🇺🇸 United States vs 🇮🇳 India
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇺🇸 United States | 🇮🇳 India | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) |
| VAT / GST | n/a | 5% / 12% / 18% / 28% IGST |
| De minimis (USD) | USD 800 | n/a |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 10000 | USD 5000 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 1 | 2 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 200 | 100 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 800 | USD 480 |
| Prohibited categories | Narcotics and controlled substances; Counterfeit goods; Obscene material; Products made with forced or child labor; Endangered species products (CITES) | Narcotic and psychotropic substances; Pornographic material; Counterfeit currency; Goods from certain sanctioned sources; Maps showing incorrect Indian territorial boundaries |
| Restricted categories | Firearms and ammunition (requires permits/licenses); Certain agricultural products (fruits, vegetables, meats — inspection required); Trademarked goods (limited personal-use quantities); Prescription medications (personal-use quantities only); Alcohol (state regulations apply; requires importer license for commercial quantities) | Wildlife and endangered species (Wildlife Protection Act permits); Firearms and ammunition (Arms Act licence required); Medicines and drugs (CDSCO licence required for commercial imports); Food items (FSSAI import licence required); Certain agricultural products (Plant Quarantine Order compliance) |
| Known scams | Fake ESTA submission websites that charge inflated fees ($50-$100 instead of the official US$21). Always use the official esta.cbp.dhs.gov domain. • Phishing 'CBP refund' emails or texts claiming a customs payment is owed. CBP does not collect duty by email link. Verify any notice through the official portal. | Fake Indian e-Visa sites inflating the official USD 10-80 fee. Apply only via indianvisaonline.gov.in. |
Detailed pages: United States • India
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