Customs & Duties

Import Duty on Retinol Serum in India (HSN 3304)

How much is import duty on Retinol Serum in India?

Import duty on Retinol Serum in India is about 44% of the CIF value (HSN 3304) — Basic Customs Duty 20% + 10% Social Welfare Surcharge on the BCD + 18% IGST. On a sample $100 (₹9,440) consignment the all-in duty is about ₹4,150, for a landed cost near ₹13,590. Rates verified 29 June 2026.

Duty breakdown for Retinol Serum (HSN 3304)

CIF value (sample $100)	₹9,440
+ Basic Customs Duty (BCD 20%)	₹1,888
+ Social Welfare Surcharge (10% of BCD)	₹189
+ IGST (18%)	₹2,073
= Total duty + GST ≈ 44% of CIF	₹4,150
Sample landed cost	₹13,590

Effective rate is FX-independent; the ₹ figures use the live checkout rate (₹94.40/USD) and a sample $100 consignment. Your actual duty scales with your CIF value.

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"Retinol Serum" → HSN 3304 · Beauty & skincare

Importing retinol serum into India attracts a layered duty structure that pushes the final landed cost well beyond the US retail price. With HSN code 2304, the basic customs duty (BCD) is 10%, on which a 10% Social Welfare Surcharge is added, and then 18% IGST is applied on the cumulative CIF-plus-duty value, bringing the effective duty to 39.58% on the CIF value. On top of that, you pay for international freight, insurance, customs clearance fees, and card or forex charges, so the total cost in rupees is significantly higher than the sticker price abroad. CrowCrowCrow handles every step and delivers your retinol serum duty-paid, with the final price quoted upfront in INR.

Retinol Serum — duty-paid on CrowCrowCrow

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FAQs: importing Retinol Serum to India

How much import duty applies to retinol serum imported for personal use in India?

Retinol serum falls under HSN 3304 and attracts 20% BCD, a 10% Social Welfare Surcharge on the BCD, and 18% IGST on the CIF-plus-duty value, resulting in an effective duty of 39.58% on the CIF value. Freight, insurance, and clearance charges are additional.

What is the HSN code for retinol serum, and why does it matter?

Retinol serum is classified under HSN code 3304, which covers beauty and skincare preparations. This code determines the applicable BCD and IGST rates and must be declared at the time of customs clearance.

Does the country of origin change the import duty I pay?

For retinol serum under HSN 3304, the standard duty rates apply regardless of whether the product comes from the US, Europe, or elsewhere, unless a specific Free Trade Agreement (FTA) provides a concession. In most cases, the origin country does not alter the duty you pay.

Why is imported retinol serum so expensive, and can the duty be avoided?

The final price is high because you are paying the product cost plus freight, insurance, layered duties, and bank or forex fees. Import duty cannot be legally avoided on commercial or personal imports; it must be paid at customs before the product is released for delivery.