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Importing goods from China into India is compliant only when the importer, product classification, customs documents, tax details and any product-specific approvals line up before shipment. Obtain an Importer Exporter Code (IEC), classify the goods under the correct HS/Customs Tariff Item, check the applicable Indian duty and regulatory procedure, prepare the required document set, file an electronic bill of entry and declare the correct GSTIN and state code when claiming import-tax credit. There is no responsible single “China duty rate”: the amount depends on classification, customs value, notifications, origin evidence and the filing date.
1. Establish who is importing and obtain the IEC
Decide which Indian entity will be the importer of record before you place the purchase order. That entity is responsible for the customs declaration, supporting documents, restrictions and payment of assessed amounts. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) links the IEC to the entity’s PAN. ICEGATE describes the IEC as a 10-digit identifier issued by DGFT.
An IEC is the baseline identity for commercial import activity. Make sure the name and address used with DGFT, the PAN-linked entity, the purchase contract and the customs declaration refer to the same importer. If a group company, distributor or third-party buyer will actually import, settle that structure before the supplier issues documents; changing the importer after shipment can create document and tax mismatches.
2. Classify the product before you quote landed cost
Find the correct HS or Customs Tariff Item
Start with the product’s technical description, material, function, composition, capacity and intended use. Select the Indian HS/Customs Tariff Item rather than relying on a supplier’s generic code or a description such as “electronics,” “parts” or “accessories.” The classification controls the basic customs duty and can also determine licensing, standards, examination and tax treatment.
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Use the official compliance search
Check the ICEGATE Compliance Information Portal for the commodity-wise duty, tax, participating government agency, procedure and document requirements attached to that tariff item. Recheck the result immediately before filing because notifications, exemptions, quotas and trade-remedy measures can change. Keep a written classification rationale with product specifications and the date of the lookup so the basis for the declaration is auditable.
3. Check restrictions and product regulators before shipment
DGFT policy permits additional documents and conditions for restricted goods, policy-condition items and products subject to statutory compliance. Depending on the product, release or subsequent sale may require a licence, a no-objection certificate (NOC), testing, labelling or conformity with a standard. Identify the relevant participating government agency through the compliance portal and confirm whether approval is needed before the cargo leaves China.
Do not treat a clean commercial invoice as proof that a regulated product can enter India. A shipment can be correctly invoiced yet remain uncleared if an NOC, licence or prescribed test document is missing. Ask the agency or the customs system what document must be uploaded, who issues it, its validity period and whether the requirement applies to every consignment or only particular models, quantities or uses.
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4. Assemble the core customs document pack
DGFT Foreign Trade Policy 2023, section 2.06, identifies the mandatory import documents. ICEGATE’s e-SANCHIT FAQ repeats the same core set. Keep the documents in a consistent, readable format and retain the originals or authenticated electronic versions required by the relevant authority.
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| Document | What it establishes | Practical checks |
|---|---|---|
| Bill of lading, airway bill or applicable transport receipt | Shipment, carrier and consignee details | Check importer name, package count, weights, ports, vessel or flight details and the final consignee against the invoice and packing data. |
| Commercial invoice-cum-packing list | Transaction value, seller, buyer, goods description and packing information | Include quantity, unit price, currency, totals, Incoterms where used, model or part numbers, gross and net weight, package marks and country of origin. A separate commercial invoice and packing list are also accepted. |
| Bill of entry | The importer’s legal customs declaration | Declare the correct tariff item, customs value, importer identity, GSTIN and state code where applicable, and attach supporting records through the electronic customs system. |
Additional records may include the purchase order or contract, freight and insurance evidence, product catalogues, technical literature, licences, NOCs, test reports, certificates required by a participating government agency and origin documentation. Include only documents that are genuine, valid and relevant to the declared goods; a larger file does not cure an incorrect declaration.
5. Keep every commercial detail aligned
Before the bill of entry is filed, reconcile the seller’s invoice, packing list, transport document, purchase contract and any licence. Product descriptions, model numbers, quantities, weights, currency, Incoterms, seller and buyer names, package counts and country of origin should describe the same shipment. Resolve typographical errors with the issuer before filing instead of asking a broker to explain contradictory paperwork.
Section 46 of the Customs Act places the responsibility on the importer who presents the bill of entry. The importer must ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, the authenticity and validity of supporting documents, and compliance with restrictions or prohibitions under customs or any other law in force. Delegating filing to an agent does not transfer that responsibility.
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- Create the electronic entry. Use the customs automated system and select the importer, port, transport document and applicable tariff items.
- Enter valuation and tax data. Declare the customs value, currency, freight, insurance and other assessable elements supported by records. Add the GSTIN and state code when the registered importer is seeking import-IGST credit.
- Upload supporting documents. Attach the transport document, invoice-cum-packing list or separate invoice and packing list, plus licences, NOCs and technical or origin documents required for the goods.
- Observe the statutory deadline. Section 46 generally requires electronic presentation by the end of the day before the vessel or aircraft arrives. The Act also permits advance filing and contains exceptions; apply the rule that fits the transport mode and port instructions.
- Review the acknowledgement and queries. Compare the submitted entry with the signed commercial pack. Answer customs queries with evidence, not an unsupported change to the tariff item or value.
- Complete assessment, examination and payment. Customs may examine the goods where required. Assessment and payment of the applicable duty and taxes precede release when no prohibition applies.
7. Calculate duty and landed cost by tariff item
Build the estimate from the Indian HS/Customs Tariff Item and the customs valuation rules, not from the country name alone. Pull the current basic customs duty and every applicable surcharge, cess, IGST, compensation cess, exemption, quota and trade-remedy notification from the official tariff and compliance systems for the intended port and filing date.
