Review How to Avoid Customs Charges in India When Buying from International Sellers?-eBAY

[kshitijrawat]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to buy an item from an international seller (shipping from China) rated 97+ for a 40$ item around 20-40g not a very big item and want to avoid high customs charges in India. I’ve heard mixed advice about how to handle this, so I’d love to hear your experiences and suggestions.

Here’s what I’m trying to figure out:

1. Should I ask the seller to mark the item as a “Gift” and lower the declared value (e.g., half the actual price)?
   • I’ve heard this can reduce duties, but I’m worried it might backfire if customs checks and charges based on the actual value.
2. Or should I avoid the “Gift” label altogether and just ask for a lower declared value?
   • Some say marking as “Gift” triggers higher duties (77% vs. 40%), so it’s better to mark it as a “Purchase” with a lower value.
3. What’s the best way to communicate with the seller to ensure they handle the customs declaration correctly?
   • Should I ask them to print a specific description or avoid certain labels?

I’d really appreciate any tips or personal experiences you can share! Specifically:

• What worked (or didn’t work) for you?
• Did you get hit with high customs charges despite trying to avoid them?
• Any specific instructions you gave the seller that helped?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[JMak]

Don't ask anything
They already know what to do if at all..
And generally packets that small never attract any customs
Been buying since 14 years.. Never once paid customs.. Last purchase was a 10$item. 1 month back

 

[ibose]

Does the OP even realize that what is being asked for is illegal ?
I am not sure if it is even appropriate for a public open forum like this. There are already a number of discussions on this in the various import threads.
@Renegade @puns

 

[YeAhx]

I will go with what @JMak just said. Rare chance they will check your 40$ 20-40g package and think "oh this looks expensive". Also it's just a 40$ item why are you bothered so much about import duty? Difference will be a few dollars at most so why take a headache at all.

 

[raksrules]

I totally understand people saying that small items won't attract customs but it is not correct. I am glad @JMak was able to always escape customs but I was not lucky and I rarely order from china.
I ordered a small (fake) lego set which was 300 Gms and declared $8 or so and still package was opened by customs, reassessed at $12 and then I was charged customs at $12 value. Damn Mumbai Customs.

 

[JMak]

I totally understand people saying that small items won't attract customs but it is not correct. I am glad @JMak was able to always escape customs but I was not lucky and I rarely order from china.
I ordered a small (fake) lego set which was 300 Gms and declared $8 or so and still package was opened by customs, reassessed at $12 and then I was charged customs at $12 value. Damn Mumbai Customs.

I wouldn't use escape coz I never tried to, not even once did I ask any seller to undervalue and tbh never paid attention really what's written on the label...
but anything sent via normal post generally goes through.. I guess Custom officers believe items that have last mile tracking must be something undervalued and tend to levy charges..
On the other hand it could be a Delhi, Mumbai thing may be, if there is such a thing..

The luxury with ebay is that you are protected in cases of non delivery of items

 

[raksrules]

I wouldn't use escape coz I never tried to not even once asked any seller to undervalue and tbh never paid attention really what's written on the label...
but anything sent via normal post generally goes through.. I guess Custom officers believe items that have last mile tracking must be something undervalued and tend to levy charges..
On the other hand it could be a Delhi, Mumbai thing may be, if there is such a thing..

The luxury with ebay is that you are protected in cases of non delivery of items

I feel that if one has got something shipped through DHL/Fedex/UPS then it will easily escape "high" customs. I am not saying you will escape customs but you can be assured that customs will be charged on invoice value, even if it is ridiculously low. I am part of the group that is getting knock off leg0s and they order like 100 Kg boxes and declare $30 and get charged on that.

 

[asratte]

For those who don't know --->>
If the same item is available on alibaba and the item has any of the following methods available then buy from alibaba without any worries about customs . Alibaba is definitely better than ebay/AliExpress ( Alibaba requires tracking info available automatically in ui, otherwise sellers get a warning notice from Alibaba ).
--- Alibaba.com logistics parcels ( standard/economy) , electronic parcels ( standard)
Will come via Yanwen-Express/Morning-Global (operations)/USVP.
China-Post/4px/Quantium-Solutions also work.
...
alibaba.com logistics electronics express premium method might also work.

97+ usd for a 40 usd is definitely costly compared to alibaba ?? Do you mean to say 97 usd or 97 is rating of the seller ( I have used ebay only for Audio CDs. )

And another thing I would like to mention, saying "high" custom duty is appropriate if you are importing around 400 usd in bulk and pay around 200usd for customs. For a 40usd why are you bothered ?

