"Importing" Laptops to India - How many per person?

Rehaan · 9th December 2005, 08:45

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out on this one -

I am flying in from the US to Bombay, and the latest laws say that people are allowed to bring in a laptop without paying any duty, the question is will i be allowed to bring in a second laptop legally without paying anything extra ? (One will be returning to the US with me and one will be left in Bombay)

Thanks for your help guys,
And please only reply if you are SURE of the answer...
cya
R

Rtech · 9th December 2005, 09:43

By law, no. But its been done without any probs. As long as the second laptop is a used piece as well, I don't think yu should have any problems. My dad brought back 2 used laptops once and didn't face any trouble.

adya33 · 9th December 2005, 09:51

Its one laptop, two litres of liquor per adult

vipulG · 9th December 2005, 10:15

You can bring one laptop but for second you need to pay applicable duties (some 34% of invoice value) , there is a concept of Import/Export Certificate , endorsing on your passport but that all very complicated and time consuming and depends on the mood of the officer on duty.

filcord · 9th December 2005, 10:19

The free laptop is one that you intend to keep here in India. The one you are taking back is always free, as all other personal effects, camera, videocamera, etc. Only you will have to declare to customs that you are taking one laptop back so that they can enter the same in your p/port if they want (normally they will not bother, and just wave you on!)

Rtech · 9th December 2005, 10:27

to declare, he would have had to do that before he left India. Prob is, he's now coming back with 2 laptops, neither of which are declared.

Simple (but kinda risky) solution. Become pals with the person next in the seat next to you and let him walk out with one laptop (if he doesn't already have one).

dmitri · 9th December 2005, 10:33

I got a similar kind of Question here.
Will I be able to bring two laptops,

where first one is bought from India and taken to US and the second one is a brand new one which is bought from US on my return.

Is there something like endorsing the first laptop to the passport so effectively I am importing only one laptop.

Rehaan · 9th December 2005, 11:40

Hey Guys,

Thanks for your replies. Sounds like its not legal... so i will ship it to my sister to carry down with her.

Rtech - lol man, i considered "finding a friend" onboard...but thats a bit of a longshot. Esp when it comes to carrying other pplz luggage after 9/11 !

cya
R

ps - when it comes to writing on passports, ive never seen them do it when entering the country, they only do it when you leave. Although in theory you should be able to have it written that you WILL BE taking one laptop back, and able to bring two.... but then i guess that opens up a possibility for a lot of loopholes...

Xsailor · 9th December 2005, 12:32

Hi Rehaan,

Passports are NO longer stamped. At the time of departure, you fill-in a silly form and the customs officer just stamps and initials it (after verifying the Sr. No. and all). On the way back, you can carry-in the second laptop - no sweat.
H'ever, in your case, since you did not get the form filled, it would be best to stick to plan B (the sis carries it).

BTW, try do most of your Cigs/Booze shopping at the private dutyfree shops in India (2 at Delhi airport) - very reasonable. On second thoughts, you can actually pick a Sony TV/Vid cam/AC (Fujitsu General) at the DF too and as long as you keep the value below 24k INR, you pay no import duty.

I picked a General 1.5T unit on my last trip and that came in 8 k cheaper than retail in India.

Happy landings.

Cheers

Steeroid · 9th December 2005, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

Simple (but kinda risky) solution. Become pals with the person next in the seat next to you and let him walk out with one laptop (if he doesn't already have one).

That is the ONLY way you can get more than one of ANYTHING (except cigarettes, hooch, personal effects) into India free of duty.

Laptops are technically dutiable, but the customs guys normally dont bother because 9 out of 10 have their laptops declared while going out - figuring out which of the passengers HASNT declared their laptop on exit is too much of a pain and it could lead to queues. Hence they wave one laptop through without any issue - they dont bother stamping stuff on passports these days, either.

