Customs Clearance and Advisory Services in India

Comprehensive Customs Advisory for Exporters and Importers

Navigating Indian customs requires more than just filing paperwork. It requires understanding the Customs Act 1962, the Customs Tariff Act, CBIC circulars, DGFT notifications, and how they interact with your specific product and trade route. A customs advisor bridges the gap between what the law says and what your shipment needs.

What a Customs Advisor Does vs a CHA

A Customs House Agent (now Customs Broker) executes the filing: they enter data into ICEGATE, present documents to customs, and get your cargo cleared. A customs advisor does the thinking before the filing: correct HS code classification, duty optimization, incentive scheme selection, trade agreement benefit analysis, and compliance planning. The best outcome happens when both work together.

Rasp International provides both advisory and execution coordination. We do the classification analysis, determine which incentive schemes apply to your product, prepare the documentation strategy, and then coordinate with your CHA (or ours) for the actual filing.

Areas of Customs Advisory

HS Code Classification: The 8-digit HS code determines your duty rate, incentive eligibility, trade agreement benefits, and whether your product is freely exportable or restricted. Misclassification costs real money. See our FAQ on HS codes.

Duty Optimization: Between Basic Customs Duty, Social Welfare Surcharge, IGST, and cess, import duty can range from 5% to over 50%. Advance Authorisation, EPCG, and trade agreements can reduce this significantly. Duty Drawback service.

Trade Agreement Benefits: India has active FTAs and CEPAs with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, UAE, and others. Each agreement has different Rules of Origin and documentation requirements. Missing these means your buyer pays full duty when a concession was available. Certificate of Origin services.

Export Incentive Compliance: RoDTEP, Duty Drawback, EPCG, and Advance Authorisation each have specific compliance requirements on the Shipping Bill. Wrong declarations mean lost incentives. RoDTEP advisory | All export incentives.

Who Needs Customs Advisory

First-time exporters who have never filed a Shipping Bill. Importers facing duty demands or classification disputes. Exporters who suspect they are underclaiming incentives. Companies setting up EPCG or Advance Authorisation schemes. Businesses trading under FTAs who want to maximise preferential tariff benefits.

Get Advisory Support

Our customs advisory covers all Indian ports and ICDs. First consultation is free. Contact us or call +91 8218043048. Also explore: Customs clearance services | DGFT consulting.