Clearing Customs: Guess The Amount!

Rather like one of those "how many beans in jar" things, but without knowing the size of the jar. And, of course, there's no prize for the winner

My contents of my two-bedroom London house, including computer gear, hifi gear, kitchen stuff except the cooker, about one 20-foot container load (OK, that's the size of the jar...) cleared customs today in Chennai.

Anyone like to take a guess at how much duty I've got to pay?

Full value of the original price of each item in the container. i.e. 100% duty?

Probably enough to wish you had sold everything on eBay and bought local in Chennai.

Well I've paid anywhere from 15% -100% of the declared value. Usually around 50% - the only time we got 15% was when our broker's brother was doing the customs clearing. But then the broker was on the trot for some major baksheesh - he settled for a major feed at the copper chimney - don't ya just love India.

Hmmm...

With your Resident's Permit you have certain duty-free allowances on pre-owned, "not new in the box" items.

You're allowed one microwave oven, one desktop computer, one TV...

I have no idea, but I imagine, for a house full of stuff, they would want 1 lakh rupees.

Please say it was less!

The problem is that they levy on the insurance value which of course is more than it's true value, plus countervailing duty. I'd guess about 120%.
http://www.cbec.gov.in/cae/customs/i...s_forresin.htm
http://www.cbec.gov.in/cae/customs/i.../trans_res.htm
Are you going to challenge it?

I would say, based on the "new" India,.....

the duty was zero ......

Total value of all contenets in the 20ft container was assesed to less than
R 5 lakh.

A fairly wide range of guesses so far. I'll announce the result tomorrow!

Is it ?

Is it ?

Is it ?

Or could it even be ?

Watch This Space........

Well, I guess Eater was closest

in round figures: Rs4,500.

I don't think there was a 'declared value' --- I certainly don't recall declaring one --- and I don't remember how much I insured it for (maybe GBP10,000?).

What worried me was that my resident's permit was issued the day before the clearance.

But it looks as if they have basically allowed me Transfer of Residence (one each of most used things free) and charged me for a couple of new, boxed kitchen items at the very decent rate of 15% (on GBP300). It'll be interesting to see the paper work.

Now, I've got used to living in a sparsley furnished house --- WTF am I going to do with all this rubbish ?

Anyway, it is (I hope; arrangements to be finalised) staying in a warehouse until we get back here in June and find a more permanent (ie buy) house.

But the total expenses of getting it here were far more than buying everything from scratch. Thousands of pounds just to get my bed, books, hifi and kitchen stuff (at which point it is a container so the rest of the stuff may as well be chucked in!). But, hey! I'm fond of my bed, books, hifi and kitchen stuff

So it is for Chennai Customs, and a word of praise for Interem, the Chennai company that organised the move and dealt with customs on my behalf

All's well that ends well or ummm cheaply .... and of course you always could take the Interim boys out for a honorarium feast ..... I hear there's a Copper Chimney opened in Madras these days.

Now there's a result Nick 4.500 I bet that came as a pleasant suprise!!

Actually, the woman at Interem who handled the work up to last week (when she left for her marriage) has become a firm friend of ours, and we ate at her family house on Friday evening . . Shame that, due to delays on my part, she wasn't able to do the last few days (but is still keeping a watchful eye for us).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H So it is for Chennai Customs, and a word of praise for Interem, the Chennai company that organised the move and dealt with customs on my behalf

Hallooooo..Nick-H, I have been following the "journey" of your container.....if I recall there was a long storage period?

How pleasant to come across customs agents/ duty officers totally committed to helping you without "haggeling"

We are in the process of sending "stuff"...., moving to Mumbai, also a 20ft container.....like you I just can't not take all the books, and those unnecessary "comfort" items - some call it "junk" .

Selling up in Canada and calling Mumbai home, moving into a two bedroom place in Mumbai...I hope that you will be able to help! I was thinking of contacting Interem, ........

I guess the key is to get the resident permit before unloading? and finding a "good" agent...

Any tips would be gratefully appreciated... ....

Does Indian customs still allow you to bring in a gun from home if you are changing residence to India?

Portie