Importing From Ebay

[MVP 3]

Hi,

I have purchased an electronic item from ebay.com. The item is now with Office of the Assistant Commissioner of Customs. They are asking me to provide

1. Invoice

2. IEC Number

3. Payment Particulars

Now, I don't have an IEC number. And the payment was through paypal. If I give the paypal particulars, will there be any enquiry about how I got money into my paypal account? What will happen if I don't provide any particulars? They will be charging duty and give the product to me? Please throw light into this.

regards

Mathew

[amtrag 20]

I would suggest to contact the courier co. Usually they help out (read: deliver the goods at your doorstep) in case of imports.

Also do check this link to a discussion on a similar topic at team-bhp.com, it might be of help to you.

Importing from ebay.com

[MVP 3]

The parcel was sent using USPS. So it is handled by Indian post office on reaching India.

[Arun 795]

If you give the required documents, they might give the item back to you for no extra charges. I had to pay about 50% of the item cost to get it back, when an an electronic item was similarly held by the Customs Office in Cochin some time ago.

[kshah 452]

postal CUSTOM service is very corrupt in India. Not postal service. Especially in small towns and cities except mumbai and delhi. I will always prefer courier even though they appear expensive. I have always been made to pay money to custom officials in post. even for smallest shippments. Where as courier it is not the case.

IEC is required for commercial shipments only. Upto US $ 100 any one can import goods as samples. Cellulars are duty free, by law they attract about 20% additional duties only.

[ssr 10]

What about FedEx and DHL?