Until now, used personal and household articles including video cassette recorder/player, washing machine, electrical or LPG cooking range, computer and laptop, and domestic refrigerators of capacity up to 300 litres, besides jewellery up to Rs 50,000 by a gentleman and Rs 1 lakh by a lady were allowed duty free.
For other items, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) notifies rules and rates every year.
For 2016-17, it listed 13 items that an Indian passport holder returning after having stayed abroad for at least 365 days during the two years immediately preceding the date of arrival in India, or any person on a bona fide transfer of residence to India can bring in duty free.
Colour Television, video home theatre system, dish washer, domestic refrigerators of capacity above 300 litres, deep freezer, video camera, cinematographic films of 35mm and above and gold or silver, in any form, other than ornaments would attract 15 per cent ad valorem customs duty, CBEC said.
For Indian passport holders, the total aggregate value of duty goods should not exceed Rs 5 lakh, CBEC said.
For passenger arriving from Nepal, Bhutan or Myanmar, the ceiling of duty free baggage stands at Rs 15,000 for the 13 exempt items, it said.
CBEC said a 35 per cent ad valorem duty would be levied on any article the value of which exceeds the duty free allowance admissible.
