Import duty on numismatic coin , stuffed animals and birds(taxidermy) is @ 14.712%.
E-MAIL received on above subject:
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Hi Mr. Ravindra,
I got your email ID from your blog http://personalimport.blogspot.com/. However I could not approach you through that as I could not find a way of doing it.
Sir, I am drawing your kind attention towards an issue which has cropped up today, and I must admit I did not know about anything of this sort which may come up.
I am a collector based in Calcutta and I collect numismatic items which include coins (Silver and Copper) and Banknotes which are NOT LEGAL TENDER. I mean to say that I collect old coins and banknotes ..for example British India banknotes.
I buy them for collection purpose only from dealers in India and also abroad. I have registered on Ebay for the last 8-9 months and I buy coins and banknotes which I like to collect. For INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS, EBAY has a PAYMENT SERVICE called PAYPAL AND I use that predominantly to pay for the purchses internationally. For domestic transactions though I use cheques and demand drafts. PAYPAL HAS a couple of PAYMENT mechanisms such PAYMENT VIA INTRNATIONAL CREDIT CARD AND ALSO PAYMENT VIA PAYPAL BALANCE. However I use my INTERNATIONAL CREDIT CARD FOR SUCH PURCHASES.
This has been the norm for the last 8-9 months that I have been buying from International sellers on Ebay and paying them via Paypal. came to know that these incoming parcels come to the FOREIGN POST OFFICE AND THEN DESPATCHED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS. Also the fact that IF THE PARCELS ARE OPENED BY THE CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES, THE addressee is required to pay CUSTOMS DUTIES. As it happened a few times that MY PARCELS WERE OPENED BY THE CUSTOMS GUYS AND THEY ISSUED A CHALLAN AND SENT TO MY ADDRESS THROUGH POST OFFICE GUYS. I checked the material and PAID THE CUSTOMS DUTIES AND GOT MY MATERIALS RELEASED. NO OTHER ISSUES HAPPENED. I HAVE PAID CUSTOMS DUTIES AS ASSESSED BY THE POSTAL VALUATION DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN POST OFFICE IN CALCUTTA.
However, Sir, recently I bought an ASSORTMENT OF PORTUGUESE INDIA (GOA) BANKNOTES DATED 1945 AND 1959, WHICH ARE OF COURSE NOT LEGAL TENDER IN INDIA, AND ARE CANCELLED NOTES BY THE GOVT OF INDIA, WHEN GOA WAS LIBERATED. THESE ARE CHOICE AND GOOD ITEMS FOR COLLECTION AND DEMAND IS VERY HIGH FOR THESE. I BOUGHT THEM OVER EBAY AND PAID THE SELLER VIA PAYPAL, WHO LIVES IN LISBON, PORTUGAL. AS USUAL I EXPECTED THAT TO GO THORUGH THE FOREIGN POST OFFICE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. AND EVEN IF THAT IS OPENED UP AND BECAME DUTIABLE I WOULD PAY THE POSTAL GUY WHO WOULD COME WITH THE PACKET.
To my surprise Sir, I see that I got a letter via SPEED POST FROM THE FOREIGN POST OFFICE/DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS WHICH IS A SHOWCAUSE NOTICE/CALL MEMO, WHICH IS IN HINDI. I QUOTE FROM THE LETTER HANDWRITTEN TEXTS IN ENGLISH BELOW:
"The subject import of goods are classifiable U/CTH 9705 0090" and are Restricted; allowed for import under saving clause 3(1) of Foreign Trade (Exemption of Rules in certain cases) Order 1993, read with Customs Notification 157 dated 28/03/1990.
The subject goods do not appear to fall within the above category...
Please submit documents in respect of the value OF goods.....
Sir, my questions:
a) Why is this Restricted Items? I have imported Numismatic items from abroad, after paying relevant customs charges, cleared by the foreign post office on numerous occassions earlier. If they were restrictive then they would have been confsicated in the fist place. But this never happened and I got all my materials.
b) What documents can I provide in support of the value of the items? Paypal Invoice. I spent around INR 11000.00 towards this.
c) What should be my course of action?
d) How much Customs do you think I am liable to pay?
I would request you to kindly go through this and help me. This is the first time something of this sort has happened to me and I do not have a clue.
PLEASE HELP ME SIR,
MANY THANKS AND BES REGARDS,
BANDEV GHOSH
KOLKATA
+919836434231
