Beware customs officials in Mumbai International airport!!! [merged]
Oct 2, 2011, 5:49 am
#121
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2
I'm going through customs with something wierd
I'm going through customs at BOM next week with a medical device that I am using for some training and then leaving it with our engineering team there. I was told that I need to show the invoice with $500 on it. I actually have another little simulator to go with it. Is $500 the magic number? they care if its biz equipment?
Oct 2, 2011, 5:54 am
#122
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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I'm going through customs at BOM next week with a medical device that I am using for some training and then leaving it with our engineering team there. I was told that I need to show the invoice with $500 on it. I actually have another little simulator to go with it. Is $500 the magic number? they care if its biz equipment?
Oct 2, 2011, 10:52 am
#123
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2
And so if they do have a list with an EKG machine on it, I have an invoice that shows what I paid for it - what do they do then? Its just training equipment. I wanted to make sure that they didn't like ask me for cash to bring it in.
We thought it would be safer for me to bring with me vs risk FedX losing it and paying 30% + shipping
We thought it would be safer for me to bring with me vs risk FedX losing it and paying 30% + shipping
Oct 2, 2011, 4:23 pm
#124
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 1 AU
Programs: Support the Tyrants Travel Club
Posts: 2,708
A receipt doesn't really matter unless you plan to take the item with you when you leave. And even then, it isn't usually necessary. The value they assess for the item is based on a market value, not what you bought it for.
If you aren't planning on taking the item back with you, you will most likely be stuck with paying any applicable duties.
If you aren't planning on taking the item back with you, you will most likely be stuck with paying any applicable duties.
Oct 4, 2011, 11:03 am
#125
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if the real value is over $500 then in all likelihood you will have to pay duty on it....doesn't matter whether you bring it in yourself or have it sent via fedex....it its under $500 then you have nothing to worry about....
Nov 25, 2011, 6:39 pm
#126
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1
Need suggestion!!
I am going back to india after 4 year.. I have student visa. I am planning to take iPhone, iPod and Camera and around 6-7 watches to give my family members.
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
Nov 28, 2011, 1:41 am
#127
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
If have any Indian passport and you are a returning student you will be SOL if they discover your gifts/belongings. 36% Duty is applicable on everything above a certain amount (equiv to 25000 INR).
http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm
Technically you may get off as a tourist, but with 6-7 watches and a ton of electronic goods that are clearly gifts you are certainly above 25k and the story of 'just visiting, these are personal items' is one that the customs officer hear about 12 times a day
http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm
Technically you may get off as a tourist, but with 6-7 watches and a ton of electronic goods that are clearly gifts you are certainly above 25k and the story of 'just visiting, these are personal items' is one that the customs officer hear about 12 times a day
Nov 28, 2011, 3:35 am
#128
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: cbr
Programs: QF WP (OWE) / LTG (LT OWS) | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 4,972
I am going back to india after 4 year.. I have student visa. I am planning to take iPhone, iPod and Camera and around 6-7 watches to give my family members.
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
[/rant]
Nov 29, 2011, 8:11 am
#129
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
There's a somewhat macabre joke about someone finding a way to ship gifts back to India duty free.
Googling for "malayali nurse coffin joke" will get you multiple variants of the joke.
Googling for "malayali nurse coffin joke" will get you multiple variants of the joke.
Nov 29, 2011, 10:56 pm
#130
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: California USA
Programs: AA Million Miler, AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 384
I am going back to india after 4 year.. I have student visa. I am planning to take iPhone, iPod and Camera and around 6-7 watches to give my family members.
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
This is Indian customs. We are waiting for you.
Please give us your flight details.
Nov 29, 2011, 11:30 pm
#131
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
I am going back to india after 4 year.. I have student visa. I am planning to take iPhone, iPod and Camera and around 6-7 watches to give my family members.
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
Nov 29, 2011, 11:43 pm
#132
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere near a Airstrip
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 647
Dec 2, 2011, 10:29 am
#133
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: OnAnIsland
Posts: 344
I am going back to india after 4 year.. I have student visa. I am planning to take iPhone, iPod and Camera and around 6-7 watches to give my family members.
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
Can I leave my stuff in India like iPhone, iPod and camera with my family, but I will tell custom that it is for my personal use while I stay in India? If They ask me when I return, I will tell them I lost them. Need advice.
What is limit for custom?
I am also planing to take xbox for my cousin. Do I have to pay tax on gifts?
u should not have a problem with iphone, ipod and camera but xbox and 6 watches should take you over the limit
also do remember that if u are coming from north america, the xbox will be pretty useless in India - different voltage & region
and of course the others here have given you some friendly advise which we all hope u follow
+ 1 - of course the gr8 indian mentality is to complain when you are the victim of corruption but take advantage of it otherwise....
Jan 28, 2012, 5:58 am
#134
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: QF, SQ, GA
Posts: 159
If I'm travelling to India on a conference visa and taking my laptop, iPhone and DSLR with me, all of which I do plan to take home with me after the conference...Do I need to be scrounging up receipts for customs?
Appreciate any advice. First trip to India.
Appreciate any advice. First trip to India.
Jan 28, 2012, 6:16 am
#135
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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Posts: 29,682
you shouldn't have a problem....worse case scenario, if they do stop you then tell them to note the serial numbers & put them on your passport....they will then check on your way back if you still have the items....but it won't even come to this....as i said before, you shouldn't have any problems....