Customs, Duty and the New Rules: What NRIs Pay to Ship from India to the USA and Canada

The best part of buying from India used to be simple: order it, ship it, done. The rules on what you pay when that parcel lands in Canada or the USA have tightened, and the biggest mistake NRIs make now is being surprised by a duty bill at collection. Here is how it actually works - and how to keep the cost predictable.

The change that matters most

For years, low-value parcels entered the USA duty-free under the "de minimis" rule for goods under USD $800. In 2025 that exemption was suspended, so a normal parcel from India can now attract duty even when it is small. Canada's thresholds have always been far lower, so most parcels there attract some tax or duty too. The practical takeaway: assume duty may apply and plan for it, rather than hoping a parcel slips through untouched.

Gifts are treated differently - and better

Here is the good news: the change above did not touch the separate exemption for genuine, person-to-person gifts.

• USA: bona fide gifts up to USD $100 in value, per recipient, per day, remain duty-free when clearly marked as a gift.
• Canada: gifts up to CAD $60 are exempt from duty and taxes; above that, duty and tax apply on the amount over $60. Alcohol, tobacco and advertising material never qualify.
• The value must be genuine. A gift has to be unsolicited and given outright - a disguised purchase does not count, and under-declaring to dodge duty is customs fraud.

If it is truly a gift, mark it as one and keep it near the threshold. If it is something you bought for yourself, declare it honestly and budget for duty - the goal is predictability, not a gamble.

How duty is worked out on a consolidated box

When several items are consolidated into one shipment, customs looks at the declared value and the type of goods. A few things worth knowing:

• Duty is charged line by line - a mixed box is rated by category, not as one blended item, and textiles, electronics and jewellery are all treated differently.
• Local taxes (GST/HST in Canada, and processing fees in the US) can apply on top of duty.
• Consolidation still usually wins overall: one box means one clearance and one set of shipping fees, rather than four separate parcels each with their own charges - even when duty applies.

How AAunty keeps it predictable

A duty bill feels like a shock mainly because nobody warned you it was coming. We handle that end:

• We declare your parcel honestly and correctly, with the right item categories.
• We tell you what to expect on duty before it ships, so there is no surprise at collection.
• We consolidate smartly to keep the total landed cost - goods, shipping and duty together - as low as it can be.

Not sure what you will pay?

Message us on WhatsApp with what you want to buy and where it is going. We will estimate the landed cost - item, shipping and likely duty - up front, so you can decide before anything ships. No surprises at the door.