laptop duty ?? :(

triliana · May 20th, 2008, 00:58

I need to bring my work laptop with me back to US.. going tomorrow for a wedding...

...but I want to get a second laptop while I'm there for personal use.

I read that you can bring one laptop in duty free.. but is there anyway I can get an export certificate on it so I can bring the second laptop duty free??

If not, what is the duty? I need to be prepared in case of hassles.. I have heard it is as low at 7% and as high as 35%

so i'm confused...

machadinha · May 20th, 2008, 16:59

The question gets asked quite regularly, so you could search around the site for it.

puchoo · May 20th, 2008, 17:00

Duty on Laptops

brownboy66 · May 20th, 2008, 17:30

is there any reason why you can't buy the laptop here in Delhi? Save on both duty and baggage weight?

abhi182 · May 20th, 2008, 19:25

technically, you can get your office laptop endorsed on your passport at the customs counter when you are leaving the country...this desk is usually right after immigration check

Thus when you return back, and if someone at customs questions you on your 2nd (new) laptop, you can show them the endorsement thereby keeping your new machine outside imposable duty

Practically, neither would the customs guy at departure endorse your work laptop, nor would the customs guys bother you on the second laptop while coming back
(unless you are coming back via Mumbai, where (fromwhat I have heard, no 1st hand experience of Mumbai int'l airport)) the customs guys would do anything to make your life miserable

edwardseco · May 20th, 2008, 23:05

I have heard of such endorsements but haven't done so..

capt_mahajan · May 20th, 2008, 23:20

Many years ago, I got a laptop endorsed at Delhi airport (I think they give you an export certificate') on the way out. I think I got this done on a couple of occasions, on different trips.

Have got it done pretty often with cameras and such over the last 25 years. Of course, nowadays they are not fussy at all, in comparison- even though I have experience of only one laptop at a time.

abhi182 · May 21st, 2008, 01:11

Since in general, laptops are close to 10-20% cheaper in the US, I get a request from a friend/family/colleague to get one for him/her pretty much each I have travelled out to the states...Only to end up carrying back 3 machines...one office m/c, one personal old workhorse and a new one

Never been bothered or questioned...perhaps just my luck or perhaps the customs guys don't bother anymore

Asking for an endorsement is useless, but no harm in trying

Madhu10 · May 21st, 2008, 01:34

Everytime I have landed in Hyderabad directly I have been asked too many questions about my DSLR and also my laptop. I was asked to give something so that if I want I can give it(my camera and laptop) to my brother. I refused to give anything very tactfully and after 15 -20 mins of standing around stubborn they let me go.

I just got a new Mac and hoping that when I land in Mumbai I will have no problems. I wonder since its a Mac they might give me issues.

capt_mahajan · May 21st, 2008, 01:38

They target people depending on how you look. I could see them doing that with my son (and laptop etc) last time, so I beckoned to them and they came out, after which I threatened to report them.

Never has happened with me, quite the opposite.

Still can't get over the fact that they came out because I called them from outside the passenger area

Whatever, all of these- an obvious foreigner, NRI, youngster, lower middle class and below person...are more likely to be stopped and asked usually stupid questions.

Madhu10 · May 21st, 2008, 01:44

Add a female to that list of people being stopped. They think we are stupid or something.

capt_mahajan · May 21st, 2008, 01:47

I think a male is more likely to be stopped than a female, all other thing being equal.

I think everybody believes men are more prone to lawbreaking.

On the other hand, maybe they think females are better marks. Wouldn't know, have never travelled as a female

(Reminds me of a white guy who went around Europe? made up as a black man, and was surprised)

Nick-H · May 21st, 2008, 02:17

I read an article about academics (visiting lecturers etc) being fleeced; I think that was Hyderabad.

But for all these tales of misdeeds, the bottom line is that the regulations allow one laptop. Laptops two and above, are, therefore, potentialy smuggled laptops.

Which means that if they want to give you a hard time about them, they can do so, legitimately.

triliana · May 21st, 2008, 21:25

wow... I am still not entirely sure what to do. I was not able to get endorsement before I left for US .. so still trying to figure it out. Being a female foreigner tho, maybe shouldn't risk it ... getting through immigration (on the Indian side!) was tough enough.

I have decided to not worry too much about the second laptop.. if I get a good deal and it's something worth fighting for, I'll get it ... otherwise Reliance internet cafe isn't really *that* bad

May 20th, 2008, 00:58	#1
triliana Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi Posts: 51	laptop duty ?? :( I need to bring my work laptop with me back to US.. going tomorrow for a wedding... ...but I want to get a second laptop while I'm there for personal use. I read that you can bring one laptop in duty free.. but is there anyway I can get an export certificate on it so I can bring the second laptop duty free?? If not, what is the duty? I need to be prepared in case of hassles.. I have heard it is as low at 7% and as high as 35% so i'm confused...

