Computer and Customs

Number Six · Oct 2nd, 2003, 20:42

Hello Everybody..
Sorry my first post is going to be a little boring but here we go.
I will be arriving in delhi soon with a very small pc (not a laptop) and a 19" flat screen.. The question is do i declare this to customs?? the last few trips ive made the customs slip on the disembarkation card seems to have been a bit of a joke and was just chucked in a big pile, i dont even think i was asked for one last time. i remember 15 years ago stuff used to be written in the back of your passport and they were very heavy with people importing computers.. i met a woman whose husband had been in prison for 12 months and was still there and all they had was a childs spelling computer!! it seems the customs guys had some sort of quota to fill...
anyway should i declare?? i want to make a side trip to sri lanka and dont want to take the machine with me... does anyone have any experience of taking laptops etc... i did a search for 'customs' but couldnt find anything.. thanks
Number Six

pooch · Oct 3rd, 2003, 00:54

I have taken my notebook in several times, no problems whatsoever. I once declared verbally a videocam (in 2001) and the customs guy goes "of course of course you need to declare it" and walks up with me to the customs desk and then asks if that's all I got , I then told him about the notebook and he simply told me to carry on. Just recalled that a laptop is allowed in duty free and you don't need to declare it, so is a videocam, digicam (one each). I do not however know, strictly going by printed customs regulations, if a regular camera and a digicam count as just "camera" therefor you having to declare either one. I had a hard time explaining in several places that my digicam was just a normal camera and I should be charged Rs.25 opposed to Rs.100-250. I guess they will update their regulations to read "one camera, digital or regular" sometime.

I take it the incident of the woman you met happened fifteen years ago. You had draconian anti smuggling laws back then.

neoncarrot · Oct 3rd, 2003, 01:22

Like Julls, I've been in and out of India with Laptops and a variety of bits and pieces without problem. The really confusing bit is the customs form which appears to contradict itself heavily. On the one hand it says that tourists can bring in laptop, etc, etc provided it is re exported, but then goes on to say that if you have goods over a total value of 4000 Rs you have to declare it. So I have always just written 4000 Rs and gritted my teeth. Considering we usually come via the middle east and the plane is loaded with returning Indians evidently planning to open consumer elctronics businesses (judging by the vast luggage) I suspect the customs are fairly uninterested in the odd westerner with a laptop.

Oct 2nd, 2003, 20:42	#1
Number Six Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 46	Computer and Customs Hello Everybody.. Sorry my first post is going to be a little boring but here we go. I will be arriving in delhi soon with a very small pc (not a laptop) and a 19" flat screen.. The question is do i declare this to customs?? the last few trips ive made the customs slip on the disembarkation card seems to have been a bit of a joke and was just chucked in a big pile, i dont even think i was asked for one last time. i remember 15 years ago stuff used to be written in the back of your passport and they were very heavy with people importing computers.. i met a woman whose husband had been in prison for 12 months and was still there and all they had was a childs spelling computer!! it seems the customs guys had some sort of quota to fill... anyway should i declare?? i want to make a side trip to sri lanka and dont want to take the machine with me... does anyone have any experience of taking laptops etc... i did a search for 'customs' but couldnt find anything.. thanks Number Six

Oct 3rd, 2003, 01:22	#3
neoncarrot Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Manali, India Posts: 86	Like Julls, I've been in and out of India with Laptops and a variety of bits and pieces without problem. The really confusing bit is the customs form which appears to contradict itself heavily. On the one hand it says that tourists can bring in laptop, etc, etc provided it is re exported, but then goes on to say that if you have goods over a total value of 4000 Rs you have to declare it. So I have always just written 4000 Rs and gritted my teeth. Considering we usually come via the middle east and the plane is loaded with returning Indians evidently planning to open consumer elctronics businesses (judging by the vast luggage) I suspect the customs are fairly uninterested in the odd westerner with a laptop. __________________ Photo galleries, essays, travel tips and India statistics at: Neoncarrot India travelog

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Oct 3rd, 2003, 00:54	#2
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	I have taken my notebook in several times, no problems whatsoever. I once declared verbally a videocam (in 2001) and the customs guy goes "of course of course you need to declare it" and walks up with me to the customs desk and then asks if that's all I got , I then told him about the notebook and he simply told me to carry on. Just recalled that a laptop is allowed in duty free and you don't need to declare it, so is a videocam, digicam (one each). I do not however know, strictly going by printed customs regulations, if a regular camera and a digicam count as just "camera" therefor you having to declare either one. I had a hard time explaining in several places that my digicam was just a normal camera and I should be charged Rs.25 opposed to Rs.100-250. I guess they will update their regulations to read "one camera, digital or regular" sometime. I take it the incident of the woman you met happened fifteen years ago. You had draconian anti smuggling laws back then.

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