All international "Gift" packages now liable for customs duty @ 77%(?)

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@royalroy Submit your KYC docs and fill +email this letter of authority to fedex. Source


You don't have anything to worry about. DigitalOcean(in a similar situation like your, in my case) took care of taxes, so you shouldn't have to pay anything. Don't cancel the order. Submit KYC Docs at kyc.fedex.com, fill and email the letter of authority.

They need KYC to present to customs so customs knows who is importing something and letter of authority is needed so fedex can clear your item from customs on your behalf.
 
Yeah, actually there is an online portal of FedEx where I just uploaded my KYC. In fact, they called me and asked to do so.
 
These are ridiculous customs charges!!!!!!!! I was getting this package and all contents for free!!!! This package contained a couple of booklets and flyers. Now, FedEx will add 500 + GST extra. I cannot get in touch with the FedEx team for cancellation!!!! I have tried calling, emailing but no one replies. Finally, wrote to their head of operations. Let's see what happens.
customs.jpg


BTW, what is "Appraised"? @varkey
 
Thanks. Will FedEx call me before paying the customs? How do I surrender my shipment to customs? I have been trying to reach FedEx but they don't reply. I was receiving these for free from Github.
 
FedEx didn't contact me at all when paying for my router. I had to check on ECCS Portal for customs amount and added 500 for FedEx Fees. Delivery guy gave me the customs receipt. No emails nothing.
 

Wow! 😑

You can always reject the package, just don't accept it. This is definitely Fedex's craziness. I don't recall the order of the different clearance statuses in that portal, but if the CBE was filed only today, it could be just reflecting what FedEx filed (shows their stupidity).
 
It landed in Delhi just a couple of hours ago. I spoke to a friend's dad in the customs dept Kolkata and he asked me to email New Delhi customs, but couldn't give me the email id. Does anyone here know or find out the email id?
 
So, finally, a FedEx higher official called me. She explained that this was declared as a gift item. So, it attracted a net import duty of 78% (including GST and all). If it had been declared as a personal buy, it would have had a 42% import duty. Also, she asked me to reply to her email so that the shipment could be destroyed. Got rid of this customs menace finally, only after it reached Kolkata. I suggested them to ask each customer before clearing the customs. She said this would be time-consuming and costly with the hundreds of thousands of shipments they handle daily. I think they are willing to take the risk of customers not willing to pay; they already charge an exorbitant customs handling fee to mitigate that.
 
My friend is sending me some salvaged electronic items from Europe. I will ask him to avoid FedEx and DHL and instead use the regular postal service.

The friend can write the value as <10 USD and "used personal components" as the description.

Is there anything else I could do here? Thanks.
 
@dhirubhai if they check your package, "Used personal components" may be considered a violation of anti dumping laws and attract even higher charges in penalties.
 
This sounds a bit far-fetched to me. Do you have a better description?

Edit: Something vague like "IC board" might work better? AliExpress packages always use very generic terms.

The components and boards are really salvaged and are second-hand (or even fourth-hand by now). Anti-dumping is about imports and their economic impact (it seems and not about "wastage dumping") and doesn't really apply for this < 10 USD thing?
 
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Hi All,

I recently sent a package (HDMI splitter) valued S$50 from Singapore to India.

Duty came to around 98% of my product value. When I confronted customs (India), i got a email reply as follow

"In this regard, it is to inform you that Goods mentioned in the Bill of Entry have been declared as personal goods and classified under 98049000. Therefore, Duty as per customs circular no.04/2020-Cus dated 21.01.2020 has been levied on this consignment. As per circular duty, leviable on personal goods is BCD@35%, IGST@28%, and SWS@10%

Your consignment invoice value is 50SGD, which has to be converted into an assessable value by adding Freight and Insurance charges for duty calculation .

Invoice value in INR = 50 SGD, Rate of Exchange is 54.95, hence invoice value in INR is 50*54.95=2747.5
Freight Charges = 20% of Invoice value i.e. 20% of 2747.5 = 549.50,
Insurance Charges = 1.125% of Invoice value + Freight Charges i.e. 1.125% of (2747.5+549.5) = 37.09
Assessable Value = Invoice value + Freight charges + Insurance Charges = 2747.5+549.5+37.09 = 3334.09
Taking round figure = 3334
Basic Customs Duty (BCD) = 35% of Assessable value = 1167
Social Welfare Surcharges (SWS) = 10% of Basic Customs Duty = 117
IGST = 28% of (Assessable value + Basic Customs duty + Social Welfare Charges) = 1293

Total Duty = BCD + SWS + IGST = 1167+117+1293 = 2577."


Is it valid?
 

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