Receiving gifts from abroad. Shipping tips needed.

Hachune

Hachune

Explorer
Hello,
A friend is gifting me his small electronic item (around 500g in weight) which he don't need anymore. He is from Canada, neither of us has shipped internationally and would like a quick do's and dont's for it.

I heard that there are no import tax for gifts? How much value should we declare? Original price must have been around Rs 15000 but it's an used item. Anything that I should know mostly to avoid unnecessary charges? Thanks.
 
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He will need to attach a Customs Declaration on the outside of the package that declares it as a gift. Mind you, they can still charge you depending on their mood.
 
Hachune said:
I heard that there are no import tax for gifts?
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Pretty sure this is not true as it leaves a big loophole where sellers can just ship goods as gifts.
www.thehindu.com

India’s New Foreign Trade Policy Allows Gifts of Rakhis and Life-Saving Drugs duty-free, Tightens Provisions for Other Imports

India’s updated Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) now allows gifts of Rakhis and life-saving drugs to be imported without customs duties, while tightening provisions for other gifts and imports from e-commerce portals. The move aims to address misuse of the “gifts” category for duty-free imports, but...
www.thehindu.com www.thehindu.com

Mostly you'll have to pay duty on the original price of the product. You'll have a hard time convincing customs officials of its used status and lower value.
 
Use a service like DHL for fuss free transit experience. Even than you have to pay delivery + custom clearance fee.

Some info regarding second hand electronic item import

If not using DHL, then you could be lucky or
Hachune said:
I heard that there are no import tax for gifts?
Click to expand...
Be prepare for surprise.

Hachune said:
How much value should we declare?
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Declare original price value, because if the officer felt suspicious he/she will find its price from google which he/she feels right and if it went above some threshold then they can put import tax anywhere from 0% to 100%.
 
Hachune said:
Hello,
A friend is gifting me his small electronic item (around 500g in weight) which he don't need anymore. He is from Canada, neither of us has shipped internationally and would like a quick do's and dont's for it.

I heard that there are no import tax for gifts? How much value should we declare? Original price must have been around Rs 15000 but it's an used item. Anything that I should know mostly to avoid unnecessary charges? Thanks.
Click to expand...
I believe the cut-off for gifts is INR 5,000. I preferred dealing with DHL over FedEx with respect to their Customs clearance procedures.
Heisen said:
Use a service like DHL for fuss free transit experience. Even than you have to pay delivery + custom clearance fee.

Some info regarding second hand electronic item import

If not using DHL, then you could be lucky or

Be prepare for surprise.


Declare original price value, because if the officer felt suspicious he/she will the find its price from google which he/she feels right and if it went above some threshold then they can put import tax anywhere from 0% to 100%.
Click to expand...
I would not declare original prices, especially for used items. Based off my own experience.
gourav said:
Mostly you'll have to pay duty on the original price of the product. You'll have a hard time convincing customs officials of its used status and lower value.
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Is this based off experience?

I'd like to add, I have frequently imported items and declared them as gifts or deflated their value. No issues as long as you aren't stretching it. Be realistic, but don't leave money on the table.
 
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Guys, thank you all for your inputs. I guess we will declare around half the original value and also write it as a gift in case it has any meaning.
 
Hachune said:
Guys, thank you all for your inputs. I guess we will declare around half the original value and also write it as a gift in case it has any meaning.
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I would declare it at under INR 5,000 and have your friend mark it as a gift. The valuation is not a stretch given you've mentioned that the price as new is about INR 15,000. All the best.
 
immolationepoch said:
I would declare it at under INR 5,000 and have your friend mark it as a gift. The valuation is not a stretch given you've mentioned that the price as new is about INR 15,000. All the best.
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Correct advise, on top use DHL for shipping, all should be well...

Or you can try usps which upon reaching Indian shores will be delivered by India post (would prove pretty cheap BUT there could be custom hassel, but I have never faced that ever, it's been a while though since I I ported something via courier or post so DHL is most sane option)
I remember I had imported as many as 10 mobile phones in a single package from the US, and as they landed via DHL had to pay a very small fee including customs. But that was then,
 
immolationepoch said:
I believe the cut-off for gifts is INR 5,000. I preferred dealing with DHL over FedEx with respect to their Customs clearance procedures.
Click to expand...
It was never 5000, it was 2000 in places like Mumbai and I believe even lesser like 1000 in other cities. Back in the day, I could get 7-8k worth of items imported without custom duties by quoting the value as $20, but last year they charged custom duties for a $25 item declared as a $10 gift. But that may be specific to China (or other countries used for shipping by Chinese sellers).

Also note that DHL and FedEx will apply their own service charges for custom clearance which would be close to 1k, more or less.
Hachune said:
Guys, thank you all for your inputs. I guess we will declare around half the original value and also write it as a gift in case it has any meaning.
Click to expand...
Note that they will definitely open the package if they have even a pinch of doubt about the product and nowadays they do a google search based on the item name for value before resealing the pack. If they decide to apply the price of a new item, you will have to file a grievance to get the extra amount refunded. I did so once when a manufacturer sent me a replacement and got full refund of the custom duties.
 
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While DHL/FedEx will handle all parts of import process. Be mindful of additional charges other than Customs+tax. They add IGST+handling charges, etc.

India Post is a lot cheaper. At times they will hold up the package at the local PO until you provide the invoice (can be done via email)
 
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