Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to find the current customs duty rates in India, with direct links to official government notifications and government-controlled platforms where these rates are regularly published.

📌 1. What is customs duty?

  • Basic Customs Duty (BCD) is levied at import time under the Customs Act, 1962.

  • It varies by HS (Harmonized System) classification of goods—applied as a percentage of assessable value.

  • You may also face Surcharge, IGST, or Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC) on top of BCD, depending on product and country of origin.

2. Where to find official notifications on customs duty rates

✅ Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)

  • CBIC publishes all customs rules and tariff changes. Notifications are publicly accessible.

  • Annexures typically list HS codes, descriptions, duty rates, and effective dates.

📌 Customs Courier & ECCS Notifications

  • For courier-mode imports (like e‑commerce), consult the CBIC Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations page.

  • This portal lists notifications such as No. 49/2023 (Cus.(NT.)), etc.

3. Key recent tariff changes (2025 context)

  • Notification No. 22/2025‑Customs, dated 28 March 2025, updated Tables I & II effective 1 April 2025, covering thousands of tariff items—ranging from agriculture to electronics—with duty rates from 0% up to 85% depending on HS code category. 

  • Notification No. 21/2025‑Customs similarly introduces sweeping revisions to BCD across different sectors, replacing previously used schedules. 

  • Notification No. 33/2025‑Customs (N.T.), effective 1 May 2025, amended reference tariff values (default values) used for assessing value of imported edible oils, precious metals, nuts, scrap, etc. 

4. Steps to look up current duty on a specific item

  1. Identify the correct HS/ITC-HS 8‑digit code of the item.

  2. Download the relevant CBIC notification PDF, especially current ones (e.g. No. 21/2025 or No. 22/2025‑Customs).

  3. Search the PDF for your HS code to find the basic customs duty applicable.

  4. Add any applicable surcharges, IGST, or cess depending on product category or trade treaties.

  5. For courier/e‑commerce imports, refer to CBIC Courier notification tables (Courier N.T.) for lowered flat rates or special classification like HSN 9804 (used for personal imports) 

5. Additional considerations & special cases

  • Imports from Pakistan may attract exceptionally high duties (e.g. 200% BCD) under special embargo rules – this has come into effect post‑Pulwama attack in 2019 and remains enforced for Pakistan-origin goods 

  • Personal imports (HSN 9804): many e‑commerce parcels are processed under HS 9804 with flat duty rates around 10% BCD + 10% surcharge + 28% IGST—even if the typical HS duty is much lower—unless properly classified with invoice and importer proof 

  • Gift imports (no payment proof) can attract a higher flat duty—around ~77%—versus ~42% when proper payment documentation is provided.

  • Goods for research/lab use may qualify for reduced or exemption rates if conditions under notifications like No. 41/2024‑Customs are met (importer undertaking required).

🔗 Useful links (Government and official references)

  • CBIC Notifications page—search for current Customs (N.T.) notifications: courier shipments and tariff tables.

  • Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs official site—browse current tariff notifications.

  • ECCS/Courier Notification Portal—for express parcel classification and duty slabs 

  • SJ EXIM Services analysis—helpful detailed explanatory summaries of recent Notification Nos. 21/2025, 22/2025, 33/2025 etc.; useful for interpreting tables. 

✅ Summary: At a glance

Purpose Where to Look
Latest tariff table structure Notification 22/2025‑Customs (Table I & II effective Apr 1 2025)
Updated BCD rates across sectors Notification 21/2025‑Customs
Reference/default values Notification 33/2025‑Customs (for oils, metals, nuts etc.)
Courier/e‑commerce classification CBIC Courier Notifications (Customs (N.T.) list)
Special high-duty rules (e.g. Pakistan) Note in press / PIB or related press releases

✅ Final Advice:

To determine the current customs duty for any specific import item, first locate its exact HS Code, then download the latest CBIC Customs notification that includes tariff tables; search for that HS code to get the applicable BCD—and then assess any additional levies such as surcharge, IGST or cess based on origin and applicable rules.

Let me know if you need help tracking down your HS code or locating the relevant notification for a specific product!

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