 

[kshitijrawat]

For those who don't know --->>
If the same item is available on alibaba and the item has any of the following methods available then buy from alibaba without any worries about customs . Alibaba is definitely better than ebay/AliExpress ( Alibaba requires tracking info available automatically in ui, otherwise sellers get a warning notice from Alibaba ).
--- Alibaba.com logistics parcels ( standard/economy) , electronic parcels ( standard)
Will come via Yanwen-Express/Morning-Global (operations)/USVP.
China-Post/4px/Quantium-Solutions also work.
...
alibaba.com logistics electronics express premium method might also work.

97+ usd for a 40 usd is definitely costly compared to alibaba ?? Do you mean to say 97 usd or 97 is rating of the seller ( I have used ebay only for Audio CDs. )

And another thing I would like to mention, saying "high" custom duty is appropriate if you are importing around 400 usd in bulk and pay around 200usd for customs. For a 40usd why are you bothered ?

yes 97 percent is the seller rating .

 

[bssunilreddy]

From bangdood site purchasing 8bit wireless controller will attract any customs charges?

 

[kshitijrawat]

Does the OP even realize that what is being asked for is illegal ?
I am not sure if it is even appropriate for a public open forum like this. There are already a number of discussions on this in the various import threads.
@Renegade @puns

Sorry about that! This is my first time ordering, I didn’t mean to ask anything inappropriate or break any rules. Thanks for pointing it out!

For those who don't know --->>
If the same item is available on alibaba and the item has any of the following methods available then buy from alibaba without any worries about customs . Alibaba is definitely better than ebay/AliExpress ( Alibaba requires tracking info available automatically in ui, otherwise sellers get a warning notice from Alibaba ).
--- Alibaba.com logistics parcels ( standard/economy) , electronic parcels ( standard)
Will come via Yanwen-Express/Morning-Global (operations)/USVP.
China-Post/4px/Quantium-Solutions also work.
...
alibaba.com logistics electronics express premium method might also work.

97+ usd for a 40 usd is definitely costly compared to alibaba ?? Do you mean to say 97 usd or 97 is rating of the seller ( I have used ebay only for Audio CDs. )

And another thing I would like to mention, saying "high" custom duty is appropriate if you are importing around 400 usd in bulk and pay around 200usd for customs. For a 40usd why are you bothered ?

it is available but not in set of 1.

 

[asratte]

Sorry about that! This is my first time ordering, I didn’t mean to ask anything inappropriate or break any rules. Thanks for pointing it out!

it is available but not in set of 1.

You need to search, you will surely find a seller who is selling min quantity 1. Or you can send seller a message and ask him, he can draft an order for you.

Does the OP even realize that what is being asked for is illegal ?
I am not sure if it is even appropriate for a public open forum like this. There are already a number of discussions on this in the various import threads.
@Renegade @puns

This is not illegal ( technically may be ) but there is "standard" expectation for customs duty. Declaring 10usd is definitely not going to work, but 20usd works for 200usd ( It depends on what you are importing and what you are declaring).

 

[ibose]

This is not illegal ( technically may be ) but there is "standard" expectation for customs duty. Declaring 10usd is definitely not going to work, but 20usd works for 200usd ( It depends on what you are importing and what you are declaring).

Are you a lawyer ?

 

[asratte]

Are you a lawyer ?

No, But have been importing using ddp for my personal use cases.

 

[Afxal]

Recent few experiences -

1. I bought a 60usd keyboard from epomaker and they themselves undervalued it to 20usd without me asking or anything, it was shipped via yanwen and customs were handled by morning global - Zero customs were levied.
2. Ordered a 15usd item from alibaba, these guys also undervalued it to 5usd on their own. It was shipped via china post and cutsoms were handled by India post - again Zero customs were levied.
3. Ordered a 50usd watch from a spanish website, they undervalued it to 20usd. It was shipped via postNL and customs were handled by india post which also did the last mile delivery - 1200rs custom duty levied.

I think if the parcel is small and really low valued then chances of getting custom duty levied are very low if handled by india post.
Try for shipping method where customs is handled by morninglobal or similar vendors, most likely no customs then.

 

[mysticrainman]

From bangdood site purchasing 8bit wireless controller will attract any customs charges?

No. Bought the 8bitdo wireless 2c a couple of days back. Delivery in 10 days. Zero customs charges or hassle. Choose a reputable seller. If it is supplied by Morninglobal in india, they will ask you for kyc, send them front image of your voter id

Try for shipping method where customs is handled by morninglobal or similar vendors, most likely no customs then.

Do we usually get to choose the supply chain agent?

 

[Afxal]

No. Bought the 8bitdo wireless 2c a couple of days back. Delivery in 10 days. Zero customs charges or hassle. Choose a reputable seller. If it is supplied by Morninglobal in india, they will ask you for kyc, send them front image of your voter id

Do we usually get to choose the supply chain agent?

Sometimes you can deduce over time with usage, other times you can ask the seller if he has knowledge about the same.