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Dubai-based Indian traveler Ravi was shocked at Mumbai International Airport when he had to pay a hefty customs duty on his new iPhone. Ravi recently arrived in India from Dubai with a sealed iPhone 17 Pro Max, which he had purchased as a gift, but ignoring airport rules proved costly.

Why did I have to pay tax of Rs 22 thousand?

Customs officials considered Ravi’s sealed iPhone box a commercial import. According to regulations, if you import electronic items from abroad in a sealed container and the value exceeds ₹50,000, you are required to pay duty on the item. Ravi’s phone was a gift, but because it was sealed, he had to pay approximately ₹22,000.

What is the custom rule?

According to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), travelers arriving from abroad can bring in one personal mobile phone duty-free, provided the phone is unboxed. Additionally, travelers are allowed to bring in goods up to ₹50,000 duty-free. Any goods exceeding this amount are subject to the full tax.

The complete math of tax

Ravi had to pay basic customs duty, GST, and a social welfare surcharge on the value of the iPhone. This totaled more than 20% of the phone’s price. You can see the full details in the table below.

Useful advice for travelers

If you’re traveling to India from Dubai or any other Gulf country, try to keep your phone in your pocket for personal use. If you bring a sealed package as a gift, you’ll need to declare it at the Red Channel and show a receipt, or you could face a hefty fine.