RefurbMe
us
Alerts Support Stats Blog
We earn a commission when you follow links to make a purchase. Click here to learn more about how we make money.

What it costs to import from the US to

Forwarder fees, shipping, customs duty and IGST for a phone, compared across 6 US package forwarders. Cheapest estimated total first.

Duty
Personal courier imports pay 10% basic customs duty plus a 10% social welfare surcharge on that duty, for any product.
IGST
IGST 18% on the price, shipping and duty. In total about 30.98% of the price plus shipping.
Duty-free limit
No duty-free amount for courier purchases.
Batteries
Used devices with lithium batteries cannot go by USPS, so expect DHL, FedEx or UPS.

Checked October 2026

Show totals in

India lists second-hand electronics covered by its BIS registration order as restricted imports. We could not confirm whether customs applies this to one refurbished device sent to a consumer. Ask your forwarder before you buy.

$600 phone to India, 0.3 kg (0.6 lb) Estimated totals include the item, US sales tax, forwarder fees, shipping, duty and IGST.
# Forwarder Courier Fees + sales tax Shipping Duty + taxes Total Link
1 Forwardme Aramex8-15 days · From a quote ₹0 ₹2,000 ₹18,463 Shipping ₹2,000 · Fees and sales tax ₹0 · Duty and taxes ₹18,463 ₹78,061$813 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free membership and free package processing. Consolidation is $3.25 per package on the free plan; Premium, $9.50 a month, promises lower shipping rates.
2 MyUS DHL Express2-5 days · From a quote ₹0 ₹2,554 ₹18,635 Shipping ₹2,554 · Fees and sales tax ₹0 · Duty and taxes ₹18,635 ₹78,787+₹726 Visit
Florida charges 7% sales tax in Sarasota, but this address is on the state list of certified forwarding agents, so sellers that apply the list do not charge it. A seller that ignores the list will charge 7%. Premium membership is free for 30 days, then $9.99 a month. This estimate assumes the free month.
3 Ship To Box DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote ₹1,632 ₹2,400 ₹18,587 Shipping ₹2,400 · Fees and sales tax ₹1,632 · Duty and taxes ₹18,587 ₹80,218+₹2,156 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free standard membership, $2 receiving fee per box, plus a $15 lithium battery fee on devices. Free consolidation.
4 Stackry DHL Worldwide Express2-5 days · From a quote ₹1,392 ₹2,973 ₹18,765 Shipping ₹2,973 · Fees and sales tax ₹1,392 · Duty and taxes ₹18,765 ₹80,728+₹2,667 Visit
No sales tax in New Hampshire. No membership, $2 receiving fee per package, plus a $12.50 hazmat fee on phones and smartwatches. Consolidation is $3 per package.
5 Planet Express DHL Express Worldwide1-6 days · From a quote ₹192 ₹7,220 ₹20,081 Shipping ₹7,220 · Fees and sales tax ₹192 · Duty and taxes ₹20,081 ₹85,091+₹7,030 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Planet Express also has a tax-free address in Fort Pierce, FL and one in Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Free mailbox, $2 mail-out fee per package. Consolidation needs Premium, $10 a month.
6 Shipito DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote ₹1,176 ₹11,050 ₹21,267 Shipping ₹11,050 · Fees and sales tax ₹1,176 · Duty and taxes ₹21,267 ₹91,092+₹13,030 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Oregon is the default address for Premium members; free accounts default to Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Premium membership, $10 a month, for the tax-free Oregon address, plus a $2.25 processing fee per package.

Shipping comes from each forwarder's own calculator, quoted at 1 lb and 5 lb and interpolated in between, so it is an estimate, not a live price. Check the forwarder's calculator before you buy. Devices with lithium batteries only go by services that accept them, usually DHL, FedEx or UPS, so most postal and budget services are left out.

Buying a refurbished iPhone? Compare prices from US sellers

Before you buy a phone in the US

  • iPhone 14 and later models sold in the US have no SIM tray and work only with eSIM. Check that your carrier offers eSIM, or pick an iPhone 13 or earlier, which takes both.
  • Pick an unlocked phone. One locked to a US carrier will not work with your local SIM or eSIM.
  • Any charger in the box has a US plug. Most phone, tablet and laptop chargers accept 100 to 240 V, so a plug adapter is enough.
  • The warranty and returns are the US seller's. The return window starts when the parcel reaches your forwarder's US address, and a repair or return means paying to ship it back to the US.

How India taxes this phone

Duty and taxes for the cheapest option above, in the order customs applies them.

Charge Rate Amount
Basic customs duty 10% ₹5,960
Social welfare surcharge 10% ₹596
IGST 18% ₹11,908
Total duty and taxes ₹18,463

Importing to India: common questions

How much duty does India charge on a phone or laptop sent by courier?

A personal purchase sent by courier is assessed under heading 9804: 10% basic customs duty, a social welfare surcharge of 10% of that duty, and 18% IGST on the total. That comes to about 30.98% of the price plus shipping. Customs asks for the seller invoice and proof of payment. IGST on personal imports fell from 28% to 18% on 22 September 2025, so older guides still show 42.08%.

Is there a duty-free amount for courier parcels to India?

No. Courier purchases are taxed from the first rupee, so even a cheap accessory pays the 30.98% rate.

Can I import a refurbished device into India?

Second-hand electronics covered by the BIS registration order need an import authorisation from the DGFT. We could not confirm whether customs applies this to a single refurbished device bought by a consumer, so check with your forwarder or a customs broker first.

Why does a forwarder calculator show a higher duty?

Some calculators still apply the old gift rate of 77.28%. A purchase with a seller invoice and proof of payment is a personal import, and the rate is about 30.98%.

Which forwarder is cheapest to India?

For a $600 phone weighing 0.3 kg (0.6 lb), Forwardme comes out cheapest in our estimate at $813 delivered, using Aramex. The order changes with weight and item type, and shipping prices are estimates, so check the forwarder's calculator before you buy.

Can I use a forwarder to buy from Apple's online store?

No. Apple's US online store ships only to US addresses and cancels orders sent to freight forwarder addresses. Retailers such as Amazon, Back Market or eBay sellers are the usual route, and their return and warranty terms can change once a parcel leaves the US.

The same phone, shipped elsewhere

Cheapest estimated total for a $600 phone in each country we cover. Each country has its own page.

Sources

Rules checked in October 2026. Exchange rates from 1 Oct 2026, Rates By Exchange Rate API. RefurbMe has no referral deals with these forwarders; the order is always the cheapest estimated total.