value>> Pl suggested.
Thnaks
I have ordered for an 22 inch AOC led monitor from Aliexpress. Its cost is 15$ after 90% discount. How customs I will have to pay.