The Complete Reality Check: Importing from Amazon.com USA to India – What You're Actually Getting Into
A brutally honest, step-by-step breakdown of how difficult, expensive, and time-consuming it really is.
⚠️ BEFORE YOU START: The Hard Truth
Think importing from the USA to India is simple? Think again. Here's what you're signing up for:
- Total cost can be 3x the product price (after US sales tax, Indian customs duties, shipping)
- 30-60 days delivery time (sometimes longer)
- Returns are nearly impossible
- Paperwork nightmares
- Hidden charges everywhere
- High chance of packages getting stuck
Still interested? Let's walk through every painful step you'll face.
PHASE 1: PRE-PURCHASE PREPARATION (Difficulty: 3/5)
Time Required: 2-7 days
Step 1: Get Your Import Export Code (IEC)
What it is: A 10-digit code mandatory for all imports to India.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Time: 1-3 days
What You Need:
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card
- GST registration (if business)
- Bank account details
- Business registration documents
Process:
- Visit DGFT website (dgft.gov.in)
- Fill ANF-2A form — Expect 45-60 min to complete
- Upload documents (clear scans)
- Pay ₹500 fee online
- Wait for approval — usually 1-3 days
Common Problems:
- Document rejection (bad scan quality)
- Form errors/delays
- Server crashes (peak hours)
- Annual renewal required (from 2021)
Step 2: Research Import Duties
Difficulty: High | Time: 2-4 hours
- Product cost: $100 → ₹8,900 (@ ₹89/USD)
- US Sales Tax (average 6–10%): Most US retailers add a local sales tax at checkout, which is not refundable. For a $100 item, expect to pay $106–$110 total.
- Bank payment processing fee (including GST): For every $100 (₹8,900) spent internationally, expect an extra payment fee of approximately ₹105 to ₹315 (varies by your card/bank).
- Basic Customs Duty Average (70%): ₹6230
- Social Welfare Surcharge (10% of BCD): ₹633
- IGST (18%): ₹2,835
- Total duties: ₹9,688.54 (108.86 % of product value)
Duty Calculators: Eximguru, Icegate, Wise
Typical Duties:
- Electronics: 15-45%
- Clothing: 20-55%
- Luxury items: 40-150%
- Books/educational: 0-10%
Step 3: Check Prohibited Items List (30-60 min)
- Lithium batteries (bulk)
- Medicines/supplements (license needed)
- Food items (most types)
- Weapons/airsoft guns
- Drones (special approval)
- Live animals/plants
- Counterfeit goods
Check: DGFT website, CBP.gov, your forwarder's prohibited list
PHASE 2: Choosing Forwarding Service (Difficulty: 4/5)
Time: 3-5 hours research
Step 4: Select Package Forwarding Service
Top Services Comparison:
| Service | Pros | Cons | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackry | 45-day storage, consolidation | High cost for heavy items, complex fee structure | $8-15/lb shipping | Multiple small packages |
| Ship7 | PayPal support, transparent pricing | Very strict prohibited list | $10-20/lb shipping | Non-electronic items |
| USGoBuy | Lower rates, 60-day storage | No PayPal for Indians | $6-12/lb shipping | Budget shoppers |
| MyUS | Globally trusted | Higher shipping fees, possible hidden handling and membership charges | $9–$19/lb shipping | Big shipments |
Account Setup Process:
- Create account (passport/ID)
- Get US address
- Complete verification — upload documents
- Understand fee structure
Hidden Costs:
- Processing: $2-5/package
- Storage: $1-2/day after free period
- Consolidation: $5-10/shipment
- Insurance: 1-3% of value
- Handling: $3-7/package
- Shipping Surge: seasonal
The Bottom Line
- Time-consuming (30-60 days minimum)
- Expensive (often 2-3x product cost)
- Frustrating (paperwork, delays, issues)
- Risky (no easy returns, potential loss)
- Complex (requires expertise and patience)
Import ONLY if:
- Product unavailable in India
- Massive price difference after all costs
- Specialized items not available locally
- You accept all risks and long delays
Don't import if:
- Available in India
- Urgent need
- Not comfortable with complex process
- Expect easy returns
Plan accordingly. Budget realistically. Expect the unexpected.
The final delivered cost for a 1 kg product is 292.4% of the original product cost.
⚠️ If a product costs $100 (₹8,900) in the USA, expect to pay ₹26,558–₹27,229 delivered to India—nearly 3x the base price after all taxes, bank charges, shipping, and duties. There is no guarantee your product will be delivered successfully.
⚠️ Note: Some shipping companies may charge unexpected surge fees—these extra costs can appear suddenly and push your total much higher than estimated. Reference
------------------------------------
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Does the US sales tax apply to Indian shipments?
A: Yes, US sales tax typically applies to all purchases made from US retailers, regardless of where you ship. Most states require retailers to collect sales tax at checkout, and this cannot be avoided even for international customers.
Q2: How much extra should I budget for US sales tax (in INR)?
A: Budget an extra 6–10% of the product price. For a $100 (₹8,900) item, expect to pay ₹534–₹890 extra in sales tax, bringing your US purchase to ₹9,434–₹9,790 before shipping and Indian duties.
Q3: Why is the final delivery cost 2-3+x the original price?
A: Several compounding charges—US sales tax (6–10%), package forwarding fees, Indian customs duties, surcharges, IGST, and other handling fees—add up. Each layer is charged on the subtotal from the previous layer, multiplying the cost.
Q4: Can I get a refund on US sales tax?
A: No. US sales tax paid to retailers is generally non-refundable for international shipments—unlike VAT in some countries, there’s no tourist tax refund system in the US.
Q5: Are import duties charged on top of US sales tax?
A: Yes. Indian customs calculate duties based on the total invoice value, which includes US sales tax. This means you pay duty on the full cost (including tax), further increasing the total.
Q6: What happens if my package gets stuck in customs?
A: Packages can be held for document verification, inspection, or duty discrepancies. You may need to provide paperwork, pay extra fees, or hire a clearing agent (₹2,000–₹5,000) or depaned on % of actual shipment Delays of 1–4 weeks are common, and unresolved issues can mean the package is returned to sender.
Q8: How does CrowCrowCrow.com make US imports hassle-free for Indian buyers?
A:With CrowCrowCrow.com, every fee is shown upfront: shipping, customs duties, taxes, bank charges, surge fees—nothing is hidden and nothing is added after checkout. What you see is exactly what you pay.
🎯 No Paperwork Hassle!
99.9% of the time, you don’t have to bother with any import documents or customs filings. Our team handles all the paperwork for you, so your US imports arrive stress-free and ready to use!
References & Real User Experiences
- Bank Foreign Transaction Fee Example: https://zetapp.in/blog/foreign-transaction-fees-on-indian-credit-cards
- Customs Pain/Extra Fees: https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaTax/comments/1inl6jp/why_are_many_indians_against_usa_tariffs_but_have/
- Shipping/Surge Fees: https://www.reddit.com/r/logistics/comments/1e03k8i/how_do_i_fight_the_insane_additional_charges_on/
- Frequent use of MyUS for shipping—“ready to pay crazy customs charges”: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedstatesofindia/comments/rx41so/has_anyone_here_used_us_to_india_shipping_services/
- Customs Delays: https://www.courierstoindia.com/customs-clearance-delays-shipping-to-india/
- Package Forwarding Services – Users report being “held hostage” by surprise charges: https://www.reddit.com/r/expats/comments/1021zhp/package_forwarding_from_us_to_india/