Shipping Gifts to the USA from India: What Are the Custom Regulations?

One of the best ways to celebrate happiness and moments of joy with loves ones is to send gifts to them. The advancements in transport facilities and development of technologies has made it easy to send gifts to international locations from India such as USA.

There is a huge number of Indians staying in USA and they are in constant touch with their families and friends residing in India. Hence, there is always a huge demand fors ending gifts to USA.

If you too are shipping gifts to USA, then use must have encountered the troubles of custom regulations. The custom rules can appear complicated and hence it seems a tricky challenge to tackle.

Customs are an important step in sending gifts to the USA. If its not handled properly, then it can lead to delays, additional costs, or even confiscation of your gifts.

Hence, it's important to understand USA customs guidelines and regulations to enjoy a seamless shipping experience. This blog is created to make matters easy for you.

This blog helps you figure out how to send gifts to usa from India. It covers the key regulations, documentation requirements, and practical tips for shipping gifts from India to the USA.

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U.S. Customs Regulations for Gifts

The U.S. Customs Service encourages exchanges of gifts between individuals. However, to curb illegal activities, it puts certain restrictions on the type of gifts that can be exchanged.

Here’s what you need to know:

Duty-Free Gift Allowance

As per the US customs guidelines, gifts valued up to $100 USD per recipient per day are exempt from duties and taxes. Please note that in this case, the goods must be strictly used for personal purposes. Any resale is not permitted.

If the total value of gifts sent to one person in a single day goes beyond $100, then the entire package comes under the category of 'dutiable.' This means the recipient could be required to pay customs duties and taxes.

So, kindly ensure that the value of your goods is not beyond $100. You can send multiple gifts by ensuring that the total value of the goods does not exceed $100.

Consolidated Gift Packages

The US government allows sending gifts to multiple recipients in one package. You can use this feature to save costs. The only requirement is, items must be wrapped individually and labeled with the recipient's name and the value of the goods.

For example, if you send 3 gifts from India to the USA in one consolidated gift package, you should label items as "To Mitun Vidya, book $30; To Devansh Arya, watch $40; To Vaibhavi Sawant, jeans $22."

Without clear labeling, the entire package can be considered as a single shipment. And this may lead to duties if the total value is beyond $100.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

In our pursuit to know how to send gifts to USA from India we need to know about restricted items as well. Certain specific sections are restricted or prohibited for shipping to the USA. On the other hand, certain food products, including Indian sweets or spices, may require approval from Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) like the FDA.

Restricted items include alcohol, tobacco, perfumes containing alcohol, and plants with soil. The rules are so strict that even certain homemade snacks may be confiscated. Hence, before shipping, get a complete understanding of the rules and regulations. You can visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website to know the updated list of prohibited items.

Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Codes

To identify the applicable duties, the USA customs makes it mandatory to classify every item shipped to USA under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). The customs officials take into consideration the HTS code and the item's declared value to calculate the item's declared value.

The HTS code varies as per the shipment type. For example, the HTS codes for handwoven sarees and silver jewelry will be different.

It is important to have accurate classification to ensure there are no delays or penalties. The HTS codes are listed on the U.S. International Trade Commission’s website for reference.

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Documentation and Declaration Requirements

Accurate documentation is vital for smooth customs clearance. The list of essential documents include, but is not limited to:

• Commercial Invoice : The invoice has details about the sender, recipient, items, value, and HTS code. For duty-free exemption, it is important to clearly mark the package as a “gift."
• Packing List : Create a detailed itemized list of the contents of the shipments. It must include the contents, their respective weight, dimensions, and packaging details.
• Customs Declaration Form : Most courier services including Atlantic International Express provide the custom declaration form and offer assistance to complete it.

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Practical Tips for Hassle-Free Shipping

Following the above-mentioned points will help you to experience a seamless courier experience. Here are a few more tips to make your shipping experience hassle-free.

• Choose a Reputable Courier: This is where you win or lose the battle. Choosing a reputed courier company will help you to get assistance with customs and the prohibited items and HTS codes, making your job easier.
• Pack Securely: Use sturdy packaging when you are sending fragile items like glassware or electronics. A key aspect is to avoid any flashy wrapping that might attract undue attention during customs inspections.
• Plan for Delivery Time: Sometimes customs clearance requires significant time. Peak season like holidays can add a few more days. So when you consider, 'delivery time' factor all these aspects..
• Check Recipient Details: Ensure that you verify the recipient’s address and contact information to facilitate fast shipping.
• Track Your Shipment: Use the courier’s tracking system to get all updates and to address any issues.

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Trust Atlantic to Send Gifts From India to USA

Shipping gifts to USA from India is a great way to nurture the love and to share culture. But not knowing US customs rules can make things difficult and spoil the joy. Hence, paying careful attention to U.S. customs regulations is important.

Partnering with a reliable logistics provider such as Atlantic International Express can simplify the process for you. We provide international gift delivery service and offer expertise and peace of mind while ensuring fast and secure courier delivery.

So, connect with us today and send gifts to your loved ones with ease!