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When brought in limited quantities for personal use, certain goods are allowed without any taxes as per the Baggage Rules 2016
Overseas travel can be fun, but it is also quite expensive. One way to reduce the overall burden is to purchase duty-free goods when travelling back to India. You can use these within your family or share with friends, relatives or colleagues. Using the gifting route is legal as per current laws. Let us take a look at all duty-free items that you can profit from in a legal manner.
Electronics and gadgets – These are among the goods with highest demand. If you bring additional items, you can easily share them as gifts. Some examples include premium smartwatches, high-end smartphones, gaming consoles, wireless earbuds, digital cameras, etc. As the 2016 Baggage Rules, you can bring in 1-2 units per passenger. You cannot carry more since it will be declared as commercial goods. High-end electronics and gadgets are usually much cheaper at duty-free shopping locations such as Dubai.
Luxury goods – These are also in high demand and can be sold easily. The list includes items like designer handbags, watches, perfumes, sunglasses, etc. Here too, you can bring around 1-2 items per passenger without attracting taxes. For luxury items, the prices are much cheaper at locations in Europe such as France and Italy.
Cosmetics and personal care – You can purchase these if you have friends or relatives who may need these specific items. Examples include premium makeup items, skincare products and haircare items. Typically, you can bring around 5-10 items as duty-free items.
Alcohol and cigarettes – Many people prefer premium alcohol and cigarettes that may not be available in India or could be costing much higher in India. In case of alcohol, you are allowed up to 2 liters per passenger. The limit for cigarettes is 100 sticks, cigars 25 units and tobacco 125 grams.
Clothing and accessories – This covers items like branded apparel, sneakers, jewelry, etc. You can bring around 5-10 pieces, if you declare them for personal use. These items are cheaper at overseas locations, as compared to prices in India.
Health supplements and medicines – This includes items like specialized vitamin supplements, protein powders, OTC medicines, etc. As these are not manufactured in India, the import taxes make the prices quite high in India. These can be purchased at a much cheaper price at overseas locations. You are typically allowed to bring around 2-3 bottles per passenger. These can be easily shared with your friends and relatives.
Steps to ensure legal compliance
Declare all the items you are bringing at the customs. If certain items exceed the duty-free limit, you will be asked to pay the relevant taxes. Make sure you are not carrying any prohibited items such as firearms, gold bars, narcotics, endangered species, etc.