Anything more than ONE is not considered to be for personal purposes and is charged at >100% duty on ORIGINAL COST, where the ORIGINAL COST is decided by what their catalogue says. Their catalog is usually dated, which means the laptop prices quoted on it are higher since prices have come down recently.

Rtech · 9th December 2005, 13:36

You don't have to declare 1 laptop anymore Steeroid. Its allowed FOC. Thats written right there on the immigration form.

Steeroid · 9th December 2005, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

You don't have to declare 1 laptop anymore Steeroid. Its allowed FOC. Thats written right there on the immigration form.

Sorry - Ive never had to declare a laptop on the way out since all my pcs were bought abroad.

Anyway, the point is that they dont bother if you have one laptop on the way in...anything more is a problem, and when you have one problem they tend to dig up other problems too. Always try NOT to get stopped at customs - a lot of stuff we carry are dutiable and they get down to listing it if they get ONE chance to stop you.

Then you get down to greasing palms, which is something I've thankfully never had to do.

nitinbhag · 9th December 2005, 14:00

Last year the customs law was amended to define ONE laptop as a non-dutiable personal use item like a camera, mobile, watch, etc... It need not be declared on the way out or in to India.

The second laptop is most definitely a dutiable item. My brother tried to do something similar to what Rehaan has in mind, carried in a used laptop in addition to his regular one, and got stopped. Ended up paying duty to the tune of 30K!!. You can buy a basic laptop for that money now in India.
Rehaan, if you feel brave enough, you can try to pack 2 laptops in one bag over one another so the X-Ray doesnt see 2 of them. I know somebody who has done it succesfully. But its pure luck, if you get caught then it is fines or grease money.

devarshi84 · 10th December 2005, 08:42

ok I have done this myself.

I got my laptop back to India the last time I came.

getting 1 laptop by law is ok as it is considered as an important business asset

but getting a second laptop asks payment of duty. But depends if the customs are in the mood to let you go.

Conan · 10th December 2005, 20:16

There are two ways of getting two laptops duty free.
1. You are allowed to carry one official laptop. Try to get a letter from your company saying that it is official.
2. Send one laptop in checkin baggage and one in carry baggage.
As I have noticed in Bangalore customs.
First the carry baggages are screened. Then the checkin baggage is screened and sent on the conveyor belt with an X mark if it needs to be checked again. All bagagges with X marks are screened again, where you need to open and verify the contents to customs officer. Unmarked baggages are not screened twice. But make sure your laptop is well hidden inside the carry baggage.
I got 4 bottles of alcohol like this,

, offcourse it is for own consumption and I am not profiting from it.