May 20th, 2008, 16:59	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,172	The question gets asked quite regularly, so you could search around the site for it. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

May 20th, 2008, 17:00	#3
puchoo Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Posts: 2,219	Duty on Laptops __________________ Cheers! Sidharth puchoo.wordpress.com

May 20th, 2008, 17:30	#4
brownboy66 the riff raff.... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,887	is there any reason why you can't buy the laptop here in Delhi? Save on both duty and baggage weight? __________________ "the last meal is history - its the next one that's important" - Garfield (the cat) IndiaMike Mod Team.... just some plonker with access to the mod tools

May 20th, 2008, 23:20	#7
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,761	Many years ago, I got a laptop endorsed at Delhi airport (I think they give you an export certificate') on the way out. I think I got this done on a couple of occasions, on different trips. Have got it done pretty often with cameras and such over the last 25 years. Of course, nowadays they are not fussy at all, in comparison- even though I have experience of only one laptop at a time. __________________ . The cynic must remember that he is a spy (Epitectus) Indiamike moderating team ..ich bin ein oneliner

May 20th, 2008, 19:25	#5
abhi182 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Madras! Posts: 78	technically, you can get your office laptop endorsed on your passport at the customs counter when you are leaving the country...this desk is usually right after immigration check Thus when you return back, and if someone at customs questions you on your 2nd (new) laptop, you can show them the endorsement thereby keeping your new machine outside imposable duty Practically, neither would the customs guy at departure endorse your work laptop, nor would the customs guys bother you on the second laptop while coming back (unless you are coming back via Mumbai, where (fromwhat I have heard, no 1st hand experience of Mumbai int'l airport)) the customs guys would do anything to make your life miserable

May 20th, 2008, 23:05	#6
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,445	I have heard of such endorsements but haven't done so..

May 21st, 2008, 01:11	#8
abhi182 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Madras! Posts: 78	Since in general, laptops are close to 10-20% cheaper in the US, I get a request from a friend/family/colleague to get one for him/her pretty much each I have travelled out to the states...Only to end up carrying back 3 machines...one office m/c, one personal old workhorse and a new one Never been bothered or questioned...perhaps just my luck or perhaps the customs guys don't bother anymore Asking for an endorsement is useless, but no harm in trying

May 21st, 2008, 01:34	#9
Madhu10 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 64	Hyd experience... Everytime I have landed in Hyderabad directly I have been asked too many questions about my DSLR and also my laptop. I was asked to give something so that if I want I can give it(my camera and laptop) to my brother. I refused to give anything very tactfully and after 15 -20 mins of standing around stubborn they let me go. I just got a new Mac and hoping that when I land in Mumbai I will have no problems. I wonder since its a Mac they might give me issues. __________________ Flickring away.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/80145936@N00/

May 21st, 2008, 01:38	#10
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,761	They target people depending on how you look. I could see them doing that with my son (and laptop etc) last time, so I beckoned to them and they came out, after which I threatened to report them. Never has happened with me, quite the opposite. Still can't get over the fact that they came out because I called them from outside the passenger area Whatever, all of these- an obvious foreigner, NRI, youngster, lower middle class and below person...are more likely to be stopped and asked usually stupid questions.

May 21st, 2008, 01:44	#11
Madhu10 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 64	Add a female to that list of people being stopped. They think we are stupid or something.

May 21st, 2008, 01:47	#12
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,761	I think a male is more likely to be stopped than a female, all other thing being equal. I think everybody believes men are more prone to lawbreaking. On the other hand, maybe they think females are better marks. Wouldn't know, have never travelled as a female (Reminds me of a white guy who went around Europe? made up as a black man, and was surprised)

May 21st, 2008, 02:17	#13
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	I read an article about academics (visiting lecturers etc) being fleeced; I think that was Hyderabad. But for all these tales of misdeeds, the bottom line is that the regulations allow one* laptop.* Laptops two and above, are, therefore, potentialy smuggled laptops. Which means that if they want to give you a hard time about them, they can do so, legitimately. __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One) Last edited by Nick-H : May 21st, 2008 at 02:18. Reason: potenitally?I think my spole chocker just braked doon!

May 21st, 2008, 21:25	#14
triliana Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi Posts: 51	wow... I am still not entirely sure what to do. I was not able to get endorsement before I left for US .. so still trying to figure it out. Being a female foreigner tho, maybe shouldn't risk it ... getting through immigration (on the Indian side!) was tough enough. I have decided to not worry too much about the second laptop.. if I get a good deal and it's something worth fighting for, I'll get it ... otherwise Reliance internet cafe isn't really that bad

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