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

  • Thread starter Thread starter varkey
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How did you confront the customs, anyway? Did you send an email? My emails were unanswered the last time I checked.
 
@kramac That sounds about right. Previously the BCD for CTH 9804 was 10%, hence the total duty came to 41% or so. Now the BCD has been bumped to 35% which translates to around 77% of assessable value.

I guess the thread title needs to be updated.

Get an IEC 😁
 
I have a package coming via post and I had asked the seller to include my IEC along with the invoice. This is the first time I'm getting a package through post where I'd be getting it cleared with an IEC. Not sure of the exact steps, but the invoice value is around 10k, 77% duty would be disastrous. Hopefully they take the IEC into consideration. 😅

When getting a package through courier, making use of the IEC is super straight forward and I'm getting all my packages with just 18% GST (BCD is 0% for the items I usually get)
 
dhirubhai said:
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.
Click to expand...

Yes an IC board would be fine, but don't use the term "used". Importing used goods is prohibited, I'll see if I can find the customs circular but it's been this way for several years.
 

Well, when you apply for IEC there is no option to select Personal use. You'd apply as a propreitorship, you don't need any special docs for it, just your personal PAN and residential address proof.

With IEC, category wise duty would apply, so most electronic items would come with 18% duty/GST. Some items would be 28% duty. Again there is no fixed rate, it would depend on the item category unlike personal goods which is always cleared under CTH 9804 which has now an effective rate of around 77%.
 
Thanks, @varkey . However, the FedEx customer services head told me that personal imports still attract a 42% net duty. Gifts attract 77%. So, if you are buying something from AliExpress, expect to be charged 42% customs. My GitHub package did contain a bill, but all the products were billed at $0. So, it was considered a gift from ecom website and attracted 77% net duty. She told me this on 2 November.
 
frustrated fuck me GIF
 
I sent email and received a reply through public domain email (gmail). It looks suspicious. I again sent a email to customs about this, this time my email (keeping me in CC) was forwarded to another government email id but I yet to get a reply.

On top of that 75%, they charge documentation charges (1100Rs) and warehouse charge (100Rs per day).

I asked them to return my parcel back to me but they are asking me to pay the duty to release the parcel.

Is it normal?

Parcel was sent through a local courier in Singapore.
 
@kramac Which courier is this? Doesn't look like it's through post. Anyway all these are standard charges (ofcourse the handling charge etc would vary with the courier company)

When you say return back to you, does it mean you are not the recipient but the seller? The consignee I guess can reject the shipment.

@royalroy Any package coming through express courier is always assessed for duty, unlike stuff coming via regular post. Cheap and small items are not charged duty when sent through post. Your package came via FedEx hence even if the assessed value is Rs 500 you'd be charged duty.
 

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