Conan

9th December 2005, 08:45	#1
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,046 Thanked: 34,080 Times	"Importing" Laptops to India - How many per person? Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone could help me out on this one - I am flying in from the US to Bombay, and the latest laws say that people are allowed to bring in a laptop without paying any duty, the question is will i be allowed to bring in a second laptop legally without paying anything extra ? (One will be returning to the US with me and one will be left in Bombay) Thanks for your help guys, And please only reply if you are SURE of the answer... cya R
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 09:43	#2
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	By law, no. But its been done without any probs. As long as the second laptop is a used piece as well, I don't think yu should have any problems. My dad brought back 2 used laptops once and didn't face any trouble.
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 09:51	#3
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	Its one laptop, two litres of liquor per adult
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 10:15	#4
vipulG BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Surat Posts: 32 Thanked: 0 Times	You can bring one laptop but for second you need to pay applicable duties (some 34% of invoice value) , there is a concept of Import/Export Certificate , endorsing on your passport but that all very complicated and time consuming and depends on the mood of the officer on duty.
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 10:19	#5
filcord BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: goa Posts: 996 Thanked: 67 Times	The free laptop is one that you intend to keep here in India. The one you are taking back is always free, as all other personal effects, camera, videocamera, etc. Only you will have to declare to customs that you are taking one laptop back so that they can enter the same in your p/port if they want (normally they will not bother, and just wave you on!)
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 10:27	#6
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	to declare, he would have had to do that before he left India. Prob is, he's now coming back with 2 laptops, neither of which are declared. Simple (but kinda risky) solution. Become pals with the person next in the seat next to you and let him walk out with one laptop (if he doesn't already have one).
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 10:33	#7
dmitri BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 74 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Two Laptops. I got a similar kind of Question here. Will I be able to bring two laptops, where first one is bought from India and taken to US and the second one is a brand new one which is bought from US on my return. Is there something like endorsing the first laptop to the passport so effectively I am importing only one laptop.
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 11:40	#8
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,046 Thanked: 34,080 Times	Hey Guys, Thanks for your replies. Sounds like its not legal... so i will ship it to my sister to carry down with her. Rtech - lol man, i considered "finding a friend" onboard...but thats a bit of a longshot. Esp when it comes to carrying other pplz luggage after 9/11 ! cya R ps - when it comes to writing on passports, ive never seen them do it when entering the country, they only do it when you leave. Although in theory you should be able to have it written that you WILL BE taking one laptop back, and able to bring two.... but then i guess that opens up a possibility for a lot of loopholes...
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 12:32	#9
Xsailor BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Noida Posts: 128 Thanked: 0 Times	Hi Rehaan, Passports are NO longer stamped. At the time of departure, you fill-in a silly form and the customs officer just stamps and initials it (after verifying the Sr. No. and all). On the way back, you can carry-in the second laptop - no sweat. H'ever, in your case, since you did not get the form filled, it would be best to stick to plan B (the sis carries it). BTW, try do most of your Cigs/Booze shopping at the private dutyfree shops in India (2 at Delhi airport) - very reasonable. On second thoughts, you can actually pick a Sony TV/Vid cam/AC (Fujitsu General) at the DF too and as long as you keep the value below 24k INR, you pay no import duty. I picked a General 1.5T unit on my last trip and that came in 8 k cheaper than retail in India. Happy landings. Cheers Last edited by Xsailor : 9th December 2005 at 12:33.
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 13:36	#11
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	You don't have to declare 1 laptop anymore Steeroid. Its allowed FOC. Thats written right there on the immigration form.
	() Thanks

9th December 2005, 14:00	#13
nitinbhag BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 262 Thanked: 2 Times	Last year the customs law was amended to define ONE laptop as a non-dutiable personal use item like a camera, mobile, watch, etc... It need not be declared on the way out or in to India. The second laptop is most definitely a dutiable item. My brother tried to do something similar to what Rehaan has in mind, carried in a used laptop in addition to his regular one, and got stopped. Ended up paying duty to the tune of 30K!!. You can buy a basic laptop for that money now in India. Rehaan, if you feel brave enough, you can try to pack 2 laptops in one bag over one another so the X-Ray doesnt see 2 of them. I know somebody who has done it succesfully. But its pure luck, if you get caught then it is fines or grease money. Last edited by nitinbhag : 9th December 2005 at 14:03.
	() Thanks

10th December 2005, 08:42	#14
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	ok I have done this myself. I got my laptop back to India the last time I came. getting 1 laptop by law is ok as it is considered as an important business asset but getting a second laptop asks payment of duty. But depends if the customs are in the mood to let you go.
	() Thanks

10th December 2005, 20:16	#15
Conan BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 223 Thanked: 0 Times	There are two ways of getting two laptops duty free. 1. You are allowed to carry one official laptop. Try to get a letter from your company saying that it is official. 2. Send one laptop in checkin baggage and one in carry baggage. As I have noticed in Bangalore customs. First the carry baggages are screened. Then the checkin baggage is screened and sent on the conveyor belt with an X mark if it needs to be checked again. All bagagges with X marks are screened again, where you need to open and verify the contents to customs officer. Unmarked baggages are not screened twice. But make sure your laptop is well hidden inside the carry baggage. I got 4 bottles of alcohol like this, , offcourse it is for own consumption and I am not profiting from it. Conan
	() Thanks