Mangalore: Travellers to Mangalore are being searched for gold ornaments by customs officials.
An Indian law dating back to the 1967 states that those travelling to India are supposed to pay tax for carrying any gold valued at more than Rs20,000 (Dh1,379).
What’s strange is that a man is allowed to carry 50 per cent less gold in comparison to a female traveller, on his person as jewellery.
The custom authorities have been conducting stringent checks on most
travellers and asking them to shell out duty for any gold ornaments over
the stipulated amount.
India’s Customs and Central Excise Rules 1967 stipulates that a man travelling to India can bring gold ornaments worth Rs 10,000 while a woman is allowed to bring gold worth a maximum of Rs 20,000.
Customs duty will be charged on additional value.
There has also been a reported increase in gold “smuggling” into India. The Mangalore airport is strict on this rule compared to other Indian International airports. It is also being reported that the Mangalore custom authorities are not issuing reciepts for the custom duty and asking the passengers to make adjustments on the custom duty payments.
But a senior officer refused the complaint about receiving bribe. “How is it possible to ask bribe in front of so many passengers. Do not pay bribe to any custum officer. Just pay your duty and if there is any complaint,just inform the senior officers”. “We are not checking the jewellery of any woman passengers. We let them go considering she is wearing an old jewellery. If there is extra jewellery in the bags,then only she has to pay the duty” he said.
The passengers do not have the knowledge about the custom duty on gold. There will not be any difficulty,if they follow the Rules. The custom authorities also should try give correct information on gold duties to the passengers advised a Mangalore City Travels Agency owner. - KT
An Indian law dating back to the 1967 states that those travelling to India are supposed to pay tax for carrying any gold valued at more than Rs20,000 (Dh1,379).
What’s strange is that a man is allowed to carry 50 per cent less gold in comparison to a female traveller, on his person as jewellery.
India’s Customs and Central Excise Rules 1967 stipulates that a man travelling to India can bring gold ornaments worth Rs 10,000 while a woman is allowed to bring gold worth a maximum of Rs 20,000.
Customs duty will be charged on additional value.
There has also been a reported increase in gold “smuggling” into India. The Mangalore airport is strict on this rule compared to other Indian International airports. It is also being reported that the Mangalore custom authorities are not issuing reciepts for the custom duty and asking the passengers to make adjustments on the custom duty payments.
But a senior officer refused the complaint about receiving bribe. “How is it possible to ask bribe in front of so many passengers. Do not pay bribe to any custum officer. Just pay your duty and if there is any complaint,just inform the senior officers”. “We are not checking the jewellery of any woman passengers. We let them go considering she is wearing an old jewellery. If there is extra jewellery in the bags,then only she has to pay the duty” he said.
The passengers do not have the knowledge about the custom duty on gold. There will not be any difficulty,if they follow the Rules. The custom authorities also should try give correct information on gold duties to the passengers advised a Mangalore City Travels Agency owner. - KT
