Customs & Trade Compliance in India — Lower Landed Cost, Zero Surprises
Every point of customs duty misclassified, every incentive unclaimed, and every valuation dispute left unresolved flows directly into landed cost — and into your competitiveness in the Indian market.
A2 Consultants treats customs as a margin lever, not paperwork. We align classification, valuation, and incentive strategy with your supply chain so imports clear predictably and exports earn every benefit they are entitled to.
India's tariff schedule is granular, its exemption notifications are conditional, and its enforcement — through post-clearance audits and the DRI — reaches back five years. A classification decision made casually by a freight forwarder in year one can crystallise into a duty demand, with interest and penalty, in year five. Trade compliance in India is therefore not an operational detail; it is a finance-function risk.
It is also a finance-function opportunity. Between free trade agreements, bonded manufacturing under MOOWR, export incentive schemes, and duty exemptions tied to end use, most foreign companies importing into India are leaving measurable margin on the table — usually because no single advisor owns the whole picture.
Who we serve
Foreign manufacturers importing components or capital equipment; trading companies distributing into India; exporters claiming incentives; e-commerce and technology hardware businesses; and any related-party importer whose pricing must clear the Special Valuation Branch.
The outcomes we deliver
- Duty outflow reduced through correct HS classification, exemption mapping, and FTA origin planning.
- Related-party import pricing cleared through SVB proceedings without shipment disruption.
- Export incentives — Advance Authorisation, EPCG, RoDTEP — captured systematically, not opportunistically.
- Audit-ready trade compliance that survives DRI and customs post-clearance scrutiny.
- A single trade-compliance owner across customs, GST, and FEMA — ending the gaps that open up between freight forwarders, tax advisors, and banks.
How we work
- Map. Product-level review of classifications, duty rates, exemptions, and applicable trade agreements.
- Optimize. Duty-saving structures modelled: FTAs, bonded warehousing, MOOWR, SEZ routing.
- Comply. IEC, DGFT licensing, and shipment documentation standardised across ports and vendors.
- Defend. Representation in SVB, post-clearance audits, and customs disputes.
Why A2 Consultants
Deep working relationships with DGFT and customs processes, combined with tax and FEMA fluency — so trade decisions are never made in isolation from their tax consequences. We quantify before we advise: every recommendation arrives with the duty saving, compliance cost, and risk exposure attached in numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How can we reduce customs duty on imports into India?
Four levers do most of the work: correct HS classification (misclassification frequently costs more duty than it saves); preferential rates under India's FTAs where origin rules are met and documented; scheme-based relief such as Advance Authorisation for export production, EPCG for capital goods, and MOOWR bonded manufacturing for deferred duty; and exemption notifications tied to end use. We audit your top tariff lines first — savings are usually concentrated in a handful of products.
What is SVB and does it apply to our related-party imports?
The Special Valuation Branch examines whether the relationship between a foreign supplier and its Indian affiliate has influenced import prices. If you import from group companies, SVB proceedings are likely at some point. A well-prepared submission — reconciling customs valuation with your transfer pricing positions — typically concludes without loading; an unprepared one produces provisional assessments, cash-flow drag, and years of open exposure.
What export incentives can a foreign-owned company in India claim?
Foreign ownership is no bar. RoDTEP refunds embedded duties on exported goods; Advance Authorisation allows duty-free import of inputs for export production; EPCG permits concessional-duty capital goods against export obligations; and SEZ or EOU status offers broader fiscal benefits for dedicated export operations. The schemes differ in obligation and paperwork discipline — we match them to your realistic export profile rather than the theoretical maximum.
How far back can Indian customs authorities reopen our imports?
The standard limitation for duty demands is significantly extended — up to five years — where suppression or misstatement is alleged, and post-clearance audits routinely examine multi-year periods. Interest accrues throughout, and penalties can equal the duty. This is why classification and valuation discipline pays retroactively: a clean, documented position converts a five-year exposure window into routine correspondence. We build files on that assumption.
Importing into or manufacturing in India? Request a duty-exposure diagnostic of your top tariff lines.