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| Cost element | How to treat it in the estimate |
|---|---|
| Basic customs duty | Use the rate attached to the correctly classified tariff item and applicable notification. |
| Surcharge or cess | Check whether an additional levy applies to that item and whether an exemption changes it. |
| Import IGST | Calculate the customs-assessed amount under the applicable GST and customs rules; the rate is product-specific. |
| Compensation cess | Include it only where the tariff and current notification make it applicable. |
| Non-tax landed costs | Add freight, insurance, port or terminal charges, brokerage, handling, storage and inland delivery. |
Because classification, valuation, origin evidence, port and date all affect the result, quoting one percentage for “Chinese goods” is misleading. Obtain the tariff result before agreeing a selling price or promising a delivered-cost figure to a customer.
8. Treat China origin claims cautiously
China is the source country, but origin alone does not create a universal preferential rate in India. A supplier’s statement or a commercial certificate is not, by itself, proof that a preference applies. Verify the relevant scheme, origin rule, certificate format and tariff notification in DGFT and ICEGATE systems. DGFT’s certificate-of-origin portal provides scheme filing and tariff-lookup functions.
Also check current anti-dumping, safeguard or other trade-remedy notifications. These measures can apply to a defined product description, producer, country or period and may sit alongside the ordinary tariff. Preserve the origin documents and the reasoning used to determine whether a preference or special measure applies.
9. Declare GSTIN correctly and protect input-tax credit
Understand the import supply treatment
Imports are treated as inter-state supplies under GST. ICEGATE states: “Imports and Exports shall be treated as inter-state supply under GST.” Import IGST is collected through customs rather than on a domestic supplier invoice.
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Provide the GSTIN and state code
A GST-registered importer seeking import-IGST benefits should declare the correct GSTIN and corresponding state code in the bill of entry. Use the registration of the entity that is actually importing and accounting for the goods. A mismatch between the IEC holder, importer name, GSTIN or state can prevent the credit record from matching the business’s GST accounts.
Reconcile the credit
ICEGATE explains that import IGST and applicable compensation cess can be used as input-tax credit against outward GST, subject to GST law and correct documentation. Reconcile the bill of entry, customs payment evidence and accounting records; retain the import declaration in the tax file and claim only the amount and type of credit permitted for the business and goods.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.10. Choose self-filing or an authorised customs agent
CBIC permits an importer to handle clearance directly or appoint an authorised customs agent. The right route depends on the importer’s capability and the product’s complexity, not simply on shipment value.
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| Decision factor | Self-filing | Authorised agent |
|---|---|---|
| Importer control | Direct control over declarations, documents and responses | Delegated filing with the importer retaining legal responsibility |
| Classification and valuation capability | Requires in-house tariff and valuation expertise | Provides operational support, but the importer must approve the declared basis |
| Product-specific regulation | Importer coordinates licences, NOCs and agency queries | Useful when the agent is familiar with the relevant participating government agency |
| Port familiarity and response time | Depends on the importer’s local presence and process knowledge | May help with port procedures and prompt responses |
| Fees | No agent service fee, but internal staff time and systems are required | Professional fees apply under the agreed engagement |
| Audit trail | Importer maintains the complete filing and correspondence record | Require the agent to return acknowledgements, queries, submissions and payment records |
| Correction before assessment | Importer manages amendments directly | Agent can coordinate corrections, subject to customs approval and accurate evidence |
Whether filing yourself or through an agent, verify the agent’s authorisation, define who approves classification and valuation, and require a copy of every submission. An agent should not be instructed to understate value, split a shipment artificially or select a convenient but unsupported tariff item.
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11. Maintain an audit-ready import file
Keep one file for each consignment and a master file for recurring products. Retain the IEC and GST records, purchase contract, invoice, packing list, transport document, bill of entry, duty and tax payment evidence, product licences or NOCs, valuation and classification rationale, origin documents, and all broker correspondence. Link the file to the accounting entry and inventory receipt so a later GST, customs or internal review can trace the transaction from purchase order to sale.
12. Common failure points and recovery actions
The supplier’s HS code was used without checking India’s tariff
Risk: The Indian rate or regulatory condition may differ. Fix: Reclassify from the technical facts, check the ICEGATE compliance result and document the rationale before filing.
The invoice and packing list disagree
Risk: Customs cannot verify quantity, value or package data. Fix: Obtain corrected documents from the issuer and ensure the transport document and bill of entry use the corrected figures.
A restricted product arrives without its approval
Risk: Release can be blocked while the participating government agency’s requirement is met. Fix: Identify the agency before shipment, obtain the licence, NOC, test or label evidence and upload the valid document with the entry.
The GSTIN or state code is missing or wrong
Risk: Import-IGST data may not map to the registered importer’s credit records. Fix: Correct the declaration through the permitted customs process and reconcile the final bill of entry with GST accounts before claiming credit.
A preference was assumed from China origin
Risk: An unsupported exemption or preferential rate can lead to reassessment and additional liability. Fix: Verify the scheme, origin rule, certificate and notification in the official systems; otherwise use the ordinary tariff treatment supported by the classification.
13. Final decision sequence
For each proposed Chinese-origin product, work in this order: identify the importer and IEC; obtain the technical description; select and document the Indian tariff item; check duty, taxes, exemptions, quotas and trade remedies; identify every participating government agency; obtain licences or NOCs; align the invoice, packing and transport data; decide whether to self-file or appoint an authorised agent; file the electronic bill of entry within the statutory window; pay assessed amounts; and archive the complete record. This sequence turns compliance into a repeatable control rather than a clearance-time scramble.
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