laptop duty ?? :(

Kayde · Mar 4th, 2009, 14:04

Have not been bothered with a laptop but was told that I had to pay duties on a PDA------ they were asking for about 3000 RBS for a 300USD Dell PDA------told them I would pay but needed a reciept ----They immediately told me I could go and I would "owe" them on my next trip----- This happened in Mumbai!

Nick-H · Mar 4th, 2009, 17:58

Nobody cares about one laptop in or out. It is allowed.

I don't think, but (I do not know) that anyone will care about two laptops on the way out. They will care, if they notice, about two on the way in.

Kadye, are you Indian, Indian origin? Indians get hassled a lot more than foreigners by customs, as they think Indians will just pay up. Their change of tune on demanding a receipt shows that it was a scam.

jyotirmoy · Mar 4th, 2009, 18:07

These days I don't bother about getting a certificate for caryying a laptop or a camera when I travel abroad. Long time ago I approached the custom office at Delhi airport as I was carrying a new camera. They asked me to declare the value and entered the camera details and value on the back page of my passport and stamped it. While returning back no one asked me about the camera & I had forgotten about the entry of it in my passport.

Kayde · Mar 4th, 2009, 18:42

Nope I am a blonde Southern girl from the US

nerd · Mar 15th, 2009, 11:38

I've been staying in the US for more than 12 months and am travelling to India for 2 weeks.

I have bought a laptop for a cousin and will carry this along with some electronics (Ipod Mobile Camera etc.). If I intend to leave this in India and not carry it back will I have to pay customs duty on this.

Aishah · Mar 15th, 2009, 13:51

Mod Note: nerd, this question gets answered quite a bit on the forum. I'm moving your post into an existing thread on it. Also scroll to the bottom of the page and check out those threads as well. If you put 'laptop' and 'duty' into the search function you will get quite a number of related threads too.

OrangeStreet · Mar 25th, 2009, 03:12

I travel with two laptops ALL the time. One from work and one personal. What helps though is that I have an ID Sticker on the cover of work laptop (similar to Employee ID Card, just printed and pasted on the laptop).

They never bother to ask any questions or check once they see the ID sticker. Why not get something like that from your employer or print it yourself?

Something like this - http://picasaweb.google.com/renegade.punk/Badge#

delhiwala · Mar 25th, 2009, 03:14

Import of one laptop is free from custom duty in India.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nerd

I have bought a laptop for a cousin and will carry this along with some electronics (Ipod Mobile Camera etc.). If I intend to leave this in India and not carry it back will I have to pay customs duty on this.

bethey · Jun 4th, 2009, 21:12

So how does this all work though....my plan is to have 2 personal laptops. One will be used as a glorified dvd player [has a huge screen and that's literally the only thing it's worth these days]. The computer-turned-dvd-player will be packed in my checked baggage [it's the only thing I can think of logistically that will work - I'm trying to move using 2 bags and 1 carry-on].

Is there a way I can pre-emptively just declare them, I hate confrontation and do not want to go the route of being pulled out of line and having "discussions". I'd much rather pay what needs to be paid and go on with life.

ETA: I'll be flying into Delhi...

henkybaby · Oct 31st, 2009, 05:28

It depends if you are a tourist or not. The rule for tourists is that it is allowed:

II Tourists of foreign origin other than those of Nepalese origin coming from Nepal or of Bhutanese origin coming from Bhutan or of Pakistani origin coming from Pakistan.

(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.

(ii) Articles upto a value of Rs-8000/- (Rs.2500/- for tourists of Indian origin) for making gifts.

The 'two laptop rule' is "FOR INDIAN RESIDENTS AND FOREIGNERS RESIDING IN INDIA".

You can check this information on the official website of the India ministry: http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm Make a print of that page if you are worried about being harrassed.

Hope this helps.

Aishah · Oct 31st, 2009, 09:25

Great post henkybaby, and thank you for that link (I assume it's working,
either my broadband or the site is so slow I waited five minutes and then gave up!).

A good idea to print the page, many government officials do not know the rules of their own departments - by taking a page from the Central Government website, it helped me get my driver's licence!

jogjayr · Nov 17th, 2009, 05:35

Thanks for that link http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm.

For all Indian residents, carrying two laptops is therefor, possible because:

1. Used personal effects (excluding jewelry) required for satisfying daily necessities of life - Duty Free

This is your first laptop

2. Other articles carried Valued upto Rs.25000/- - Also free.

So make sure that your second laptop is worth less than Rs. 25000/. That can't be too hard when you're coming from America; the exchange rate these days will help.

Gaura Mohana · Nov 18th, 2009, 18:53

i have come into delhi lately (4 months ago) with 3 laptops on ME (not checked in) and they didnt care at all......

and btw im 14......

Nick-H · Nov 19th, 2009, 01:06

So the advice is to get kids to do the smuggling?

I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but the law says one. Don't you think three is pushing it?

Gaura Mohana · Nov 19th, 2009, 08:54

lol. all three were mine...

