RC India

General Topics => RC Outlets and Resellers => Topic started by: ankur2604 on October 02, 2011, 06:34:53 PM



Title: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: ankur2604 on October 02, 2011, 06:34:53 PM
I want to Import Hobbyzone Supercub & this is my first import, how much duties and taxes would be charged on it.
Price is $179.
country of purchase- USA


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: hellfire on October 02, 2011, 06:48:23 PM
Well typical hobby imports of mine of similar value from USA get taxed at around 2k ,this is with UPS .

If you order it via USPS you may get taxed at around 1.2k to 1.5k assuming $179 is including shipping charges.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: Rao on October 02, 2011, 07:26:23 PM
If you use USPS air you MAY even pass without any customs duty. Best of luck.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: ujjwaana on October 02, 2011, 08:52:31 PM
Well typical hobby imports of mine of similar value from USA get taxed at around 2k ,this is with UPS .

If you order it via USPS you may get taxed at around 1.2k to 1.5k assuming $179 is including shipping charges.

There is not 'Flat' rate for customs. If the item is below $200 or so mark, Customs Superintendent at the FPO evaluates the parcel, else there is a little more wait as only the Asst Commissioner could clear such high value parcel.

The Customs duty varies between 22%-30%, depending the actual contents and mood of the officials. As Rao sir has said, small non-registered parcel from West goes duty free, like USPS. Lately customs have been doing prejudice with Registered parcel from China/Far east and always puts a duty, even if the items value is less. 

DHL/FedEx/BlueDart and other premium/expedited mode like EMS almost *Always* attracts the maximum duty on the declared value.
Try to get item you are looking for from LHS even if they are 10-15% costlier, as the hassle of importing does not justify any less saving.

Avoid importing Radio. They are restricted item and the customs have all the right of confesticate them. Engine/ARF are also trouble makers as you might end up giving painful justification if held. 
All the best.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: vineet on October 02, 2011, 09:17:44 PM
i have seen people, who never had troublein importing radio, even no customs, but they are not from delhi , they belong to some part of south india where officials are not that strict.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: Charan on October 02, 2011, 10:56:10 PM
Depends on how lucky you are, I have had no duty at times & anything from 10% - 30% on the discretion of the assessing officer...


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: ujjwaana on October 02, 2011, 11:21:38 PM
i have seen people, who never had troublein importing radio, even no customs, but they are not from delhi , they belong to some part of south india where officials are not that strict.
There are people in this country who never had trouble in doing **Anything**, lets not deliberate in such details. Please read post by other seniors on this forum, all of them would discourage from importing Radio via post. There are many other very senior flyer in our field who always get the Radio by someone travelling to India. Postal route is a big no-no.

Vineet, please dont comment on things which you don't have first hand experience. I was mislead by similar enthusiasm 2 years back. I don't say it is impossible, by counting on sheer luck or 'Other' means is better not to discuss on this forum.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: ankur2604 on October 03, 2011, 01:48:44 PM
if there are radios in RTF package then also is there any problem.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: ujjwaana on October 03, 2011, 04:45:42 PM
if there are radios in RTF package then also is there any problem.
Customs has held a Heli from with out even a Radio. a Fully loaded RTF with a Radio is surely a problem. I don't say you can't get it through, but surely you cannot fight it through....


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: karandex on May 03, 2012, 03:46:11 PM
what about getting bixler kit. only a aIr frame


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: aviator on May 03, 2012, 04:04:30 PM
Where r u buying frm?
Hobbyzone doesn't send to INDIA.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: karandex on May 03, 2012, 04:06:29 PM
i am thinking of easy star brushless clone.i am fixed on axn floater jet from rc bazzar but found it expensive and inferior from bixler. what about rcforall shikra or eagle wing.or if you know suggest a good starter plane.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: traxxrc1 on May 03, 2012, 04:37:05 PM
If you can find it , buy from India.
Even though it might feel being overpriced but, buying locally not only save you from hassles but but also doesn't cost as much as is perceived.
With bigger packages, even though you may be able to clear it up from customs but you have a good chance to face any unexplainable amount of duty and the fact is that they are not answerable to you for the duty imposed.
So,if i were you i would buy locally and not get lured for saving a few hundreds.
Plus buying locally you can get replacements if something goes wrong out of the box which is not the case with most of the international websites.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: karandex on May 03, 2012, 04:39:43 PM
still what about alternatives like shirka ? i rcdhamaka is pretty over prices. the fun thing is the starter planes are expensive, and advanced are quite cheaper. and then scale models are again expensive.


Title: Re: Duties and taxes on import from usa
Post by: traxxrc1 on May 03, 2012, 04:43:31 PM
Cant really tell you about planes because i am into cars. But experience with local and international buying is pretty much the same for cars and planes.