Classification
Getting the HS code right the first time is the cheapest thing you can do. The wrong code means either a demand later or a penalty now, and reclassification during assessment costs days.
Customs ClearanceA defensible customs file,
A defensible customs file,
before cargo arrives.
Import and export documentation, classification, valuation, licensing and assessment support built around the actual product—not a generic checklist.
Customs ClearanceScopeImport · Export
FilingICEGATE support
ReviewHS · Duty · Licence
RecordClear audit trail
Customs Clearance
Nearly every costly delay we see began as a paperwork problem: a classification that would not hold, a value the assessing officer would not accept, a licence nobody checked for. We work the file before the vessel arrives rather than after your container starts accruing charges.
On the China lane this matters more than most. Supplier documentation quality varies, declared values get scrutinised, and several commodity categories carry licensing requirements that only surface at the port if nobody looked earlier.
The numbers that matter
Indian import duty is a stack, not a single rate. Each layer is calculated on a different base, which is why a headline percentage rarely matches the final bill.
| Layer | What it applies to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assessable value | Transaction value, plus freight and insurance | The base everything else builds on |
| Basic customs duty (BCD) | Percentage of assessable value | Set by HS code |
| Social welfare surcharge | Percentage of the BCD amount | A charge on a charge |
| IGST | Assessable value plus BCD plus surcharge | Recoverable as input credit if you are registered |
| Compensation cess | Specific goods only | Applies to a limited list |
| Anti-dumping / safeguard duty | Specific goods and origins | Relevant on some China-origin goods |
We give you the landed cost before you commit to the purchase, not after the goods arrive. Rates change with the budget and with notifications, so we work from the current position rather than last year’s.
India has no free trade agreement with China. There is no preferential rate to claim on this lane, so any quote suggesting otherwise is worth questioning. FTA benefits do apply on other origins we handle, including ASEAN.
What we handle
Valuation
Declared values that look low against comparable imports get challenged. We tell you before filing whether a value is likely to hold and what supporting evidence will be wanted.
Licensing and compliance
BIS registration, FSSAI for food, CDSCO for medical devices and cosmetics, WPC for wireless equipment. Which apply depends on the commodity, and they are checked before shipment rather than at the port.
Examination and assessment
If the shipment is selected for examination we attend it. Queries are answered from the file rather than by going back to you for documents you already sent.
Lanes we run
Where we clear most consignments. The port matters — examination rates, congestion and free-day practice all differ.
- Nhava Sheva (JNPT)Main western gatewayHighest volume on our China lane
- MundraGujaratOften faster turnaround than JNPT
- ICD Ludhiana / Dhandari KalanPunjab inlandClearance close to your premises
- ICD Dadri / TughlakabadNCR inlandFor northern deliveries
- Delhi and Mumbai air cargoAir consignmentsFaster clearance windows
Clearing inland at an ICD instead of at the port can reduce handling, but it moves the customs step later in the journey. Which is better depends on your cargo and how tight the timeline is, and we will tell you which one we would choose.
Documents involved
- Bill of entry
- The import declaration, filed through ICEGATE. This is the document that determines your duty.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Cross-checked against each other and against the bill of lading before anything is filed.
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Proof of shipment and the basis for delivery order collection.
- IEC, GST and PAN
- One-time onboarding for you as importer.
- Product-specific certificates
- BIS, FSSAI, CDSCO, WPC and similar — commodity dependent.
- Certificate of origin
- Required for some goods and for preferential claims where an agreement exists.
How a shipment runs
- 01Before shipment
Classification agreed, licences identified, landed cost estimated. This is the cheapest point to fix a problem.
- 02Documents received
Invoice, packing list and transport document checked against each other.
- 03Filing
Bill of entry submitted through ICEGATE ahead of arrival where possible.
- 04Assessment
Duty determined. Queries answered from the file; examination attended if selected.
- 05Duty payment and release
Duty paid, out-of-charge issued, delivery order collected.
- 06Delivery
Container released and moved, with free days tracked throughout.
Questions we get
How long does clearance take?
It depends on the port, the commodity and whether the shipment is picked for examination. A clean file with no queries clears quickly; a classification dispute or a missing licence can add days. We give you a realistic window for your specific cargo rather than a headline figure.
Can I claim a lower duty rate on Chinese goods?
No. India has no free trade agreement with China, so there is no preferential rate available on that origin. Duty relief on other origins, including ASEAN countries, is a different matter and we will check whether it applies.
What happens if customs disputes my declared value?
They raise a query and ask for supporting evidence — supplier contracts, payment records, comparable imports. We handle the response. Where we think a value looks difficult, we tell you before filing rather than after.
Do I need BIS registration?
It depends entirely on the product. A number of categories require it and the goods cannot be cleared without it. We check this before the shipment leaves, because discovering it at the port means the container sits there.
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