Customs Duty for Tourists on Personal DSLRs + Lenses

I know this question has been asked in varying forms over time but I could not find a consistent answer. Carrying two new digital cameras to India comes close but am not sure what the conclusion was to that one despite reading the posts .

Anyway here goes:
I work in the US on an H1B and am traveling to india(I have an indian passport) for ten days in late may. I plan on carrying a dslr + 2 lenses (which is used and I plan to bring everything back in ten days time when I return). I do not plan to carry a laptop or anything else that would fall under the dutiable goods category.

Having read up on baggage rules here http://www.cbec.gov.in/customs/cs-ac...s/cs-rulef.htm and http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm am still unsure about a few things.

1) Do I qualify as a tourist? (I think I do as per the rules)
2) Would I be allowed the camera duty free since it satisfies

(i)Used personal effects and travel souvenirs, if -

(a) These goods are for personal use of the tourist, and

(b) These goods, other than those consumed during the stay in India, are re-exported when the tourist leaves India for a foreign destination.

3) If so should I go through the green channel without declaring anything or through the red channel?

4) any personal experiences that someone who was carrying similar value of personal good could share? ( the cam + lenses are about $2000 even though they are used so don't want to end up paying 35% duty on that )

Thanks in advance for helping..

Just try not to look guilty. I usually carry enough cameras, computers and other gadgets to equip an army and nobody ever says boo anymore.

Try to show them the purchase bills of your Used items, they should be back in the past.... This should convince them of the stuff being Used.

For anything which is unused and looks brand new, you will be subjected to a 25000 Rs value. If the custom officials evaluate your stuff (and mind you, they evaluate with their own set of prices they have with them) to be more than 25000 then what is that extra amount, you will be subjected to duty (for the electronics category) on that amount....

For eg, they conclude your lenses/ camera are new and are for 40000 Rs in Indian market, you will be subjected to duty on the extra 15K....

HTH

Also like abracax said, DO NOT LOOK GUILTY or be sweating...
Just walk out casually out of the green channel. Even if they stop and ask you, whats in the bags, just say used clothes and used camera.... thats it

Its all a matter of luck actually...
1 SLR + 2 lenses should be no probs at all

Just be confident!

i have been to india just last week, with carrying my DSLR and 2 Lenses bought in HK more than a year ago, even though i showed all related Bills to indian costums, and told them that its been with me for more than 1 year they still charged me with around 90000 Calculated Duty, but some how they satisfied on another amount(into their pockets)and not on papers.

so my Query still is How old ur gadgets should b so that they will not b charged for costums duty.

and

if i declare my goods in HK that i will return them back to HK, will it still b applicable for DUTY in india..

thanks awaiting responses!!

Mahesh

That's the problem with Indian customs. The extortionist, I mean officer, at the door when you're leaving who says "Send the bag for X-Ray" is the worst. Last time I just pulled out my phone, said "Wait", and started punching numbers in and asked for his name... Soon as he saw that, he said "Go".

Personal effects are just that, personal effects. On top of that, the items having been bought over a year ago are exempt.
They're just as corrupt now as ever, I've even had some try to claim "Well you bought this for 2,000 rupees, but in India it sells for 20,000 so you have to pay duty on that". They figured out I knew my stuff when I asked "So it sells for 20,000 AFTER tax, duty, and retailer's profit. So why should I pay duty on Indian value? Show me the Customs rules that say duty is based on Indian pricing and not invoice pricing".

Also on one occasion, I was taken into the Customs room to show them the price of my item on the Internet. Remember, CUSTOMS, as in INDIAN GOVERNMENT. What do I see on the bottom right corner of the screen? "This Version of Windows XP does not have a valid license and is a Counterfeit Version. Please purchase a legitimate version immediately". I wonder if that's still the case, most likely is.

So are you an Indian Passport holder or other?
Are you normally resident in India or NRI?

If you are normally resident in India and are taking things out for use and will bring them back, you need to take a certificate (I think called Carnet) for that. The customs guys will try to convince you that it will not be required and you can bring them back without problems, they will try to fleece you once back.

At the entry airport let the customs guy know what you have and ask them to endorse the items in your passport. While returning, at emigration, the officer will check the passport and the items to make sure that you are taking them back with you. There is no worries about bribe, duty or anything.

Cheers

Nattusbs

Mod Note: please do not use SMS language on this web site.

I think it will depend on whether you are foren or NRI sad to say. I have never been bothered despite a pile of stuff. Worst is that they will write it into my passport. If I am carrying a ton of stuff I declare the camera and have them write it in the passport. This satisfies them and the rest sails on by. Now that I am older I don't smuggle except for a good cause, Delhi Wine Club, my old dissertation supervisor in Pune and other charities like my access to decent wine while in India..

edwardseco: It depends on the customs people. They tried that once, I go "fine write it in my passport" (and no my passport is not Indian). The smartass answer he tried was "Well we don't know if you'll leave with it or not".
The second I said "That's the point of writing it down. If I don't leave with it, then charge me the duty for it".

narendra: I thought carnets were just for automobiles, or are they for everything? I know for taking a vehicle internationally you need a carnet with insurance attached that has to be stamped at entry and exit.

and mahesh: Your things could be a day old or 50 years old. If you're not leaving them in India then there is legally no duty, just harassment from the customs people.

True, Carnet is for Automobiles.

For other High value goods that a Resident Indian is taking out of the country and would be bringing back while returning, its called an Export Certificate. This is issued by the Customs people at the airport and needs to be asked for. They will always say that it is not required and then specifically ask for it on return, else pay duty.

From the official site (Central Board of Excise and Customs) for Baggage Rules for Outgoing passengers: http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm

I would try to see if the extortionist is my in-law. I hear he is doing well by a govt. salary these days..

Actually people who have "transferred" stuff often have a whole gamut of strategies for dealing with the airport situation that as hinted above often deal with psychological intimidation and deception..