CUSTOMS

• Q.1 Please give me the rate of duty on a particular item
  
  
• A.1 We regret that we do not have the personnel at present to give specific rates of duty. All the necessary information to work out the rate on your own is given on the web site.
  
  
• Q.2 I am not able to find the latest notification or a particular notification.
  
  
• A.2 As soon as a notification is received by us it is put on the 'what's new'. If you are already conversant with the tariff, you need look no further.
  
  
• Q.3 I need Notification No. 1/64-customs, dated 18-01-1964 which prohibits the import of certain goods.
  
  
• A.3 Click here for Notification 1/64-Cus., dated 18-01-1964.
  
  
• Q.4 I have a digital photo camera which I bought here in South America. I am working here on an assignment and will return to india after two months. My problem is I don't have the recipt of digital photo camera which I bought for USD 400, almost four months ago. Could you please tell me , how can I prove the actual cost and the usage time of it, at airport for customs duty.
  
  
• A.4 The Indian Customs will have the approximate value of digital camera of popular make/brands. You can also get a copy of the manufacturers brochure/printed pricelist of the digital camera, from any dealer and that can be shown to Customs
  
  
• Q.5 I am residing in Denmark for the last 14 months wish to bring a used microwave oven (Costing Approximately 4,200 INR (800 DKK) and weighing 15 Kilograms) with me to India. I purchased this oven here in Denmark 6 months back and I have been using this oven for my personal use in my kitchen. Now while coming to India I wish to bring this item with me.
  I am not aware of Indian customs rules. Would you please help me sending rules and regulations for the above said article and also the amount of custom duty to be paid in case, if this item falls in any category of articles to be charged under customs rules.
  
  
• A.5 You are entitled to Rs 12000 allowance. If there is no other new/electronic gadget being imported by you, then the used Microwave oven can be cleared free of duty within the permissible allowance
  
  
• Q.6 I am NRI US citizen and I plan to travel to India (mother land) in coming days. Although I have obtained info about Duty Free Allowances, I am still afraid about harassment from Indian custom officers.
  
  
• A.6 Thank you for your letter. As long as you are complying with the provisions of the law there is nothing to fear. In the event of any harassment by any officer, you may immediately contact the senior most officers on duty, usually the Deputy Commissioner of Customs. In case of demands for illegal gratification/graft, there are explicit directions/Notices at every airport on whom to contact
  
  
• Q.7 We want to import parts of lead acid battery from china however lead acid battery complete from china is facing anti dumping duty we plan to manufacture batteries here in india after importing only some parts and making some of them in india. Is it legal ?
  
  
• A.7 In absence of any details as to what is being imported it is not possible to give any clarification. As regards importability/Anti dumping duty please make a reference to DGFT/Ministry of Commerce
  
  
• Q.8 Please can you clarify what the duty free allowance is for someone of Indian Origin (British passport holder flying to India form the UK) returning to India for a short holiday ?
  
  
• A.8 The persons of Indian origin (British Passport holder) coming to India are eligible to a free allowance of Rs 12000/
  
  
• Q.9 I am Canadian citizen. I would like to bring a new car to India. Furthermore, I would like to know that how much is the custom duty on a BRAND NEW car?
  
  
• A.9 Tthe total Customs duty incidence on cars comes to around 181%. The car can only be imported, if you are transferring residence into India and the engine capacity is less than 1600 cc (for new cars), there is no cc limit for old and used cars, in your possession for more than 1 year
  
  
• Q.10 I am travelling this week to India for a week. I have special dietary needs and would like to take some frozen chicken and meat meals for my personal use during my stay. Please advise if there are any restrictions.
  
  
• A.10 The Indian Customs will allow you to clear food items etc if they are imported for your own personal use during your stay of 1 week in India. The value of personal effects/goods including food items,upto Rs 12,000 are allowed free of any Customs duty..
  
  
• Q.11 I am an Indian national residing in the UK for the past 8 years, and now planning to return back to India for good. I have gone through the website and have noted the customs allowances / contents in Annex 1 and 2 etc. However I was not still clear about the exact procedure particularly in terms of the paperwork involved. Should I have to have any formal kind of paper work for customs purposes (to avail transfer of residence) before I ship our house hold articles via a removal company? And also can I avail a door to door service or customs clearance in an inland customs depot (in Bangalore)?
  