Mar 15th, 2009, 11:38	#20
nerd Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: India Posts: 1	Getting a laptop for a cousin I've been staying in the US for more than 12 months and am travelling to India for 2 weeks. I have bought a laptop for a cousin and will carry this along with some electronics (Ipod Mobile Camera etc.). If I intend to leave this in India and not carry it back will I have to pay customs duty on this.

Mar 15th, 2009, 13:51	#21
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,618	Mod Note: nerd, this question gets answered quite a bit on the forum. I'm moving your post into an existing thread on it. Also scroll to the bottom of the page and check out those threads as well. If you put 'laptop' and 'duty' into the search function you will get quite a number of related threads too. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Mar 25th, 2009, 03:12	#22
OrangeStreet In Utero Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 657	I travel with two laptops ALL the time. One from work and one personal. What helps though is that I have an ID Sticker on the cover of work laptop (similar to Employee ID Card, just printed and pasted on the laptop). They never bother to ask any questions or check once they see the ID sticker. Why not get something like that from your employer or print it yourself? Something like this - http://picasaweb.google.com/renegade.punk/Badge# __________________ Cheers OS

Nov 17th, 2009, 05:35	#27
jogjayr Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1	That settles it Thanks for that link http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm. For all Indian residents, carrying two laptops is therefor, possible because: 1. Used personal effects (excluding jewelry) required for satisfying daily necessities of life - Duty Free This is your first laptop 2. Other articles carried Valued upto Rs.25000/- - Also free. So make sure that your second laptop is worth less than Rs. 25000/. That can't be too hard when you're coming from America; the exchange rate these days will help.

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Mar 4th, 2009, 14:04	#16
Kayde Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bahrain Posts: 99	Have not been bothered with a laptop but was told that I had to pay duties on a PDA------ they were asking for about 3000 RBS for a 300USD Dell PDA------told them I would pay but needed a reciept ----They immediately told me I could go and I would "owe" them on my next trip----- This happened in Mumbai!

Mar 4th, 2009, 17:58	#17
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	Nobody cares about one laptop in or out. It is allowed. I don't think, but (I do not know) that anyone will care about two laptops on the way out. They will care, if they notice, about two on the way in. Kadye, are you Indian, Indian origin? Indians get hassled a lot more than foreigners by customs, as they think Indians will just pay up. Their change of tune on demanding a receipt shows that it was a scam.

Mar 4th, 2009, 18:07	#18
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,223	These days I don't bother about getting a certificate for caryying a laptop or a camera when I travel abroad. Long time ago I approached the custom office at Delhi airport as I was carrying a new camera. They asked me to declare the value and entered the camera details and value on the back page of my passport and stamped it. While returning back no one asked me about the camera & I had forgotten about the entry of it in my passport.

Mar 4th, 2009, 18:42	#19
Kayde Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bahrain Posts: 99	Nope I am a blonde Southern girl from the US

Jun 4th, 2009, 21:12	#24
bethey Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Delhi/VA Posts: 124	So how does this all work though....my plan is to have 2 personal laptops. One will be used as a glorified dvd player [has a huge screen and that's literally the only thing it's worth these days]. The computer-turned-dvd-player will be packed in my checked baggage [it's the only thing I can think of logistically that will work - I'm trying to move using 2 bags and 1 carry-on]. Is there a way I can pre-emptively just declare them, I hate confrontation and do not want to go the route of being pulled out of line and having "discussions". I'd much rather pay what needs to be paid and go on with life. ETA: I'll be flying into Delhi...

Oct 31st, 2009, 05:28	#25
henkybaby Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1	It depends if you are a tourist or not. The rule for tourists is that it is allowed: II Tourists of foreign origin other than those of Nepalese origin coming from Nepal or of Bhutanese origin coming from Bhutan or of Pakistani origin coming from Pakistan. (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. (ii) Articles upto a value of Rs-8000/- (Rs.2500/- for tourists of Indian origin) for making gifts. The 'two laptop rule' is "FOR INDIAN RESIDENTS AND FOREIGNERS RESIDING IN INDIA". You can check this information on the official website of the India ministry: http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm Make a print of that page if you are worried about being harrassed. Hope this helps.

Oct 31st, 2009, 09:25	#26
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,618	Great post henkybaby, and thank you for that link (I assume it's working, either my broadband or the site is so slow I waited five minutes and then gave up!). A good idea to print the page, many government officials do not know the rules of their own departments - by taking a page from the Central Government website, it helped me get my driver's licence!

Nov 18th, 2009, 18:53	#28
Gaura Mohana Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mathura Posts: 30	i have come into delhi lately (4 months ago) with 3 laptops on ME (not checked in) and they didnt care at all...... and btw im 14......

Nov 19th, 2009, 01:06	#29
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	So the advice is to get kids to do the smuggling? I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but the law says one. Don't you think three is pushing it?

Nov 19th, 2009, 08:54	#30
Gaura Mohana Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mathura Posts: 30	lol. all three were mine...

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