  
• A.11 You are entitled to claim a Transfer of Residence. This allows you certain duty concessions, on the list of items mentioned in the Annex. For all other items, there is no duty. As regards being able to clear it at ICD,Bangalore, and the answers yes You are advised to have a complete, carton wise inventory of goods. For the electronic items, the purchase bill/invoices also come in handy in helping the Customs officer in arriving at the fair value
  

   INCOME TAX INDIA

• Q1 Who is liable to file the income-tax return ?
  
• A1. When the total income from all sources of income of any person exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax in any previous year ending on 31st March then that person is liable to file the Income Tax Return.

  Section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act has been amended w.e.f. AY 97-98 with a view to bring larger number of persons in the tax net. In order to increase the tax-base now any person who satisfies any one of the six conditions viz. is owner of a vehicle, or, occupies specified floor area of an immovable property or incurs expenditure for himself or any other person on foreign-travel or subscribes to a telephone or Credit Card or is a Club member, then he is required to file a return.

• Q 2 What is the assessment year ?

• A2 Assessment year is the period of 12 months succeeding the relevant previous year (i.e. the accounting year) ending on 31 st march. for example, a. y. 2002-2003 is for the period of twelve months starting from 1-4-2001 and ending with 31-3-2002.

• Q 3 What are the due dates for filing of income tax returns where primary source of income & 'salary' ?
  
• A 3 In the case of an assesses earning income from Salary primarily, the due date for filing the Income Tax return is 30th June of the assessment year. For example, the due date for A.Y. 2002-2003 would be 30 th June 2002.
  
• Q 4 Which is the prescribed form for filing of income tax returns for assesses having income from salary ?
  
• A 4 The assesses enjoying salary income, and whose total income does not include income under the head 'Profits and Gains of Business or Professional has to file his income-tax Return in Form No. 3. He can also file the Return in Form No. 2A if his net taxable income is Rs.2.0 lakhs or less and if following conditions are satisfied :-

  a) There is no income from business or profession;

  b) There is no brought forward or carried forward loss/allowance under any head of income except from house property.

  Accesses fulfilling the above conditions, have the option , of using even the existing Form No. 3 in place of Form No. 2A. They can also file their returns in 'Salary'form. 5
  

• Q 5 What are various heads of income ?
  
• A 5 The various heads of income are:

  a) Salaries;

  b) Income from House Property;

  c) Profits & Gains of Business or Profession;

  d) Capital Gains, and

  e) Income from other sources.

  While computing income from the above mentioned different heads, the procedure is :-

  First, the taxable income from each source is to be computed under each head of income by allowing deductions, and then they are aggregated. For example, in the case of an assesses deriving income from salary, house property, and Interest income from Fixed Deposit in a Bank, firstly, the taxable income under the head 'salaries', then 'Income from House Property, and lastly the taxable income under the head 'Income from other sources' for Bank interest etc. will be computed.

  Thereafter, all the three incomes under the three heads would be aggregated. From this amount, certain eligible deductions would then be deducted to arrive at the net taxable income on which tax is chargeable.

• Q 6 How to pay the tax under the income tax act ?
• A 6 The employer or his representative making payment to an assesses earning income from 'salary' is under obligation to deduct, certain amount of 'tax, from such payment(s) made during the financial year. Such deduction from the payment is called 'Tax Deducted at Source' i.e. TDS. The person making this TDS is obliged to pay such tax to Central Government within the prescribed time limits.

  This payment of TDS to the Central Government is treated as payment of tax on behalf of the assesses.

• Q 7 How is the penal interest calculated?

• A 7 Where the assessee has defaulted in timely furnishing of his return of income or where he has to pay advance tax, then penal interest is chargeable for Non/Late filing of return or Non-payment/short payment/deferment in payment of such advance tax.
  
• Q 8 How is interest calculated for late or non-furnishing of return ?
  
• A 8 INTEREST U/8. 234-A FOR LATE OR NON-FURNISHING OF INCOME TAX RETURN

  For defaults in furnishing 'Return of income': Simple interest @ 1.25% for every month or part of a month from the due date of filing of the return to the date of furnishing of the return. The interest is calculated on the amount of the tax on the total assessed income as determined under sub­section (1) of section 143 or on regular assessment u/s 143(3) as reduced by the Advance Tax, if any, paid and any tax deducted or collected at source.